Light Up Louisville draws large crowd downtown to celebrate the holiday season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Thousands of people gathered downtown for Light Up Louisville on Saturday.

Light Up Louisville producer Joey Wagner said they've been planning the event since it ended last year, but this year they had to put in a little more work to get ready.

"We removed 14 tons of snow and ice the last two days to try and get these grounds looking amazing for the community," Wagner said.

Wagner said they've added more lights, more fireworks and more vendors this year. Those vendors said they're loving the growth.

"It's definitely exciting to see all the pretty faces and smiles and seeing all the lights and everybody just smiling and coming together as one," Amiracle Ade representative Ajaah McDaniel said.

This year's Christmas tree — a 40-foot Norway spruce donated by the Louisville Airport Authority — made its way through Louisville Nov. 19 from a family on Silver Oaks Court. Louisville Parks decorated the tree ahead of this Saturday's event.

Wagner added he loves helping put on this event because seeing the kids' faces is priceless.

"For the city of Louisville to have an annual tradition that is for the city that makes memories for those families, that's important to us and that's why we love this event so much," he said.

Now that this year's event is over, it's time to appreciate the lights for the season.

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