It is officially December, folks! And that means it’s time to break down a list of all our favorite holiday-themed activities that are taking place in Owensboro this season. All of these are family-friendly and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So if you’ve been searching for a magical place to experience Christmas, look no further, because we’ve got it all!
The City of Owensboro’s Hometown Christmas experience lasts the entire month of December. Head downtown to see the Dancing Lights transform Smothers Park into an interactive holiday lightshow! Every 15 minutes, the lights will dance to a different Christmas song. And you can also see our huge Christmas Tree downtown, as well as our new Bourbon Barrel Tree! The Dancing Lights can be seen from 5-9 p.m. each night.
For the kiddos, take them to Symphony Storytime at the Owensboro Museum of Science and History on December 19. This event features a reading of The Nutcracker with musical interludes from Tchaikovsky’s famous work, so it’s fun and educational! Children can ask questions about the symphony and spend the day getting all the warm, holiday feels. This event is designed for kids five and under, and admission is only $5. This event runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
On December 8 and 9, round up the entire family for the Hot Chocolate Hop! This is a fun event for everybody as there will be specialty hot chocolates for sale for everyone to enjoy, and “adult” hot chocolates for the grown-ups will be available as well. Different downtown businesses will be selling hot chocolate throughout the two-day event.
SANTA??! I KNOW HIM!!! And you’ll be able to say those words too after having Breakfast with Santa at the Owensboro Convention Center on Saturday, December 16. Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 7:30-10 a.m.
Embrace the holiday spirit with a “Magical Cirque Christmas” – a variety show full of nostalgia and charm and awe-inspiring acrobatics. Great for children and adults of all ages! This show will be held at the RiverPark Center on December 11 at 7 p.m.
See thousands and thousands of Christmas lights at Christmas at Panther Creek! Held from 6-9 p.m. nightly at Panther Creek Park through January 2, this light display costs only $5 per vehicle. You’ll traverse a 1.15-mile long lighted driving tour consisting of over 700,000 lights and 50 displays. So bump the Christmas music, bring your own hot chocolate, and enjoy a holiday drive with your family on the outskirts of the city.
You can have cookies with Santa and get amazing photos at White Chateau’s Mini Christmas Market! There will even be some very well-known princesses in attendance, courtesy of Magical Memories Character Co. Shop from various vendors while you’re there too! Admission is $20 per child and two events will be held on December 10 and December 17.
On December 10, Santa will be in the Conservatory at Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. The elves have decorated the site just in time for the holidays, and you can get your photo taken with Santa, enjoy free crafts, sip on hot chocolate and munch on delicious cookies. All for free!! It is $10 if you’d like a photo with Santa emailed to you, but you’re free to use your own camera too. Head to WKBG at 1 p.m.
Looking for a fun and festive way to spend a Sunday with your loved ones? Head to The Party Space Place on December 17 for some holiday crafts! There will also be a vendor marketplace offering amazing local products, a photo booth, a hot chocolate bar and some delicious snacks to keep you fueled through the day. You can reserve a spot for the crafts, and the vendor setup is free to the public! The event will be held from noon-4 p.m.
Ever wondered what it would be like to ice-skate with the Grinch? You can do that very thing at Edge Ice Center for Owensboro Parks & Rec’s Whoville Skate event on December 9! You can visit with the Grinch and Santa from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Admission is $7 per person, and that includes skates and a hot chocolate!