Plus, a new $41.9 million elementary school.
 
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38° | Partly cloudy | 7% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:54 a.m. | Sunset 5:30 p.m.
 

❄️ Winter fun

Winter events happening in and around Lexington
An elaborate gingerbread house featuring reds, blues, greens and pink
A show-stopping gingerbread house from a previous year at Mustard Seed Hill. | Photo by @mustardseedhillky
Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Lexington. From light displays to holiday performances and festive shopping opportunities, winter is just around the corner for the Horse Capital of the World.

Gather the family and friends to celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 27 winter events happening between now and January.

Shop local markets

Crafted Social: Winter Market | Greyline Station | Friday, Dec. 8 + Saturday, Dec. 9 | Free, price of purchase
Shop from a variety of crafts people including traditional and contemporary artists + functional designers selling items like ceramics, fiberwork, and paper goods.

A holiday lights display on a snowy road

Southern Lights was ranked as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society. | Photo courtesy of @southernlights_ky

Light displays

Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill | Mustard Seed Hill | Now through Saturday, Dec. 23 | $0-$15
This is the perfect place to bring your out-of-town visitors. Find a gift at the artisan’s market, drool over the gingerbread house displays, and stroll along the three-acre holiday light display.

A wagon full of people at night with holiday lights

Hop on the Jingle Bell Shuttle at the Illuminated Evenings. | Photo courtesy of Shaker Village

Festive fun

Illuminated Evenings | Shaker Village | Saturday, Dec. 9 + Saturday, Dec. 16 | $0-$8
Explore the magic + merriment of the season with holiday crafts, bonfires with s’mores, special musical performances, and a visit from jolly ol’ St. Nicholas himself.

Holiday performances

The Aerial Nutcracker | Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center | Friday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 17 | $40
This classic holiday show gets a fresh perspective with Sora Aerial Arts taking it to new heights.

A Very Darren Crissmas | Lexington Opera House | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | $49.50-$75
The multifaceted recording artist — who’s also appeared on TV and Broadway — is coming to town for a stop on his merry musical holiday tour.
City Guides are presented by VisitLEX.
22 more experiences
Question

The most wonderful time of year to get out and explore the city is…
A. Spring
B. Summer
C. Fall
D. Winter
E. All of them
Let us snow
VisitLEX
 
Events
Wednesday, Dec. 6
  • Christmas Tree Trail | Wednesday, Dec. 6 | Times vary | Common Ground Resource Center, 102 S. Second St., Wilmore | Free | View + bid on dozens of decorated trees donated by local businesses — proceeds benefit Jessamine County Food Pantry.
  • 5 Across December Finals | Wednesday, Dec. 6 | 5-7 p.m. | The Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main St., Lexington | $5 | This entrepreneur pitch competition hosted by Awesome Inc will see five local startups pitch for a $55,000 cash prize.
Thursday, Dec. 7
  • Bourbon & Sweets Tasting | Thursday, Dec. 7 | 7-8 p.m. | The Kentucky Castle, 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles | $74.76 | Sip + sample four Kentucky bourbons, each thoughtfully paired with a locally sourced sweet treat, then go home with your own branded Glencairn glass.
Friday, Dec. 8
  • MIXMAS Market | Friday, Dec. 8-Saturday, Dec. 9 | Times vary | Manchester Music Hall, 899 Manchester St., Lexington | Free | Experience festive charm and shop handcrafted ornaments, cozy winter-wear, artisanal treats + more.
  • Art and Stuff Holiday Sale | Friday, Dec. 8 | 6-9 p.m. | LuigART Studios, 110 Luigart Ct., Lexington | Free | Get a head start on your gift-giving by browsing handmade creations from local artists.
Saturday, Dec. 9
  • YMCA Reindeer Ramble 5K | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Rd., Lexington | $25-$40 | Don your holiday best to take a scenic walk/run through our historic racetrack in support of the YMCA of Central Kentucky.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Seasonal

Our favorite spot to host a festive event in Lexington
a hall decorated for a winter wedding with various tables and holiday decor
Bonus: Sundays-Thursdays are discounted. | Photo provided by Manchester Music Hall
Winter weddings? Check. Corporate holiday events? Check. A large event, or something small and intimate? Also, check.

