Top Holiday Road Trips

What are some great Central Kentucky holiday trips that are very close or just a few hours away? Here’s a list of some wonderful Christmas and seasonal fun in Central KY.

Start near home and work your way all around the region!

For more information about an event or destination, just click it!

Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park

November 27, 2026 – December 31, 2026

Enjoy this Central KY tradition with a car full of family or friends. Load up and drive through the thousands of lights then stop by the indoor displays to see Santa, train displays, the petting zoo and more!

Illuminated Evenings at Shaker Village

Saturday, December 5, 12 & 19, 2026
4 pm – 8 pm

During the holiday season, Shaker Village will bustle with light-hearted moments that remind us of long-ago winter days filled with wonder and laughter. Make time to delight in life’s simple gifts with family and friends, as lively music, merriment and candlelight illuminate the Village.

Holiday Performances

Enjoy The Nutcracker, holiday music, movies and more!

Holiday Train Rides

Enjoy Santa Trains at the Bluegrass Railway Museum
Enjoy the North Pole Express and the Santa Express

Devine’s Christmas on the Farm

Watch for 2026 Dates
Open Fridays & Saturdays, we’re transforming the farm into a twinkling wonderland of lights, laughter, and Christmas cheer. Stroll beneath the sparkling displays, sip on cozy hot chocolate, and let the sounds of the season fill your heart.

Lights Under Louisville

November 13, 2026 – January 2, 2027
1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville, KY 40213

Louisville Mega Cavern’s Lights Under Louisville returns with more than 40 themed displays, multiple projection areas, approximately 900 lit characters, new exciting themes, two laser locations, multiple light tunnels, holiday music and over 6,000,000 points of light that will immerse visitors in a megadose of holiday cheer. It’s the only underground light show of its kind on the planet!

LIGHTS UNDER LOUISVILLE at the Louisville Mega Cavern allows the public to drive their own vehicle through the cavern during the Christmas season. Experience this one of a kind holiday attraction and begin a new family tradition! Load up the kids and enjoy the sights and sounds of LIGHTS UNDER LOUISVILLE.

A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland

November 6, 2026 – January 2, 2027

Experience So Much Christmas with dazzling displays, tempting treats, holiday shows, and festive activities throughout the resort. Our signature attraction, ice!™ featuring “Home Alone” brings beloved scenes to life through colorful, colossal ice sculptures.

Race down our exhilarating ice tubing lanes for frosty thrills the whole family will love. Then, be mesmerized by POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance, our spectacular new holiday cirque show featuring world-class acrobatics, original music, and dazzling production. Whether you’re staying overnight or visiting for the day, it’s the ultimate way to create lasting holiday memories together!

Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights

November 19, 2026 – January 3, 2027

The Cincinnati Zoo will still be shining bright as we’re once again transformed into a “Wild Wonderland” for the 40th annual PNC Festival of Lights! Come early for more animals and stay for the lights!

In addition to admiring the beauty of 4 million LED lights, visitors can find the 5 Fiona fairies in Fairyland, take in a blacklight puppet show, marvel at the spectacular Wild Lights show on Swan Lake, or snack at one of two S’mores-n-More stands.

Holiday Junction at the Cincinnati Museum Center

November 13, 2025 through January 4, 2027
Daily hours vary

The Duke Energy Holiday Trains have been a Cincinnati holiday staple for eight decades, delighting generations since they first debuted downtown in 1946. Track-level views reveal intricate details of the display, where over 300 rail cars and 50 locomotives steam past anxious passengers waiting to board while cars sit with snow to their hubcaps and the perfect trees strapped to their roofs.

Holiday Junction features bursts of winter whimsy that greet you as soon as you enter the door. The Northern Lights display serves as the perfect backdrop for family photos as wispy green lights dance behind you and snow-rimmed trees surround you. The history of the Duke Energy Holiday Trains is also told through an interactive storybook filled with photos of the iconic trains over the decades.

The Holiday Scavenger Hunt features hidden objects in the garden railway layout begging you to walk around, peel your eyes and scour every detail tucked away in the snowy hills.

Of course, no holiday is complete without a visit to Santa. Santa makes his grand arrival on Friday, November 27. You can visit the jolly elf by his fireplace in the Ruthven Gallery.

Also returning this year is the OMNIMAX® film Rocky Mountain Express, where you can immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Canadian Rockies aboard a historic steam locomotive. Plus, experience a new domed screen rail adventure with the debut of Train Time in the OMNIMAX® Theater.

Click HERE for the Lex Fun 4 Kids Review of the Museum Center.

Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill

Select Nights, November 27 – December 23, 2026
1122 Main Street, Millersburg, KY 40348
Entry Fee/Online Tickets – $18.50 per person, Kids 7 & Under – $1

Wander through a dazzling light display that transforms our historic Kentucky campus into a glowing spectacle. Your general admission grants you access to enchanting features like the magnificent Gingerbread Exhibits showcasing artistry from across the country. You can also explore the Artisans Market to find unique handcrafted gifts, enjoy the cheerful atmosphere of the Holiday Tent Cafe with live music, and grab a festive bite from our gourmet Food Trucks. It’s a place to slow down, share a cozy moment with loved ones, and immerse yourself in the warm spirit of Christmas.