Jingle, Jingle! It’s almost time to ring in the holidays in Kentucky
From traditional performances to pop concerts to holiday events, shopping and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all across the state. Plan to attend one or more of these performances, concerts and holiday events to get you and your family in the holiday spirit.
Performances
Taking in a holiday play, ballet or other performance is a great way for to start or continue a family tradition. If visions of sugar plum fairies dance in your mind, then the Louisville Ballet’s The Brown-Forman Nutcracker is a perfect choice! Offered on select dates in December at Whitney Hall inside the Kentucky Center in downtown Louisville, this is a favorite performance for people of all ages. For an electrifying, spectacular holiday sight, check out the Cirque Dreams Holidaze in Lexington’s Rupp Arena on December 2. There’s also the StageOne Family Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, set for December 11 and December 18 in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center. Or, if you’re not quite ready for the holiday season like the infamous Grinch, head to the Carson Center in Paducah on November 13 for Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.
Concerts
You can have a holly jolly good time in the Bluegrass State with a number of holiday concerts, too. The Louisville Orchestra has two performances set for the Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 27, in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center. The first is the Jingle Bell Concert, featuring the joyful music of Yuletide with a fun audience sing-along, while the second is the Holiday Pops concert featuring a fresh take on holiday music classics. Over at the KFC Yum! Center, there’s For King & Country’s A Drummer Boy Christmas set for November 28 and Pentatonix’s The Evergreen Christmas Tour 2021 on December 11.
Other Louisville holiday concerts to consider include: An Acoustic Holiday Show with Over the Rhine and Carrie Newcomer in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center on December 9 and Kentucky Performing Arts Presents Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2021 With Special Guests Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun and Introducing Rebecca Jade on December 12 in the Brown Theatre.
In western Kentucky, check out the Steven Curtis Chapman Acoustic Christmas concert at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro on December 13. On the other end of the state in eastern Kentucky, take in the David Phelps It Must Be Christmas Show on December 20 in Ashland’s historic Paramount Arts Center.
More Holiday Fun
Something new and fun to explore this holiday season is the Belle of Louisville's First Mates Market, a holiday craft show and bazaar. The dockside event is free to attend. Visit the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland to be dazzled by the annual Festival of Trees and Trains event, November 19-28. Wander through the decorated trees, listen to the holiday entertainment and check out the fun children’s activities. See more holiday trains in northern Kentucky at the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Choo, Choo! The museum’s annual Holiday Traditions event runs November 13 through January 9.
Families can kick off the holiday season in the state capital during Frankfort’s Candlelight Weekend November 11-14. The special event features live music, trolley and carriage rides, family friendly activities and treats, evening holiday shopping with local stores staying open late plus the tree in front of the Old State Capitol building is lit up. Don’t forget to shop local and support local businesses such as the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea on November 27th for Small Business Saturday!
Performances
Taking in a holiday play, ballet or other performance is a great way for to start or continue a family tradition. If visions of sugar plum fairies dance in your mind, then the Louisville Ballet’s The Brown-Forman Nutcracker is a perfect choice! Offered on select dates in December at Whitney Hall inside the Kentucky Center in downtown Louisville, this is a favorite performance for people of all ages. For an electrifying, spectacular holiday sight, check out the Cirque Dreams Holidaze in Lexington’s Rupp Arena on December 2. There’s also the StageOne Family Theatre: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, set for December 11 and December 18 in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center. Or, if you’re not quite ready for the holiday season like the infamous Grinch, head to the Carson Center in Paducah on November 13 for Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.
Concerts
You can have a holly jolly good time in the Bluegrass State with a number of holiday concerts, too. The Louisville Orchestra has two performances set for the Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 27, in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center. The first is the Jingle Bell Concert, featuring the joyful music of Yuletide with a fun audience sing-along, while the second is the Holiday Pops concert featuring a fresh take on holiday music classics. Over at the KFC Yum! Center, there’s For King & Country’s A Drummer Boy Christmas set for November 28 and Pentatonix’s The Evergreen Christmas Tour 2021 on December 11.
Other Louisville holiday concerts to consider include: An Acoustic Holiday Show with Over the Rhine and Carrie Newcomer in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center on December 9 and Kentucky Performing Arts Presents Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2021 With Special Guests Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun and Introducing Rebecca Jade on December 12 in the Brown Theatre.
In western Kentucky, check out the Steven Curtis Chapman Acoustic Christmas concert at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro on December 13. On the other end of the state in eastern Kentucky, take in the David Phelps It Must Be Christmas Show on December 20 in Ashland’s historic Paramount Arts Center.
More Holiday Fun
Something new and fun to explore this holiday season is the Belle of Louisville's First Mates Market, a holiday craft show and bazaar. The dockside event is free to attend. Visit the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland to be dazzled by the annual Festival of Trees and Trains event, November 19-28. Wander through the decorated trees, listen to the holiday entertainment and check out the fun children’s activities. See more holiday trains in northern Kentucky at the Behringer-Crawford Museum. Choo, Choo! The museum’s annual Holiday Traditions event runs November 13 through January 9.
Families can kick off the holiday season in the state capital during Frankfort’s Candlelight Weekend November 11-14. The special event features live music, trolley and carriage rides, family friendly activities and treats, evening holiday shopping with local stores staying open late plus the tree in front of the Old State Capitol building is lit up. Don’t forget to shop local and support local businesses such as the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea on November 27th for Small Business Saturday!