Holiday Events Plus Where to Find Santa For a Visit and Pictures!

Looking to get photos with Santa this year? We have a full list of all the places he will be in 2024 around the Louisville, KY area! You can find even more fun holiday events on our Local Event Calendar. Sign up to get the calendar emailed to you every week for free HERE! Find our full list of light displays HERE!

If you have an upcoming holiday event that you would like to add to the calendar submit the info to be added to our calendar at this link!

Recurring Events

Santa Express at The Kentucky Railway Museum - December 1, 7, 8,14, 15, 21 & 22

North Pole Express at The Kentucky Railway Museum - December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, & 22

Brunch with Santa at the Kentucky Railway Museum - December 8, 15, and 22

Gardens Aglimmer - Enjoy a stroll through our holiday lights display while enjoying a hot drink and sweet treat from our Jingle All the Way Café. This year’s event will include visits from Santa* crafting
activities for kids of all ages, and great photo opportunities. Please note: Santa will arrive nightly at 6pm and depart by 9pm. If you plan to visit Santa, you must be in line by 8:15pm.

Friday, November 29 – Saturday, November 30
Thursday, December 5 – Sunday, December 8
Wednesday, December 11 (Special Date Night, ages 21+ only)
Thursday, December 12 – Sunday, December 15
Monday, December 16 (Special Sensory Friendly Night)
Tuesday, December 17 – Monday, December 23
Friday, December 27 – Monday, December 30 (Santa and Mrs. Claus are not present on these dates)

Qannik’s Beary Happy Holiday at the Louisville Zoo - Create warm memories while you watch Qannik and her animal friends through the Zoo enjoy three weekends of festive fun with special holiday enrichment on December 7th-8th and 14th-15th. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit on the 21st and 22nd.

Southern Lights Holiday Festival - Drive through the lights nightly, November 29-December 31, 2024 (Closed Christmas Day) from 5:30-10:00 pm. At the end of the route, we invite you to park and explore the Holiday Village (included in admission). The Holiday Village features photos with Santa, Santa’s North Pole Mailbox (where children can drop off their Christmas List), Animal Land, Mini-Train rides, a Bluegrass Miniature Train Display, and the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop. Grab a quick snack in the village or sit down for dinner at Tootie’s Peppermint Café to complete your visit.

Santa's Wonderland at Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops - Now - December 24th

Pictures with Santa at Oxmoor Center - November 22nd - December 24th

Pictures with Santa at Mall St Matthews - November 15th - December 24th

Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass - Saturdays and Sundays, Nov 9 - Dec 22

Storytime with Mrs. Claus at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass - Sundays, Nov 10 - Dec 22

Free Holiday Face Painting at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass - Sundays, Nov 10 - Dec 22

Christmas At Kentucky Kingdom - Select Days, November 29 - January 4, 2025

Fête de Noël Winter Holiday Festival - Returns November 29th

Santa Trains at Bluegrass Railroad Museum - Select days, Nov 30 - Dec 15

Louisville Ballet: The Brown-Forman Nutcracker - December 13th - 24th

Clarksville Little Theatre: A Christmas Carol-The Musical - December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14 at 7:30pm and December 8 & 15 at 2:00pm.

A Wonderful Life at Derby Dinner Playhouse - Nov 13 - Dec 31

A Fairy Tale Christmas at Derby Dinner Playhouse - Nov 16 - Dec 21

Christmas in Charlestown -

FREE CHARACTER VISITS, 6-10 PM:
SANTA – Nov. 29, Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Dec. 19 (plus Dec. 23 at Greenway Park)
THE GRINCH – Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 (plus Dec. 23 at Greenway Park)
BUDDY THE ELF AND JOVIE – Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20
SPECIAL GUEST NIGHTS – Dec. 4, Dec. 11, Dec. 18, Dec. 21

November 8th

Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass

November 9th

SLHI Christmas Charity Pajama Party & Holiday Market

Hurstbourne Christian Church Christmas/Holiday Arts Bazaar

November 16th

Bullitt Central High School Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair

Lowe's Kids Workshops: Holiday Countdown

Anchal 13th Annual Holiday Shop

Thanksgiving Clay Workshop at Oldham County Schools Arts Center

November 23rd

Holiday Brite Nite at Paddock Shops