Southern Lights - the Best Holiday Entertainment for the Whole Family

Christmas has become so commercialized it's easy to forget why we're stressing ourselves out with gift buying. Family time tends to take a backseat to shopping. Yet, when our kids become adults they will have no recollection of all the gifts they received. This year take the attention off of gift buying and return the focus to family.

A unique and fun family experience can be found at the annual Southern Lights event at the Kentucky Horse Park. Located in Lexington, KY, Southern Lights has been named a top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society. Visitors have been driving through the miles-long light display for 17 years. This is no ordinary light display. Southern lights is a Christmas extravaganza.

You'll be amazed as famed sites such as Churchill Downs and Keeneland are brought to life by multi-colored lights. The blinking lights are carefully timed and sequenced to give the illusion of movement. Horses appear to shoot out of the gate and race toward the finish line. You will also find an epic battle from the movie Star Wars taking place within the lights. Young girls are thrilled to see Cinderella making her way to the ball in the fabled pumpkin coach. The air of magic that is exclusive to Christmas is nearly palpable amid the twinkling lights of traditional favorites such as The Twelve Days of Christmas and Santa in his sleigh.

As visually stimulating as the lights are, Southern Lights aims to be a multi-sensory event. Amid the sounds of Christmas music, enjoy refreshments guaranteed to take the edge off the brisk winter weather by warming you from the inside out. After the driving tour, park and head indoors to enjoy all the park has to offer. You can complete your family shopping by purchasing one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts for the hard to please on your list. In addition to the unique jewelry, crafts and multi-cultural gifts, you will find plenty of toys and contemporary gift ideas.

The kids won't mind the shopping because they will be enjoying the petting zoo, pony and camel rides and a mini-train ride outside. Indoors they can visit the Bluegrass Railroad Club's model train and miniature dollhouse displays. Santa will also be on hand to hear the desires of every child's heart. Your experience at Southern Lights will be so complete that you can actually lend a hand to charity while there. If you elect to purchase a picture of your child with Santa, the proceeds will benefit the Lexington Rotary Club's winter coat drive.

Extend your visit by booking a room at the Holiday Inn North, located 4.78 miles from the Horse Park. The hotel features a holidome with a pool, basketball court, shuffleboard, Jacuzzi, large arcade and more - all located indoors. If romance is on your mind, discover why Southern Living Magazine calls Snug Hollow Farm Bed and Breakfast "1 of the 5 most romantic getaways of the South".

The more adventurous can camp among the lights within the horse park. Primitive sites are available for the truly courageous but if camping in a Kentucky winter is all the adventure you need, there are sites providing electricity. Keep in mind, however, that from November 1 until March 31 there is no direct line of water to any camping sites. During the winter months water is available only at dumping stations.

Whether your tastes are economical and sensible, luxurious and posh or somewhere in between, you'll find all you need within the vast selection of near-by overnight accommodations. Best of all, this fun-packed family event is extremely affordable because pricing is based on vehicle size rather than individual cost. Pricing, directions and operating hours can be found on the park website www.kyhorsepark.com/events-competition-info/southern-lights So, load up your family, youth group or the neighbors and head to Southern Lights. You just might start a treasured yearly tradition that spans generations.

Sources
http://www.snughollow.com/PDFs/016-024%20SnugHollow.pdf
http://www.kyhorsepark.com