Family activities make the holidays magical. While you can always make memories around the fireplace at home, your family should explore everything the Kentuckiana area has to offer. Check out some of the best Christmas shows in Kentucky that won’t break the bank. You’ll plan plenty of fun over the coming weeks without dipping into Santa’s gift budget to make the holidays even more special this year. Here are 8 affordable Christmas shows in Kentucky for 2024 –
1. Christmas in the Park
Kick off the Christmas season on November 27 by taking your family down to Freeman Lake Park. It’s home to Christmas in the Park, a free light show that runs through January 1. Drive your family’s car through more than 100 light displays along the park’s designated roadway. Once your radio tunes in to the corresponding station for the show, turn off your headlights so the lights shine brighter than the stars.
This event is great for families with young kids. The light show starts each night at 6 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to see the show before tucking your little ones into bed.
Price: Free (Donations Accepted)
2. Gardens Aglimmer
For the fifth year in a row, the Waterfront Botanical Gardens will get merry and bright with festive lights, twinkling displays and Christmas guests, including Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves. The botanical garden light show runs from November 29 to December 30, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to bundle up and bring the family to explore a winter wonderland. There are two special nights to note throughout the season, including an adults-only date night (December 11) and a sensory-friendly night (December 16).
Price: $17 per Adult, $10 per Child (Free Admission for Kids Under 3)
3. A Dickens Christmas Festival
The holiday season might not feel complete without a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. This year, your family could visit them instead. Drive over to the Kentucky Renaissance Festival grounds starting on December 7 to walk through interactive scenes from “A Christmas Carol.”
Your little ones can participate in the story before everyone checks out booths set up by local artists and food vendors. It’s an all-ages event your family will never forget.
Price: $17.76 per Person (Free Admission for Kids Under 10)
4. A Fairy Tale Christmas
The Derby Dinner Playhouse will showcase A Fairy Tale Christmas for almost a month this year. Starting on November 16, your family can watch famous storybook characters gather for the Crystal Christmas Ball. You can also order a meal during the show from the Playhouse’s extensive menu.
Worried about your picky eaters? A kid’s buffet is also included with your ticket price. There’s something for people of all ages at A Fairy Tale Christmas, which makes it worth checking out before the holiday season ends this year.
Price: $20 per Person for Breakfast and $25 per Person for Dinner
5. Pentatonix
You can’t listen to the radio during the Christmas season and not hear Pentatonix. They’re the Grammy-winning, EMMY-nominated acapella quintet you might have seen get their start to fame on NBC’s “The Sing-Off.”
Take your family to the KFC Yum Center to watch them perform their Christmas hits on Tuesday, December 10. The show’s visuals will dazzle your loved ones long before the singing even begins.
Price: Starting at $29.50 per Person
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas
Many families welcome the Christmas season with the Charlie Brown Christmas special. It’s a classic, heartwarming tradition that’s coming to the Brown Theater on December 6. Take your family to one of the best Christmas events in Kentucky by checking out the show together.
You’ll see a 90-minute performance where the entire Peanuts gang acts out the movie you love with colorful lights and outstanding sets that create extra holiday magic.
Price: Starting at $40.95 per Person
7. Lights Under Louisville
Take your family on a drive through the Louisville Mega Cavern. The team hangs seven million lights each year and connects them to a radio station so they flash in sync with the Christmas music you’ll hear in your car. It’s an unforgettable experience and one of the most unique Christmas shows in Kentucky.
Price: $42.99 per Standard Vehicle
8. Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a Nutcracker show. The iconic holiday ballet is coming to the Louisville Palace on December 10, so mark your calendar. The dazzling costumes, incredible choreography and romantic storyline always signal that the Christmas season is here. Make it extra eventful by dressing up in your finest winter clothes for the spectacular show.
Price: Starting at $60 per Person
Stop By the Best Christmas Shows in Kentucky
Add some new experiences to your family’s holiday traditions by visiting the most affordable Christmas shows in Kentucky. You’ll find new ways to celebrate the season without feeling cooped up at home. You never know which event could become your children’s new favorite way to get into the holiday spirit.
