The Southern Lights holiday lights event, put on annually by the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation as a fundraiser in support of the Kentucky Horse Park, is in its final weeks.

From 5:30 until 10:00 pm each evening, visitors will be awed by the dazzling display of majestic lights. The drive will begin at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground, and will proceed through an enhanced dreamland of dazzling lighted and often animated figures. While many displays represent the holiday season, favorites are customized to represent the Bluegrass state.

Inside the park, visitors will be able to leave their cars behind to see a multitude of holiday happenings including seasonal entertainment, the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop and holiday craft vendors, Santa Claus and Frosty, an exotic petting zoo, pony rides, camel rides, the Mini-Train Express and model trains, dollhouses, the International Museum of the Horse, and the Bit & Bridle Restaurant serving dinner and seasonal goodies.

The lights are on each night through December 31, and the additional attractions inside the park will be open each night through December 23.

For more info -

www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KHPFoundation.org or call 859/255-5727

Admission -

Personal Vehicle -       Sunday – Thursday      $15.00

    Friday and Saturday     $20.00

Extended Van              $30.00

Limousine                    $30.00

Mini-Bus                      $50.00

School Bus                  $75.00

Motorcoach                 $125.00

Additional Attractions (through December 23 only) -

Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop

Holiday Craft Fair

Pony Rides and Camel Rides ($)

Exotic Petting Zoo

Santa Claus w/visits from Frosty, pictures with Santa by Lexington Rotary Club ($)

Mini-Train Express

Live Entertainment and Children’s Activities

Bluegrass Railroad Club Model Trains

The Bluegrass Miniature Society Dollhouses

International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate

Bit & Bridle Restaurant, home of Santa’s Workshop

Location and Parking-

Enter at KHP Campground entrance, drive through lights,

Park in Main Visitor Parking to go to additional attractions inside park (thru Dec. 23)

Directions* to the Kentucky Horse Park: http://kyhorsepark.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=610&Itemid=336

*Southern Lights Travel Tip: Come early and avoid I-75, exit 120, and Georgetown Road. Approach the Southern Lights entrance (KHP Campground) from the east, heading north from Newtown Pike or I-75, exit 115.

Dates and Times –

November 16 through December 31, 2012

5:30 to 10:00 pm each evening

Driving tour only December 24-31**

**(The additional Southern Lights attractions such as the KHP Gift Shop, craft vendors, Santa Claus, Mini-Train Express and model trains, Bit & Bridle Restaurant, International Museum of the Horse, dollhouses, pony rides, camel rides, and exotic petting zoo are open nightly through December 23.)

Prices and dates are subject to change without notice.

Military Night at Southern Lights is Tuesday, December 18. All military members who show their military ID will get free admission for one personal vehicle (up to 7 people) at the gate. So, we hope that all current and former members of the military bring out their families and enjoy Southern Lights, courtesy of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. With 3-miles of spectacular light displays, family activities, holiday shopping, museum, food and Santa Claus, it will be a fun evening to remember!

The lights are on each night, from 5:30 to 10:00 pm, through December 31, and the additional attractions inside the park will be open each night through December 23.

For more info -

www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KHPFoundation.org or call 859/255-5727

Southern Lights

Regular Admission -

Personal Vehicle -       Sunday – Thursday                  $15.00

Friday and Saturday    $20.00

Extended Van              $30.00

Limousine                    $30.00

Mini-Bus                      $50.00

School Bus                   $75.00

Motorcoach                $125.00

NOTE: Military Night with one free vehicle admission per legitimate military ID is December 18 only, there are no other military discounts

Additional Attractions -

Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop

Holiday Craft Fair

Pony Rides and Camel Rides ($)

Exotic Petting Zoo

Santa Claus with visits from Frosty, pictures with Santa by Lexington Rotary Club ($)

Mini-Train Express

Live Entertainment and Children’s Activities

Bluegrass Railroad Club Model Trains

The Bluegrass Miniature Society Dollhouses

International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate

Bit & Bridle Restaurant, home of Santa’s Workshop

Location and Parking-

Enter at KHP Campground entrance, drive through lights,

Park in Main Visitor Parking to go to additional attractions inside park

Directions* to the Kentucky Horse Park: http://kyhorsepark.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=610&Itemid=336

Travel tip: if you come from I-75 or from Lexington, you might find the wait a little shorter if you approach the Southern Lights entrance (KHP Campground) from Newtown Pike or Exit 115.

With the return of the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc., the Southern Lights Stroll once again debuts as its opening night on Thursday, November 15.  The only evening of the entire event when the public is allowed to experience a major portion of the lighted route on foot, visitors may choose to run, walk or stroll their way through thousands of dazzling holiday lights in the heart of horse country, on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park.

