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Southern Lights

Featured Event

Southern Lights
Holiday Festival

The Southern Lights Holiday Festival presented by Friends of Coal
is a three-mile driving tour through brilliant holiday lights!

Southern Lights
Southern Lights
Southern Lights
Santa at Southern Lights
Smores Gathering
Mustang Troop Southern Lights
Kids Play at Southern Lights Playground

Spectacular Sights on Holiday Nights

Celebrating its 30th year at the Kentucky Horse Park, Southern Lights presented by Friends of Coal is a magical holiday tradition for thousands of families throughout the Bluegrass and beyond.  See over a million twinkling lights from the safety of your car.  Enjoy the return of the Holiday Village which promises to be brighter than ever!  Featuring photos with Santa, Animal Land, model trains, and so much more, the Southern Lights Holiday Village is sure to delight guests of all ages.

Event Information

Drive through the lights nightly, November 24-December 31, 2023 (Closed Christmas Day) from 5:30-10:00 pm. Avoid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and check this item off your list by pre-purchasing your tickets!

Tickets purchased online are $35 per carload.

Tickets purchased at the gate are $35 per carload. Cash or Credit Cards accepted.

Purchase Tickets
Southern Lights
Southern Lights
Southern Lights
Southern Lights
Southern Lights
Friends of Coal

Friends of Coal Partnership

The Southern Lights Holiday Festival is honored to partner with its presenting sponsor Friends of Coal. Thank you, Friends of Coal, for keeping the lights on!

2023

Santa's List

Santa’s List

Download Santa’s list, fill it out, and then drop it off in the North Pole Mailbox at Southern Lights.

Download Santas List

Plan Your Visit

Southern Lights is open nightly, November 24 -December 31 (Closed Christmas Day). Thursdays-Sundays are very popular nights at Southern Lights. During these nights, long lines and wait times should be expected. We highly recommend purchasing tickets online. 

Named one of Kentucky’s Top 10 Winter/Holiday Festivals and Events by Kentucky Travel and Tourism, Southern Lights is a favorite holiday tradition throughout the Bluegrass and beyond. Southern Lights is a three-mile driving tour of lights that is a joy for the whole family!

At the end of the route, we invite you to park and explore the Holiday Village (included in admission).  The Holiday Village features photos with Santa, Santa’s North Pole Mailbox (where children can drop off their Christmas List), Animal Land, Mini Train rides, Bluegrass Miniature Train Display, and the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop.  Grab a quick snack in the village or sit down for dinner at Tootie’s Peppermint Café to complete your visit.

Public restrooms are available by the Campground Entrance, Visitor Center, and restaurant.

Have more questions? Call us (833)-KY LIGHT (833-595-4448)

Southern Lights

Address & Directions

Kentucky Horse Park *Campground Entrance*
4089 Iron Works Pike
Lexington, KY 40511

The Kentucky Horse Park Campground Entrance is located approximately 4 miles north of Lexington’s New Circle Road and 9 miles from downtown Lexington, and 3 miles south of Georgetown on Iron Works Pike, at I-75, exit 120. The campground’s entrance is just east of the main entrance to the Kentucky Horse Park.

Please use “Iron Works Pike” (not “Iron Works Parkway”) when using GPS service, as this will take you to the park’s main entrance, and the campground is just a half-mile down the road from there.


From Louisville:

Follow I-64 E to KY-1973/Iron Works Pike in Lexington. Take exit 120 from I-75 N.
Follow Iron Works Pike for 2 min (0.6 mi) to the Kentucky Horse Park Campground Entrance.


From Cincinnati:

Drive from I-75 S to Lexington. Take exit 120 from I-75 S.
Follow Iron Works Pike for 3 min (0.9 mi) to the Kentucky Horse Park Campground Entrance.

Southern Lights

Tootie's Menu

Frequently Asked Questions

Attractions

Besides the driving route, the Holiday Village is open and includes:

Photos with Santa

Animal Land – Petting Zoo

Pony and Camel Rides

Vendors: The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop and The Cozy Mercantile

Food: Tootie’s Peppermint Cafe (sit down), Mack’s Candy Shack, The Original Kettle Korn, The Holiday Nut Hut

Mini Train Ride

The Bluegrass Miniature Train Exhibit.

If it’s not on the list it’s not open (i.e. the museum, additional vendors)

Yes, except for Santa, everything is open after Christmas:

Animal Land – Petting Zoo

Pony and Camel Rides

Vendors: The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop and The Cozy Mercantile

Food: Tootie’s Peppermint Cafe (sit down), Mack’s Candy Shack, The Original Kettle Korn, The Holiday Nut Hut

Mini Train Ride

The Bluegrass Miniature Train Exhibit.

