Holiday Happenings
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at My Favorite Things! Their Holiday Open House this year will be from November 6-8. Save the date and check out My Favorite Things’ selection of holiday decor, unique gifts, and more.
Junior League Holly Day Market is at the Kentucky Horse Park on November 13-15. The annual event features more than 70 vendors offering fabulous boutique-style items unique to our community. You’ll enjoy special events designed to inspire the holiday spirit in us all! Your ticket also helps support the Junior League of Lexington and the many local non-profits they support. The Holly Day Market brings vendors from across the United States to Lexington for one weekend in November to give shoppers the opportunity to buy holiday gifts in one spectacular location. Vendors sell jewelry; clothes for women, men and children; toys; books; holiday decorations; ornaments; art; food; and much more. Plus, the Holly Day Market offers daily events and activities for everyone including a much anticipated visit from Santa.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Grammy winner Chip Davis returns to the EKU Center for the Arts on November 19 at 7:30 pm.
The Southern Lights Stroll at the Kentucky Horse Park on November 19 lets you lace up, head out, and help turn on the Southern Lights. The 14th annual Southern Lights Stroll fundraiser includes a competitive 5K race this year, complete with awards. A food drive for God’s Pantry and local animal shelters will be held as well.
Lexington’s Downtown Tree Lighting at Triangle Park brings the Christmas spirit into town on Friday, November 27. The Holiday Market for arts/crafts and Holiday LIVE performances will take place from 2 – 7 pm, with the Tree Lighting Ceremony scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm.
Illuminated Evening at the Shaker Village at 5 pm on November 28 features caroling choirs, roaring fires, twinkling lights, and special visits with Mrs. Claus, and all sorts of other holiday festivities..
The Lexington Convention Center hosts the Lexington Christmas Show from November 27 – 29. The show features over 200 vendors from across the region selling thousands of Christmas gift items, including decor, crafts, handmade items, bath & body, jewelry, and more. Friday, November 27 from 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday, November 28 from 10 am – 7 pm; Sunday, November 28 from 11 am – 4 pm. Meet Santa all three days at the show; the first 500 kids each day receive a free photo with Santa.
The Lexington Philharmonic Candy Cane Concert at the UK Singletary Center at 3 pm on November 29 is a Lexington holiday tradition. The young musicians of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra join LexPhil on stage to perform a variety of holiday classics.
The annual Lexington Christmas Parade down Main Street on Tuesday, December 1 at 7 pm includes Lexington’s first official visit from Santa.
Christ Church Cathedral presents Handel’s Messiah on Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm. Featuring The Cathedral Choir, The Lexington Baroque Ensemble, with Emily Albrink, Ryland Angel, Richard Clement, and Reginald Smith, Jr. Conducted by Erich Balling.
On December 4 at 8 pm, Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts hosts three-time Grammy nominees Dailey & Vincent’s The Spirit of Christmas Christmas Tour. The duo’s rock spin on traditional country & bluegrass has garnered them three IBMA Entertainer of the Year awards, three IBMA Vocal Group of the Year awards, and multiple Dove awards. They will perform traditional and contemporary holiday hits as well as their Bluegrass favorites.
The Lexington Chamber Chorale presents Christmas in the Great Hall at Second Presbyterian Church on Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 pm. The night includes medieval sacred songs and carols for the holidays, including vignettes of Madrigal Dinner dialogue in Second Presbyterian’s Gothic sanctuary. Featured selections include “Green Grow’the Holly,” “Gloucestershire Wassail,” with additional works by John Tavener, Gustav Holst, and more.
An Irish Christmas at the EKU Center for the Arts on December 5 at 7:30 gives you the chance to take a journey through Christmas in Ireland. As seen on PBS, a cast of award-winning singers and dancers wraps together traditional music, dance, and storytelling with plenty of Irish soul.
University of Kentucky Choirs present the 18th annual Holiday Collage concert, featuring vocalists and musicians from the UK School of Music as well as The Lexington Singers and the Lexington Singers Children’s Choirs. The concert will be at the UK Singletary Center on December 5 at 2 & 7:30 pm and December 6 at 3 pm.
Lexington Art League’s Black Friday Art Sale at the Loudoun House December 5 & 6 gives you the chance to take care of holiday shopping needs with unique locally crafted products.
On December 5 & 6, the Lexington Children’s Theatre presents Junie B. Jones: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at 2 pm at the Lexington Opera House
Singletary Center Signature Series: Mark O’Connor’s “An Appalachian Christmas” at 7:30 pm, December 11. Now in its fifth nation wide tour, the show combines traditional Christmas songs with O’Connor’s aural folk style which has earned him eight Grammy nominations, two Grammy Awards, six consecutive years being named Musician of the Year by the Country Music Association, and seven National & Grand Master fiddling championships. O’Connor has also stood as a student, peer, and leader of a number of musicians, including: fiddler Benny Thomasson; French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli; classical violinists Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman and Yehudi Menhuin; contemporaries Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Allison Krauss.