Now in its’ eleventh season, the Southern Lights Stroll has proven popular with casual walkers and families who bring out their children and pets to get photos and see the lights outside of a car, and with serious runners who come to compete in the 5K portion of the “stroll.” 

John’s Run/Walk Shop has donated their services to the competitive 5K race, and awards will be given to winners.  Additional activities include complimentary Mini Train Express rides, refreshments, prize drawings and more.  A food drive for God’s Pantry and local animal shelters will be held in conjunction with this event.  All participants are asked to bring non-perishable items to help the needy families of Central Kentucky and local animal shelters.

Pre-registration through November 10 is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids 7-12.  Registration after November 10 is $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for kids 7-12. Walk-up registration on November 15 begins at 5:00 pm, and the stroll begins at 6:45 pm.  Check-in is at the park’s Visitor Information Center.  The first 500 registered adults receive a free souvenir t-shirt and the first 200 registered kids receive a free holiday ornament compliments of Breyer.

All proceeds of Southern Lights and Southern Lights Stroll support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  The 2012 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. and the Holly and Ivy Sponsors are Kerr Brothers Funeral Home and Café Press Inc.  Additional sponsors are Pepsi, Breyer, Kentucky Utilities, SafetyTec, John’s Run/Walk Shop and the Mini Train Express Company.  In September, the American Bus Association (ABA) selected Southern Lights a Top 100 event for 2013, which is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada. 

Southern Lights is open from 5:30 pm to 10 pm nightly from November 16 to December 31, 2012.  Indoor attractions will be open every night except November 22 and December 24 - 31. The cost is $15.00 per car Sunday through Thursday and $20.00 per car on Friday and Saturday.  Contact the KHP Foundation for more information at (859) 255-5727, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or www.khpfoundation.org.

The registration form is downloadable here:  http://khpfoundation.org/southern-lights-stroll.html.

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The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fulfills its mission to enhance, expand and improve the Kentucky Horse Park by fundraising within the private sector.  This partnership between private donors and the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is what has enabled the incredible success of the Kentucky Horse Park.  Since its inception in 1985, the KHP Foundation has raised more than $25 million, which has funded critical improvements such as new facilities, research projects, new horses, landscaping ventures, and much more.

The Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota, is returning for the 19th year to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, from November 16 to December 31. In September, the American Bus Association (ABA) selected Southern Lights a Top 100 event for 2013, 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.

With all the family-friendly activities offered annually, Southern Lights has been a well-known Bluegrass tradition for almost twenty years now.  Kids of all ages delight in the holiday driving tour.  Visitors take in displays of the Christmas Village, the 12 Days of Christmas, Keeneland Race Track, Show Jumping, Steeplechase and the Spires of Churchill Downs—each composed of thousands of twinkling lights.  New this year will be several basketball themed light displays celebrating our 2012 National NCAA Champion UK Wildcats.

Southern Lights’ indoor attractions prove to be just as popular as the driving tour with its holiday craft merchants, the KHP Gift Shop full of gifts for under the tree, seasonal entertainment and children’s activities, the International Museum of the Horse, an exotic petting zoo, pony and camel rides, the Mini Train Express, model train displays and photos with Santa.  In recent years, more than 27,000 cars and 114,000 people have attended.

Southern Lights is open from 5:30 pm to 10 pm nightly. Indoor attractions will be open every night except November 22 and December 24 - 31. The cost is $15.00 per car Sunday through Thursday and $20.00 per car on Friday and Saturday.  In addition, the cost for an extended van or limousine is $30.00, a mini-bus is $50.00, a school bus is $75.00 and a motorcoach is $125.00.  Group admission is available by contacting Chris Nentwick in the KHP Foundation at 859/255-5727 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

All proceeds support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  The 2012 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota and the Holly and Ivy Sponsors are Kerr Brothers and Café Press.

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The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fulfills its mission to enhance, expand and improve the Kentucky Horse Park by fundraising within the private sector.  This partnership between private donors and the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is what has enabled the incredible success of the Kentucky Horse Park.  Since its inception in 1985, the KHP Foundation has raised more than $25 million, which has funded critical improvements such as new facilities, research projects, new horses, landscaping ventures, and much more.

Military Night at Southern Lights:
Spectacular Sights on Holiday Nights

Wednesday, December 7

Free admission for all current and retired military personnel and their families
on this special Southern Lights evening! 

The Southern Lights Holiday Festival is returning for the 18th year to the Kentucky Horse Park.

Kids and adults of all ages will delight in driving tour through 3 miles of light displays with themes such as the Christmas Village, the 12 Days of Christmas, Keeneland Race Track, Show Jumping, the Spires of Churchill Downs and a brand new dinosaur display—each composed of thousands of twinkling lights.