Weekend events kick off holiday season in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — You wouldn't know it by the weather outside, but the holiday season is quickly approaching, and Louisville is kicking off the festivities this weekend.

Friday morning brought the start of the 34th annual Festival of Trees and Lights at Slugger Field. Dozens of families view the numerous Christmas trees on display, bidding on their favorites, all to benefit Norton Children's Transport.

And of course, children couldn't wait to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas this year.

"I'm gonna ask Santa if I can have a ride in his sleigh," Ricky said.

"And guess what? I can get a candy cane because I know they always have candy canes," Wesley said.

"It it is critical that we are able to raise these funds, so that children in our region can get the care that they need in our state's only free-standing children's hospital," Lena Iwu, Norton Children's Hospital Foundation Development Coordinator, said.

The Festival of Trees and Lights runs through Sunday, Nov. 12.

Friday night, nearly 50 cars lined up to be the first to go through Lights Under Louisville this year, which opened Friday. The only underground light show in the world has more than 6.5 million points of light that dazzle even the youngest of visitors.

Lights Under Louisville runs through Jan. 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, the NuLu neighborhood joins in on the holiday fun with the Jingle Fest on Saturday, Nov. 11.

"It's about bringing the community together," Cat Strain, Revelry sales associate said. "Instead of it being about shopping and worrying about buying things, you can actually just come and spend time with your friends and then find objects that inspire you to then gift."

Bringing the holidays to town a little early, there will also be music and cocktails to get you in the spirit at Jingle Fest.

Leather goods company Clayton & Crume is excited for Shelby Street to close down to get to know their neighbors.

"As a small local business anytime out neighborhood succeeds, we succeed, and we want to promote that and be at the heart of all of that as well, so this is just a great opportunity for us as a business to partner with our friends and our neighbors and just make it an awesome, safe day for everyone," Danielle Sampson, Clayton & Crume General Manager, said.

Jingle Fest is Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.