Tis the season to have a little Christmas fun
From December 1 until January 2, drive through Buffalo Trace Distillery for a holiday lights display from 5 pm to 11 pm every night.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and will bring back The Ghosts of Christmas Eve to Rupp Arena on December 1 at 7:30 pm.
Illuminated Evening starts Friday, December 2 at 5 p.m. at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and runs through December 23.
Charles Dickens’ classic, ” A Christmas Carol” is at Waveland State Historic Site on December 2-4 and December 9-11. Follow from room to room as the drama plays out right in front of you. Santa will be in the barn each performance an hour before the first scheduled performance.
The Junior League of Lexington’s 10th Annual Holly Day Market will bring more than 70 vendors to Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena on December 2 through December 4. Vendors will sell jewelry; clothes for women, men and children; toys; books; holiday decorations; ornaments; art; food; and much more. Plus, the Holly Day Market offers daily events and activities for everyone including a much anticipated visit from Santa.
The Vineyard Community Church will host their Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Celebrate Bach & Bibelots and enjoy music, art, and drinks while learning more about educations programs of the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington and the Headley-Whitney Museum of Art Saturday, December 3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The Women of Faith circle of Liberty Road Faith Fellowship is hosting a holiday crafts class on Saturday, December 3, from 2 to 5 p.m. in Kearns Hall of the church, 2734 Liberty Road. Craft kits are available and instructors will be on hand to help you make holiday decorations for your home or for gifts. Call the church at 859.277.0420 for information and to inquire about the kits.
A Kentucky Christmas at Ashland will be held Saturday, December 3. Stroll the grounds during the Kentucky Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market features local artisans, farm fresh edibles, fine art, jewelry, and handmade gifts. Specialty sandwiches and white chicken chili will be served at the cafe. After the market, stick around for the Ashland Illumination at dusk where organizers will light several trees and outbuildings around the mansion. Following the Illumination will be candlelight tours of the mansion.
Brenda Lee, known for the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” will perform in Danville at Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts on Saturday, December 3 at 8:00 p.m.
The Bluegrass Brunch and Artist Market takes place at Manchester Music Hall on Sunday, December 4 at 11 a.m.  The market will feature mimosas, bloody Mary’s, egg nog and waffles as well as over 25 artists for holiday gift ideas.  There will also be live music from local band A Little More and the Henry Clay High School Choir.
A Very Wine and Pop-Tarts Christmas with Granola Culture will be held Sunday, December 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Granola Culture, 804 North Limestone. Part of Granola Culture’s Holiday Charity Day event, A Very Wine & Pop-Tarts will be premiering new Lexington-made short films from local filmmakers Wine & Pop-Tarts as a benefit for the Lexington Firefighters Toy Program along with many other fun, holiday-themed charitable events, all for free and all for a good cause. New, unwrapped toys will be collected for the Lexington Firefighters Toy Program.
The Christmas Parade will be on Main Street between Midland and Mill on Tuesday, December 6 at 7 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah will be presented Friday, December 9 at the Singletary Center for the Arts, starting at 7:30 p.m. The Lexington Singers annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah” features the most musicians on one stage in central Kentucky for this baroque masterpiece. With a talented corps of guest soloists, including Lexington’s own Metropolitan Opera tenor Gregory Turay, baroque orchestra.
The Jingle Bell Bash, hosted by Friends of Bluegrass Conservancy, will be held Friday, December 9, starting at 7 p. m. at the Hunt-Morgan House, 201 North Mill Street. Celebrate 25,624 acres of Bluegrass land conservation with live music, food, drinks, and a silent auction.
The 11th Annual Reindeer Ramble 5K run/walk is at Keeneland on December 10. Participants are encouraged to wear their favorite holiday sweater, or “holiday festive” attire while supporting scholarships for kids attending the YMCA.
Sky Zone Lexington will be hosting Toddler Time on Saturday, December 10 with Santa joining in the fun. Toddler Time is open to jumpers 5 years and younger. Santa will be stopping by at noon if older kids want a chance to say hello. Regular jump time will begin at 11 a.m. for all ages.
The Rollergirls of Central Kentucky are hosting their Fifth Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Plantory on December 10 at 10 am. There will be a variety of artisans and vendors, a bake sale, and a silent auction. Support local Roller Derby by visiting vendors including: LuLaRoe, Matilda Jane, Sadistic Mistress Hot Sauces, Mom Can Paint, and more.
Alltech along with Dr. Everett McCorvey and the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre puts on the Alltech Celebration of Song, a community concert featuring talented young singers from the Alltech Young Vocal Scholarship Competition, special guest artists, and the public. The event will be held Sunday, December 11 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The Nutcracker, presented by Lexington Ballet Company, will be performed at the Lexington Opera House on December 10 at 2 pm.
The 2016 Christmas Handbell Concert is on Monday, December 12 at First United Methodist Church from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m.
Wine + Market will be hosting the Holiday Food + Wine pairing class on Friday, December 14 at 6 pm. Â They will offer bite-sized samples of holiday side dishes and pair them with the appropriate wine.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical will be presented Friday, December 16 at the Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts, starting at 7 p.m. The stop-motion classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season.
The Bluegrass Youth Ballet presents “The Nutcracker in One Act” in the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall on December 16 at 7 p.m. and December 17 at 3 p.m.
Two of Kentucky’s finest MCs, Devine Carama & Sheisty Khrist, hit the stage together to perform tracks from their classic solo albums “Cold Winter” and “Kingtucky” and more as part of the “A Cold Winter in Kingtucky” program Friday, December 16 from 9 p.m. until midnight at Al’s Bar of Lexington. A limited number of both copies will be available. More information coming soon.
The Nest Center will be accepting donations during the 2016 Reindeer Express on December 16 at 9 am. They will be accepting new toys, such as lego sets, dolls, art supplies, and coloring books for children between newborns and five-years-old, new winter outerwear and holiday wrapping paper, gift bags and tape.
The Enchanted Holiday Masquerade Ball will be held Saturday, December 17 from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Lexington Center. This event will feature Maestro J “The Blazin’ Violinist and band, DJ DCeezy, and a plenty of glamour.
A Carol Sing will be hosted at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, at Liberty Road Faith Fellowship, 2734 Liberty Road. Come join the congregation for celebration of the songs of the season. Â For more information call (859) 277-0420.
This article also appears on page 7 of the December 2016 printed issue of Ace.
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