Manchester Music Hall boasts the ideal industrial, yet polished space for almost any event this holiday season. Complete with an upstairs suite, equipment rentals, bar packages, and a flexible layout, they can help you bring your vision to life for any big day or special event.

Pro tip: Save $500 when you book before Sunday, Dec. 31. To learn more, call 859-537-7321, or email them.
Start planning your event
News Notes
Number
  • $41.9 million. That’s the estimated cost for the proposed elementary school coming to Masterson Station. The school planned for Greendale Road is expected to serve 750 students in kindergarten through fifth grade + potentially open by 2026. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Cause
  • Help make spirits bright this holiday season through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. There are still ~700 local children, aka angels, that can be claimed for gifts from sponsors. Grab a tag + drop off your unwrapped gift by Friday, Dec. 8 (WKYT)
Lexingtonian
  • A new monument dedicated to Fayette Country residents in the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame was unveiled at Veterans Park earlier this week. Since the organization’s inception in 2010, 23 Fayette County veterans have been inducted.
Active
  • If you love puppy breath, keep reading. Saved By Fate Rescue is hosting a puppy yoga class on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. Practice your downward dog at the hour-long class, which will feature nine adoptable puppies inside Greyline Station.
Read
  • Lexington author and poet Shayla Lawson will be launching a tour for her latest book, “How to Live Free in a Dangerous World,” early next year. The event will take place on Monday, Feb. 5 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at 7 p.m., in advance of the book’s release on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Regional
  • Calling all Kentucky enthusiasts. Applications are open for The Kentucky Wildlands’ 2024 Ambassador Program. Ambassadors for the regional tourism marketing initiative will use their passion to help promote + represent the Southern and Eastern regions of the state. (The Lane Report)
Health
Finance
  • There’s cash back, and then there’s unlimited 1.5% cash back. This card has that, plus a $200 bonus and 0% intro APR until 2025. (Oh, and did we mention the annual fee? No — because there isn’t one.) Learn more + apply.*
Shop
  • Health.com called this vibrator the “Rolls Royce Of Sex Toys” — and it’s also clinically proven to improve arousal and alleviate dryness. Get it for 30% off ahead of the holidays.*
Festival

Railbird, you are the joy of our lives

Lineup released for Railbird 2024
People posing in front of a Railbird sign
Pro tip: Hats and sunglasses are a must for Railbird. | Photo by LEXtoday
ICYMI: the lineup for the 2024 Railbird Music Festival has been released. Returning to Red Mile Gaming & Racing, Lexington’s two-day music festival will be headlined by Kentucky’s own Chris Stapleton + folk-pop artist Noah Kahan.

Here are some fast facts to get you ready:
  • Date: Saturday, June 1 + Sunday, June 2, 2024
  • Location: The Infield at Red Mile, 1200 Red Mile Rd.
  • Over 30 artists across three stages including: Abby Hamilton, Counting Crows, Dwight Yoakam, Elle King, Hozier, Lord Huron, and Wynonna Judd.
In addition to non-stop music, curated bourbon and equine experiences will help celebrate the unbridled spirit of Kentucky.

Set those alarms, because tickets go on sale this week. The 2023 iteration sold out in record time with ~40,000 in attendance.
  • Sign up to receive the passcode for presale tickets, available tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 7 at 12 p.m.
  • If any tickets remain, there will be a general sale.
The Buy

The Buy 12.06.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Anything on sale for Six & Main’s Deal of the Day. Each day, unlock a new deal on a specialty, locally-made item. Today’s deal? Get 20% off our earring collection.
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The Wrap
 
Molly Thompson in a black shirt

Today’s edition by:
Molly
From the editor
I don’t know about y’all, but the thought of a warm, sunny, music-filled day at Railbird is exactly what I needed to warm my bones. I’m so excited about this lineup — especially the return of Hozier + my girl, Abby Hamilton. Now if you could build your own music festival, who would be playing? Let me know.
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