HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – If you’re traveling outside of Christian County for the holidays this year, here are a few other cities in Kentucky that are offering fun holiday attractions and experiences.
This includes places to see lights and unique offerings within three hours of Hopkinsville in Bowling Green, Louisville, Madisonville, Paducah, Grand Rivers, and Mammoth Cave.
1. Mega Cavern Lights Under Louisville
Louisville Mega Cavern is once again hosting Lights Under Louisville, an underground holiday light show featuring more than 7 million lights and nearly 1,000 themed displays. The drive-through attraction is open through January and advertises as the only underground Christmas light show in the world.
Visitors travel through the cavern’s expansive former limestone mine while enjoying holiday music, lasers and character-themed scenes. Standard vehicle passes start at $42.99 per vehicle, with the cavern open daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Lights Under Louisville is held inside the Louisville Mega Cavern, a 100-acre underground space that also offers zip lines, tours and other activities throughout the year.
2. Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green
Visitors are invited to meet real reindeer during Bowling Green’s holiday attraction, The Reindeer Farm. It features music, hot chocolate by the fire and a variety of seasonal activities. Guests can meet their favorite reindeer up close during guided group tours. Each 30-minute session includes an educational introduction, time for photos and an opportunity to spend time inside the enclosure with the reindeer.
After meeting the reindeer, guests can also enjoy local wine, play cornhole and take advantage of several family-friendly options, including letter writing to Santa, an indoor playground, a bounce house, holiday movies and games. A petting zoo will also be available, offering encounters with mini cows, mini pigs, alpacas, bunnies and other animals.
Photo stations include a sleigh and an antique fire truck. Attendees are encouraged to bring a camera.
3. Patti’s Festival of Lights in Grand Rivers
The Festival of Lights display will turn on nightly through Jan. 31 through the famous Patti’s 1880’s Settlement lodging and restaurant. Travelers can experience over 1,500,000 free lights beside Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with the restaurant fully transformed into a winter wonderland inside and out. Santa and Mrs. Claus visits will be Thursday-Sunday nights inside Patti’s Gazebo.
Aside from award winning southern food, Patti’s 1880’s Settlement features a wide variety of activities, suitable for the entire family such as mini-golf or gold panning. To top off the day, take a stroll through the Settlement and view the beautiful gardens and shop at their boutiques.
Reservations are recommended for those looking to eat at the restaurant, which can be made on the Patti’s 1880’s Settlement website.
4. Christmas at the Cave at Mammoth Cave
A holiday attraction in Edmonson County, Christmas at the Cave, is offering visitors a horse-drawn wagon ride through more than a million lights along the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park. The event runs Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 28 at the Mammoth Cave Horse Camp. Hours are 4:30 to 9 p.m. CST.
Admission is $25 per person, with children 2 and under admitted free. Food trucks and campfires will be available on site, and group rates are offered.
5. Mistletoe Art Stroll and Deck the Park in Madisonville
Shop the Mistletoe Stroll and experience shopping in downtown Madisonville like never before! The third annual Mistletoe Art Stroll will be held in downtown Madisonville on Friday, Dec. 5 from 4-8 p.m. Downtown businesses will open their doors and host artisans in their stores. There will be a Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m. in front of the Historic Courthouse.
Madisonville’s “Deck the Park” also returns to City Park, offering a free holiday lights attraction for families. It features a winter wonderland of lights, rides and festive activities. Visitors can enjoy both drive-thru and walking light displays daily from 4 to 9 p.m. with Santa Claus and Grinch appearances along with ice skating, a Ferris wheel, merry go round, bounce house, and reindeer ride.
6. Christmas in the Park and more in Paducah
Paducah Power System will once again sponsor its annual Christmas in the Park display at Noble Park, featuring more than 500,000 lights through New Year’s Day. Community volunteers staff the Santa House, where they collect monetary donations and nonperishable food items.
On Dec. 2, they will host their Christmas Light Bike Ride and Party at Noble Park. In the city there will also be a Christmas Celebration performance by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 13 and the Nutcracker Ballet on Dec. 10.
| HOLIDAY FUN GUIDE: Find more holiday events and activities in Chrisitan County
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