Tag Archives: Southern Lights

Community/Charity

Kentucky Horse Park Hours Adjusted for Holidays

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Park Closed Dec. 24-25, 31, Jan. 1; Southern Lights Open Nightly through Dec. 31

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 7, 2015) – The Kentucky Horse Park will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24-25), and again New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (Thursday and Friday, Dec. 31 – Jan. 1). The park is normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during the winter season, so the park will also be closed as scheduled on Dec. 21-22 and 28-29.

The park will be open Wednesday, Dec. 23, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 26-27, and Wednesday, Dec. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will reopen in 2016 on Saturday, Jan. 2, with the regular winter schedule of Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Kentucky Horse Park’s Bit & Bridle Restaurant will be closed for the holidays starting Dec. 14, reopening Wednesday, Jan. 6.

The Showplace for Saddlebreds, the American Saddlebred Museum and Gift Shop, will be closed the same days as the Kentucky Horse Park.

The special holiday driving event, Southern Lights, is open every night from now until Dec. 31, 2015 from 5:30-10 p.m. The Holiday Festival attractions inside the park are open through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Only the lighted driving portion will be open from Dec. 24-31. The cost is $15 per car Monday through Thursday evenings and $25 per car on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Dec. 20, and then $15 every night until Dec. 31.

Information about the Kentucky Horse Park is available at 859-233-4303, 800-678-8813 or www.KyHorsePark.com. Information about Southern Lights is available through the KHP Foundation at 859-255-5727 or at www.SouthernLightsKy.org.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Community/Charity

Southern Lights Holiday Festival Returns

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Family-Favorite Event Runs Nov. 20 – Dec. 31 at Kentucky Horse Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2015) – A family tradition in Kentucky, the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc., returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Nov. 20 – Dec. 31. More than 125,000 individuals in more than 30,000 vehicles attend Southern Lights annually from Kentucky and beyond, making Southern Lights a premier holiday event in the region and nation.

With all the family-friendly activities offered, Southern Lights has grown into a well-known Bluegrass tradition over the last 22 years. Kids of all ages delight in the holiday driving tour. Visitors take in the “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Keeneland race track, the spires of Churchill Downs and a wide variety of holiday, equine-themed and pop culture iconic displays, comprising thousands of twinkling lights.

Following the driving tour, families are encouraged to park their vehicles and walk into the park’s main campus to visit the Holiday Festival attractions. This non-driving portion of Southern Lights features the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop, holiday craft merchants, seasonal entertainment, an exotic petting zoo, pony and camel rides, the Mini Train Express, model train and dollhouse displays, and photos with Santa. The Bit & Bridle Restaurant will be serving holiday fare as will other food vendors, including Papa John’s, Original Kettle Corn, High Horizons Coffee, and Bluegrass Concessions.

The Southern Lights driving route is open 5:30-10 p.m. nightly. The Holiday Festival attractions will be open every night except Nov. 26 and Dec. 24-31. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of shorter lines and lower prices by visiting Southern Lights Monday through Thursday evenings this year.

The cost per passenger car (up to 7 passengers) is $15 Monday through Thursday evenings and $25 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The cost for an extended van, RV or limousine (up to 15 passengers) is $35, a minibus (up to 25 passengers) is $60, a school bus is $75 and a motorcoach is $125. Companies and organizations may pre-purchase discounted admission tickets to Southern Lights by contacting the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. No discounts will be available at the admission gate.

All proceeds from Southern Lights support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. The 2015 Southern Lights Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc.; the Holly & Ivy Sponsor is Kerr Brothers Funeral Homes; the Ribbons & Bows Sponsors are Central Bank, Kentucky Utilities and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives; and the Thirsty Thursday Sponsor is Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated.

Breyer Nights, with giveaways by Breyer Model Horses, will be Monday – Thursday, Nov. 30 – Dec. 3; Toyota Night at Southern Lights will be Wednesday, Dec. 9; Military Night will be Wednesday, Dec. 16, allowing all active and retired military and their families one free car admission by showing a military I.D. at the gate; and Thirsty Thursdays, with giveaways from the Coca Cola Bottling Company, will be every Thursday night during Southern Lights.

