• Over 20 years ago, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation presented the first ever driving tour of holiday lights, aimed at attracting the local community. Today, Southern Lights, featuring more than four miles of holiday lights displayed along a driving route through the Kentucky Horse Park, has evolved to attract over 120,000 visitors each year from across Kentucky and surrounding states. At the end of the tour, families are encouraged to park and walk inside the park’s entrance to enjoy local crafts, model trains and mini train rides, visits with Santa, and an exotic petting zoo. For more information, go to www.southernlightsky.org
• Illuminated Evening starts Friday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and runs through Dec. 23. “In addition to regular Holiday festivities, Illuminated Evenings will feature caroling choirs, roaring fires, twinkling lights and special visits with Mrs. Claus. Each Saturday will feature different performers, programs and tours.” Also, the shops at Shaker Hill will be opened for extended hours and with new Christmas merchandise.
• The first annual Christmas Crawl to support Surgery On Sunday, Inc. will be held Friday, Dec. 2 from 5:45 p.m. to midnight. The $10 entry fee gets you a 12 Bars of Christmas t-shirt and drink specials at 12 bars including Belles, Henry Clay, McCarthy’s, Harveys, Stagger Inn, Sky Bar, Centro, Bluegrass Tavern, Wildcat Saloon, Parlay Social, Cheapside, and Rosebuds. Organizers would like to thank event sponsors Jim Beam and Rhinegeist. Costumes are welcomed.
• There will be a Breakfast with Santa Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8 until 10 a.m. at Applebee’s, 1856 Alysheba Way, sponsored by the Central Kentucky Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. to support the group’s mission of investing in programs and services that create a strong foundation for children. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be the special invited guests.
• St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at 2025 Bellefonte Drive will host “Holiday Memories: New Song in the Bluegrass Holiday Concert” Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. This is a benefit concert for the Pride Community Services Organization. The suggested donation is $12. Children 6 and over welcome.
• The Lexington Christmas Parade will be on Main Street between Midland and Mill on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
• Friends of Bluegrass Conservancy will host Jingle Bell Bash at the Hunt-Morgan House on Friday, Dec. 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Celebrate Bluegrass land conservation with live music, food, drinks, and a silent auction. For ticket information, contact Laura at 859.255.4552 or email lmiller@bluegrassconservancy.org.
• The Lexington Philharmonic will host A Cathedral Christmas at Cathedral of Christ the King on Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. “The Cathedral of Christ the King will resound with joyful sounds of chamber choirs, soloists, and orchestra in A Cathedral Christmas! Emerging soloists Jarrett Ott, baritone and Sarah Shafer, soprano and organist Jon Johnson perform works by John Rutter, Gerald Finzi, Vaughan Williams, and Bach with the Lexington Chamber Chorale and the chamber choir ECCO.”
• The Willows in Hamburg invites the community for a special Christmas event Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 until 11 a.m. This is a free event for the entire community. The public is invited for breakfast and pictures with Santa Claus. For more information, call 859.543.0337.
• Holiday Classic On Ice will be presented Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Lexington Ice Center from 5 until 7 p.m. The Thoroughbred Figure Skating Club will present Holiday Classics on Ice, featuring the Grinch, Charlie Brown, and others.
• Immanuel Baptist Church will host Jingle Jam Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. This event is billed as “a Christmas party big enough for the whole family.” The Jingle Jam will be held at the church’s worship center.
• A Jazzy Holiday Concert takes place in the Singletary Center Recital Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
This article also appears on page 8 of the December 2016 printed edition of the Hamburg Journal. For more Hamburg area news, subscribe to the Hamburg Journal weekly digital newsletter.
