Light Up Louisville
Santa Christmas Caravan
December 10th and 11th
Here Comes Santa Claus to Your Neighborhood!
The popular Christmas Caravan returns this year thanks to our generous sponsors from Park Community Credit Union and kynect! The caravan will travel to several neighborhoods around Louisville and will even make a few stops along the way for children and families to take pictures with Santa Claus! PLEASE NOTE: All families will need to bring their own camera for photos, there will not be a photographer at this event.
The Santa Tracker will update families on Santa's whereabouts throughout the day. Check back for more details on how to use the Christmas Caravan Santa Tracker.
Santa Caravan routes are here! The big man has finished planning his trip through Louisville and has shared his plans with us! The caravan will begin its journey each morning at 11:30.
Check out Day 1 and Day 2 below:
Caravan Day 1
Thank you to our sponsors:
Special thanks to:
Byerly Ford Nissan
Louisville League of Mascots
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Kentucky Exposition Center
Mix 106.9
The Mower Shop
Sheriff John Aubrey
Visual Presentations Inc.
WLKY
Mayor's Challenge Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Friday, December 2nd
6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Please join us in making some noise and bringing some toys during the 2022 Mayor's Challenge Toys for Tots Toy Drive! This year we hope to surpass our 2021 numbers and bring some extra joy to the boys and girls this holiday season!
This year, the need is greatest for boys and girls ages 10 to 12, and 13 to 16. If you would like toys suggestions for these age groups, please see below:
Boys, 10 to 12: Legos Sets, Action Figures, Star Wars, Science Kits, STEM Toys (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Race Cars – remote controlled, Board Games for 10&up
Girls, 10 to 12: Barbie Dolls & Accessories, Tie Dye / Jewelry Kits, Arts and Crafts Sets/Kits, Science Kits, STEM Toys (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Karaoke System, Board Games for 10&up
Boys, 13 to 16: AXE Sets, Basketballs (Regulation Boxed), Cologne Sets, Dart Boards, Ear Buds, Electronic Table Games, Headphones, Skateboards, Scooters, Tablets, Watches
Girls, 13 to 16: Bath Gift Baskets / Sets, Blow Dryers, Curling Irons / Flat Irons, Ear Buds, Headphones, Makeup Gift Sets, Perfume Sets, Skateboards, Scooters, Tablets, Watches
There are additional drop-off boxes at all Louisville Fire Departments, Paristown, and Mission BBQ.
Please note, toys for ages 3 to 6 are not needed at this time due to the overwhelming love shown by the city.
Friday, November 25, 2022
3 to 10 p.m.
Light Up Louisville, powered by LG&E, is a free, annual event that will kick off the holiday season in the city! We look forward once again to welcoming Louisville citizens to Downtown the day after Thanksgiving to welcome the REAL Santa Claus!
Light Up Louisville begins at 3 p.m. with free Children's Activities inside Santa's Workshop, free Holiday Train rides, live music and a Holiday Market! Santa's Workshop, sponsored in part by AT&T, will include cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa, as well as gingerbread and stocking crafts. Santa's Workshop will be located on 6th Street, next to the city Christmas tree. Right outside the children's area you will find the Honor Flight Bluegrass tent, sponsored by Humana Military and the McDonald's Bell Restaurant Group. Families can write holiday greetings to US Veterans and Honor Flight Bluegrass will distribute the letters. Write your letter ahead of time to bring and put in the Honor Flight mailbox by printing the following PDF:
On Jefferson Street, between 6th & 7th, kids can enjoy free Holiday Train rides, sponsored by Louisville Downtown Partnership. The train will run from 3 to 6:30 p.m. so make sure to get in line and take a ride on the Holiday Train!
The Park Community Credit Union Holiday Market will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. with several vendors set up selling holiday crafts, goods, and food and beverages. It is located on 6th Street next to Metro Hall.
The main stage, produced by Visual Presentations and MERF, will feature well-known local acts from 3 to 10 p.m. View the full musical lineup below!
The Lots of Lights Parade will begin at 7 p.m. stepping off at 7th and Jefferson streets, heading East on Jefferson, passing the Light Up Louisville Main Stage and taking a right onto 4th Street. The Parade will pass through Fourth Street Live! as parade viewers cheer on the units. We will have several local celebrity emcees helping us announce our parade units, including personalities from Mix 106.9, WLKY, and DJ Jaybird. Sign up for the Lots of Lights Parade by Friday, November 17th by filling out the following form:
Then, at 8:30 p.m., the big man himself, Santa Claus, will arrive! Santa's head elf, Gunther, has confirmed Santa's arrival to Louisville as stop "Number 2" on his 2022 World Tour, so please join us in welcoming him to our city! Santa and Mayor Greg Fischer will use the Magic Plug to Light Up Louisville! A Zambelli fireworks show will follow.
The lights outside Metro Hall will remain on through the remainder of the year, spreading holiday cheer. This Holiday Lights Spectacular is brought to us by Louisville Third Century.
2022 Music Schedule
3:10 p.m....... Sunflight
3:30 p.m....... Dancensation Showbiz Kids
4:25 p.m....... Envision Dance Company
4:35 p.m....... Ariana Roshae & Band
4:50 p.m....... Cheryl Price and Dave Seely of the band, Most Wanted
5:15 p.m....... Made New Acapella
5:35 p.m....... Sheryl Crawford
6 p.m...... Lauren Eid & Kevin Cummings
6:25 p.m....... Classic Melodies "Top Note"
7 p.m....... Lots of Lights Parade
8 p.m....... Special Louisville Music Performance by MERF
8:30 p.m....... Santa's Arrival!
Following the Light Up Moment ....... J.D. Shelburne & Soul Circus
Powered by
Axxis Inc.
Baam 360 Cam
Budweiser
Costco
DJ Jaybird
Honor Flight Bluegrass
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Lots of Light Parade Chairs, Paul Carroll & Dan Wasserzug
Louisville Metro Electrical Maintenance Division
Louisville Metro Facilities & Fleet
Louisville Metro Fire Department
Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation
Louisville Metro Police Department
Louisville Metro Public Works
Louisville Public Media
Miller's Mini Barns
Mr. C's Cheesecakes
Rodney and Pam Sutton & Family
Tavern on Fourth
The Elf Squad, from Greathouse Shryock Traditional
The Kaelin Family, city Christmas tree donors
The Mower Shop
United States Postal Service
Visual Presentations Inc.