If it’s not on the list, it’s not open (i.e. the museum, additional vendors)

Animal Land is a live zoo that is located under a tent.  You can also purchase:

a pony ride ($6)

a picture and a pony ride ($10)

a picture on a pony only ($6)

a camel ride ($6)

feed the animals ($1-$3 options to feed animals)

There will be a variety of animals, including baby camels, kangaroos, mini donkeys, mini-Zebras, sheep, goats, and alpacas.

$1 feed cone, $3 cup of carrots.

$6 per pony ride, $10 for a picture & a pony ride, $6 picture on a pony only, and $6 per camel ride.

There is no age requirement to ride either a pony or a camel.

There is a 100-pound weight limit on the ponies. Weight limits are at the discretion of the camel caretakers.

The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop will be open from 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. There will be a rotation of vendors on select nights.

Yes, The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop will be open from 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

The Holiday Village includes the Visitor Center, Restaurant, Animal Land, Santa’s Cabin, and Courtyards.

Dates/Time

Friday, November 24 – Sunday, December 31, 5:30-10:00 p.m. each night. Southern Lights will be closed Christmas Day (Dec. 25).

Santa is at Southern Lights each night from Nov. 24-Dec. 24., 5:30-10:00 p.m.

Nov. 24- Dec. 31., 5:30 -10:00 p.m. (Southern Lights is closed Christmas Day).

On high trafficked nights, guests will be allowed to experience Animal Land until 10:30 p.m.

Directions

Kentucky Horse Park
3785 Campground Road
Lexington, KY 40511

The Kentucky Horse Park Campground is located approximately 4 miles north of Lexington’s New Circle Road, 9 miles from downtown Lexington, and 3 miles south of Georgetown on Iron Works Pike, at I-75, exit 120.

Food & Beverage

Yes. The Original Kettle Korn, Tootie’s Peppermint Café, Mack’s Candy Shack, and The Holiday Nut Hut.

Yes, “Tootie’s Peppermint Café” will be open and offers open seating after you order your meal. Open the Café Menu!

The café offers family friendly food.  Think hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers fries, specialty non-alcoholic drinks and desserts.

Yes, at Tootie’s Peppermint Café.

Keeneland Kids Club Night

Thursday, December 14th

Keeneland’s Bucky the mascot will be at Southern Lights for photos and there will be giveaways!

Payment/Pricing

PURCHASED ONLINE: $35 personal car, extended van, RV, Limousine

PURCHASED AT THE TICKET BOOTH/ARRIVAL AT SOUTHERN LIGHTS: $35 personal car, Extended van, RV, Limousine at the ticket booth.

$100 Mini Bus (25 people and above)

$150 School Bus

$250 Motor Coach

We encourage you to purchase tickets online at www.southernlightsky.com.  You can also purchase tickets when you arrive at Southern Lights.

Cash, check or credit/debit cards are accepted for admission to drive through the lights.  Online tickets are available this year and encouraged, you can purchase your tickets at southernlightsky.com.

Pony & Camel rides are cash only.

No. Online tickets do not have their own line; it just quickens the process of not having to pay at the gate. Staff will scan barcodes at the gate for entry.

We cannot take payment over the phone. If someone wants to buy a ticket but cannot use the link, they can purchase a ticket at the gate.

Yes, entrance to the Holiday Village is included with your Southern Lights tickets.

There are additional costs for pony rides ($6), picture and a pony ride ($10), picture on a pony only ($6), and camel ride ($6) and any food you may wish to purchase.

Tickets are Non-Refundable. If the person persists, they can email disputes at foundation@khpfoudation.org.

Tickets are valid any day and time through Dec. 31, 2023.

No. If it says sold out online, you can still purchase tickets upon arrival at the gate / ticket booth.

No, they can scan your phone at the gate.

Purchased tickets will be honored any day and time if you cannot make your original designated day and time. Etix customer service can help with additional questions- open 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 1-800-514-3849

$1 feed cone, $3 cup of carrots.

$6 per pony ride, $10 for a picture & a pony ride, $6 picture on a pony only, and $6 per camel ride.

No, there is no will-call available.  We encourage you to purchase tickets online at www.sourthernlightsky.com.

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Yes, the ATMs are located in the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop, Gate House located near parking lot, Restaurant and Holiday Village courtyard.

Southern Lights is a fundraiser for the Kentucky Horse Park. We continue to strive to make this an affordable event for the whole family.

No. Southern Lights is a fundraiser for the Kentucky Horse Park and like many other events this year costs to hold the event have increased. We continue to strive to make this an affordable event for the whole family.

