Light Up Louisville is back on a new date in 2023. Here's everything you need to know

Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal
Updated ·3 min read

Santa Claus is coming to town, just a few days later than last year.

Light Up Louisville, the city's popular annual holiday kick-off event, returns to the streets of downtown the first weekend in December.

Festivities normally take place on the Friday after Thanksgiving, but this year's celebration was moved back one week.

"This new date gives our city employees the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their family," Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "This event will still feature all of the wonderful traditions we have come to love about Light Up Louisville."

Fireworks light up the sky over Jefferson Square Park during Light Up Louisville.
Fireworks light up the sky over Jefferson Square Park during Light Up Louisville.

The holiday spectacular will ring in the season with traditions like a holiday market, a parade, tree lighting, and of course, a visit from Santa Claus. And this year, with Santa’s help, the entire downtown area will light up with more holiday lighting and fireworks than ever before.

Here's everything to know before you go to the 2023 Light Up Louisville:

When is Light Up Louisville 2023?

In 2023, Light Up Louisville has been moved to Saturday, Dec. 2. The Holiday Market takes place from 2-9 p.m. Official Light Up events run from 4-9 p.m., and the Lots of Lights parade begins at 6 p.m.

Where does Light Up Louisville take place?

The holiday tree is lighted in Jefferson Square Park during Light Up Louisville.
The holiday tree is lighted in Jefferson Square Park during Light Up Louisville.

The main event, which includes the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the city's Christmas tree, takes place outside of Metro Hall at Jefferson and Sixth streets.

How much does Light Up Louisville cost?

Light Up Louisville is the city's holiday present to the community and as always, is free to attend.

What can my family expect at Light Up Louisville?

  • From 2-9 p.m., The Louisville Downtown Partnership is joining forces with the city for the Downtown Holiday Market. The market will transform the public plaza (formerly Aegon Plaza) between Jefferson and Market streets with a unique outdoor, pop-up shopping and food vendor market. The event will showcase singing groups, holiday photo stations, a gourmet hot chocolate bar, activities for kids and vendors with specialty holiday gifts for sale including custom clothing and jewelry, gift sets, soaps and balms, jams and jellies, Christmas ornaments, toys, and more.

  • The Winter Wonderland activity area for children opens on Sixth Street at 4 p.m. Kids can make crafts, design ornaments and write letters to Santa.

  • On the main stage outside Metro Hall, guests will find live music performances from Sunflight, the Classic Melodies Performance Institute, Olivia Henken, Josh Logan and Soul Circus, who will play after the tree lighting ceremony.

  • At 6 p.m., the Lots of Lights Parade begins bringing Santa Claus to Metro Hall followed by the lighting of trees and fireworks. Santa is expected to arrive in Jefferson Square around 7:45 p.m. Frosty the Snowman is the parade's grand marshal.

  • Festivities last until 9 p.m.

What roads will be closed during Light up Louisville?

The following streets will be closed Saturday from noon to 11:30 p.m.:

  • West Jefferson Street, from South Third Street to South Eighth Street

  • West Liberty Street, from South Third Street to South Eighth Street

  • South Fourth Street, from West Market Street to West Muhammad Ali Boulevard

  • South Fifth Street, from West Muhammad Ali Boulevard to West Market Street

  • South Sixth Street, from West Market Street to Cedar Street

  • South Seventh Street, from West Market Street to West Muhammad Ali Boulevard

  • South Eighth Street, from West Jefferson Street to West Liberty Street

  • Armory Place, West Muhammad Ali Boulevard to West Liberty Street

  • Congress Alley, South Sixth Street to South Eight Street

  • Court Place, from South Fifth Street to South Sixth Street

Where do I find more information about the 2023 Light Up Louisville celebration?

For general information, visit louisvilleky.gov and for up-to-the-minute details check in on Facebook at AroundLou.

Reporter Leo Bertucci contributed to this report. Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Light Up Louisville 2023: What to know about annual holiday event