UK Opera Theatre presents Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Lyric Theatre on December 11 at 7:30 pm and on December 12 at 2 & 7:30 pm.
The Christmas Experience at Immanuel Baptist Church is December 12 at 4 p.m. The Christmas tradition at Immanuel features a living nativity and Bethlehem scene, a Christmas tree forest, a train ride, holiday treats and crafts, a life-sized Candyland, and a community carol sing.
The Lexington Singers present Messiah at the UK Singletary Center at 8 pm on December 12. Featuring soprano Rebecca Farley, alto La’Shelle Allen, bass Eric Brown and special guest tenor, local superstar Gregory Turay, lauded by the London Times as “one of the brightest natural talents to have emerged from the US in recent years.”
On December 12, the Lexington Philharmonic and the Lexington Chamber Chorale present Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Gloria at the Cathedral of Christ the King at 8 pm. The music of modern masters John Taverner and Eric Whitacre complete the program, featuring the Chamber Chorale with soloists Ben Bliss (tenor) and Sarah Tucker (soprano).
The Lexington Ballet Company presents Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the EKU Center for the Arts at 2 pm and 7 pm on December 12. The Nutcracker tells the story of a little girl who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve, embarking on a journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. The Lexington Ballet performs the holiday classic under the direction of Luis Dominguez.
Kentucky Ballet Theatre also presents The Nutcracker at the Lexington Opera House on December 12 & 13 and December 19-20.
The Reindeer Ramble 5K at Keeneland on December 12 helps everyone get the jump on getting rid of those excess holiday pounds.
On December 13, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir presents the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christ Church Cathedral at 7 pm. This service is similar to the Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve service held in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, United Kingdom which is broadcast worldwide. “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” includes Christmas carols and readings from the Bible. The opening carol is always “Once in Royal David’s City,” which is sung as the choir processes into the nave. The service is preceded by an organ prelude starting at 6:30 pm.
Alltech Holiday Celebration of Song at The Square (W Main St and N Broadway) on December 13 at 5 & 7:30 pm. Conducted by Dr. Everett McCorvey, featuring award-winning vocalists from UK Opera Theatre and the Alltech Opera Scholarship Competition. A community sing-along of holiday favorites.
The Bluegrass Youth Ballet presents The Nutcracker in One Act at the UK Singletary Center for the Arts at 7 pm on Friday, December 18 and at 3 pm on Saturday, December 19.
Pancakes with Santa is on Saturday, December 19 from 9:30 – 11:30 am at Forcht Bank in Hamburg. The free breakfast includes pancakes, donuts, and fruit. Donations will be accepted for Visually Impaired Preschool. Special thanks to Nate’s Coffee and North Lime Coffee and Donuts.
Home for the Holiday at the Lyric Theatre at 2 pm & 7 pm on Saturday, December 19. The family-friendly theatrical is a three-act play celebrating the holiday season with family, fun, and faith. Written & directed by Dr. Eunice Beatty.
A Ceremony of Carols at Christ Church Cathedral on December 21 at noon. The Cathedral Girls Choir will be joined by harpist Elaine Cook for a performance of Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols.” Written for Christmas, the text is drawn from middle English poetry.
Jim Brickman’s 2015 Holiday Tour, Comfort & Joy, at the Lexington Opera House on Monday, December 28 at 7:30 pm. Brickman marks his 19-year coast-to-coast tradition by showcasing new music, along with holiday favorites and hits that made him the most charted (30) Billboard Adult Contemporary artist. Brickman has two Grammy’s and four gold albums, and his concert will feature musical guests and hits like “Valentine,” “If You Believe,” “The Gift,” and “Sending You a Little Christmas.”
The Lexington Philharmonic presents Take Five on New Year’s Eve! featuring the Brubeck Brothers Quartet at the Lexington Opera House. Join the high-octane jazz group at 7:30 pm on December 31.
Events Going on All Month:
Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park is Kentucky’s largest lights festival. There will be animated scenes featuring Santa, reindeer, elves, and other holiday characters. The drive-through portion remains open every night from 5:30 pm – 10 pm through December 31. Through December 23, you can also park and check out indoor exhibits and entertainment at the Horse Park, a petting zoo, and even talk to Santa. There will also be handmade arts and crafts and cookies. For more information, call (859) 255-5727.
The Triangle Park Ice Rink opens on November 13 and will remain open until January 10, 2016.
This article also appears on page 6, 7, and 8 of the November issue of the Hamburg Journal.
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