Information on Southern Lights may be obtained by contacting the KHP Foundation at 859- 255-5727 or at foundation@khpfoundation.org, or by visiting www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KyHorsePark.com.

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov

Laura Klumb
859-255-5727
Laura.Klumb@khpfoundation.org

Community/Charity

Southern Lights Holiday Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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American Bus Association Names Southern Lights a Top 100 Event for 2013 and 2014

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., returns to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Nov. 22 – Dec. 31. In addition to reaching the milestone of two decades as a tradition for Kentucky families, Southern Lights has also achieved status as a premier holiday event in the region and nation.  More than 115,000 individuals in more than 27,000 vehicles attend Southern Lights annually.

The American Bus Association (ABA) selected Southern Lights a Top 100 event for 2013 and 2014, which is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada.  Winners are chosen from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, fairs, commemorative events and more that have been nominated by ABA members.  The Southeast Tourism Society has again selected Southern Lights a Top 20 Event among states across the Southeast, and the Kentucky Travel Industry Association annually selects Southern Lights as a Top 10 Winter/Holiday Event in Kentucky.

With all the family-friendly activities offered, it is no wonder Southern Lights has grown into such a well-known Bluegrass tradition over the last 20 years.  Kids of all ages delight in the holiday driving tour.  Visitors take in the Christmas Village, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Keeneland Race Track, Show Jumping, Steeplechase and the Spires of Churchill Downs – displays comprising thousands of twinkling lights.  New this year will be several Wizard of Oz light displays featuring favorite characters Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, and the Wicked Witch.

Following the driving tour, families are encouraged to park their vehicles and visit Southern Lights’ other attractions inside the park, featuring holiday craft merchants, the KHP Gift Shop – perfect for Christmas shopping, seasonal entertainment and activities for children, an exotic petting zoo, pony and camel rides, the Mini Train Express, model train and dollhouse displays, and photos with Santa.  This year, guests can also enjoy an encounter with live reindeer.

The Southern Lights driving route is open from 5:30-10 p.m. nightly. The other attractions inside the park will be open every night except Nov. 28 and Dec. 24-31. The cost is $15 per passenger car Sunday through Thursday evenings and $20 per passenger car on Friday and Saturday nights.  The cost for an extended van or limousine is $30, a mini-bus is $50, a school bus is $75 and a motorcoach is $125.

The Southern Lights Stroll, on Thursday, Nov. 21, is the only night the lights can be viewed on foot.  Featuring a competitive 5K race in addition to the leisurely stroll available to families, the Southern Lights Stroll is $20 for adults and includes a long-sleeved T-shirt for the first 500 registered adults; $15 for kids 7-12 includes a souvenir holiday item for the first 200 registered children.  Sponsored in part by John’s Run/Walk Shop, the event features race awards, prize drawings, refreshments, entertainment, the Mini Train Express and more.

All proceeds support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  The 2013 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky Inc.; the Holly & Ivy Sponsors are Kerr Brothers and Cafe Press Inc.; and the Ribbons & Bows Sponsor is Kentucky Utilities.

Information on Southern Lights, group admission, Southern Lights Stroll registration and more can be obtained by contacting the KHP Foundation at 859- 255-5727 or at foundation@khpfoundation.org, or by visiting www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KyHorsePark.com.

Some electronic map services available on Apple and Android mobile and auto GPS devices are not providing accurate directions to the Kentucky Horse Park.  We recommend that visitors use home computers to access a mapping service for directions, use the directions provided on the KHP website (available on the widget on the right-hand side under Park Info/Address or at the top under Visitor Info), follow the brown highway signs or call ahead to double-check their route.  Additionally, we recommend that out-of-town visitors use Interstate 75, Exit 115 (Newtown Pike) instead of Exit 120 (Georgetown Road) to access the Southern Lights entrance at the KHP Campground to help avoid congestion and a left-hand turn across traffic into the park.  (Link to directions: http://www.kyhorsepark.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=610&Itemid=336.)

Lisa Jackson
Kentucky Horse Park
859-259-4224
Lisa.Jackson@ky.gov