All requests should be made in writing by emailing foundation@khpfoundation.org

We are unable to offer discounts this year to state/government employees.

All requests should be made in writing by emailing foundation@khpfoundation.org

Yes, buses can drive through and do not need a reservation.

Mini Bus $100

School Bus $150

Motor Coach $250

Pets

Leashed pets are allowed, but not in the Animal Land tent or in the Restaurant unless they are certified service animals. 

Radio Station

No.

Religious Displays

88.3 FM

Restrooms

There are porta-lets located at the beginning of the route and restrooms at the Visitor Center and Restaurant and gate house located near parking lot.

Santa

Yes, Santa will be available for photos this year Nov. 24-Dec. 24 from 5:30-10:00 p.m.

Each family will receive one complimentary photo.  Additional photos are available for purchase for $5 each.

No. Santa’s last night at Southern Lights is December 24th

No. The Southern Lights entrance is one way and begins with the light displays. You will enter Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park CAMPGROUND entrance for the driving tour, arriving at Animal Land at the end of the driving route.

Traffic

Yes! Please come prepared to wait in line. On SOLD OUT nights the wait can extend to 3 hours.  Bring dinner, snacks, a movie…whatever you need to keep folks entertained.

There are 3 miles of lights to see at Southern Lights.

Weeknights are typically slower than weekends. Historically our busiest times are from the second week in December through Christmas.

Military & First Responder Night

Tuesday, December 5th & Wednesday, December 13th, 2023. Free admission for military and first responders that show valid ID at the gate.  Allows for 1 car free.  All active and veterans are eligible, along with nurses, doctors, EMTs, policemen, and firemen.

We only offer free admission on those two Military & First Responder Nights with valid ID (Dec. 5 & Dec. 13). No other nights will be honored.

Miscellaneous

No. The Southern Lights Tour is a vehicle tour only.  For your safety, no other modes of transportation are allowed.

At this time, we are not able to offer carriage rides.

Due to safety concerns, riding through Southern Lights in the back of a pick-up truck or in/on a trailer that is connected to a vehicle is prohibited.

Yes, we are wheelchair accessible. *We do not offer wheelchair rentals.

No.

There is no place at the Kentucky Horse Park to do so.  In years past, visitors have contacted the Valero Gas Station and Cane Run Baptist Church (both located on Iron Works Pike) to receive permission to park.

Photos with Santa, ponies, and various cutout photo opportunities will be available.

Keeneland will be hosting a Kids Club Night on Dec. 14th

No.

Please contact the Southern Lights office by email foundation@khpfoundation.org for available options.

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Weather

Southern Lights is open rain or shine! On very rare occasions, when driving conditions are deemed extremely hazardous due to ice or heavy snow, we might cancel the event. Local media outlets would carry the closing on their list of weather-related closings in that event.

Animal Land, Santa and the pony & camel rides are all located outside. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

SOUTHERN LIGHTS & 5K STROLL

Yes. The Southern Lights Stroll will take place on Saturday, November 18th. You can pre-register online at

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. The 5K race will start at 6:00 p.m., and the Stroll will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Early packet pickup will be in the Visitor Information Center on the following dates:

Wednesday, November 15th 4:30 – 7 pm

Thursday, November 16th 4:30-7 pm

Friday, November 17th 4:30 -7 pm

Packet pickup will begin at 4:30 on race day (Saturday, Nov. 18)

Please arrive at least 30 mins before the race start time if you’re in the competitive race. Traffic will be heavy, so plan to give yourself plenty of time to enter the KHP, park your car and get into the starting line! If you’re planning to walk in the stroll, you’ll be able to start anytime between 6:15 and 7:15! (Recommendation – arrive at 6:15 to avoid traffic from race participants!)

Free parking is available in the Visitor Center parking lot.

$40.00. Your race registration includes a race number with timing chip and a Stroll shirt.

$30.00 and includes a Stroll shirt.

Kids under 12 are free and do not need to register unless they would like a shirt. Kids 7-12 can register as an adult to receive a shirt ($30.00).

Online registration will close on Saturday, November 18th at 4:00.

Yes.

Leashed dogs are welcome.

Yes. A list of vendor and activities can be found at khpfoundation.org/southern-lights-stroll/

SPONSORSHIP/GROUP SALES

Please contact Kathy Meyer at the Southern Lights office: Kathy.meyer@khpfoundation.org

Please email Elizabeth Bartlett at E.bartlett@khpfoundation.org

All Group sales inquiries should be sent to: chris.nentwick@khpfoundation.org

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