NEWS RELEASE
LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 12, 2016) —The Kentucky Horse Park begins its winter season with new hours of operation and family events for the holiday season. From Nov. 7 until March 14, the park will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Over the winter, visitor focus turns to the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the Showplace for Saddlebreds, the American Saddlebred Museum. Both the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop and the American Saddlebred Museum Gift Shop are open for holiday shopping and throughout the season with the new winter hours.
The Southern Lights holiday festival returns to the Kentucky Horse Park for its 23rd year. This festival is a fundraiser for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, and a holiday tradition for families from throughout the Bluegrass region and beyond. The lights are on 5:30-10 p.m. nightly Nov. 18-Dec. 31, with the Holiday Festival open each night with the exception of Nov. 24 and Dec. 24 to 31.
Presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky, Southern Lights is a drive through brilliant light displays, featuring a variety of holiday and Kentucky themes, followed by the Holiday Festival attractions located on the park’s main campus that include Santa, a petting zoo, model train displays, holiday and craft vendors and more.
Families will get a preview of this year’s Southern Lights on Thursday, Nov. 17, with the Southern Lights Stroll. Participants may walk, run or stroll their way through a portion of the light displays by registering online. Strollers, wagons and dogs on leash are permitted in the stroll portion of the evening, and all participants are asked to bring nonperishable food items to donate to God’s Pantry Food Bank or to a local animal shelter.
Southern Lights admission per personal vehicle (up to 7 passengers) is $25 for Friday through Sunday nights, and $15 for Monday through Thursday nights. An extended van, RV or limousine (up to 15 passengers) is $35; a mini-bus (up to 25 passengers) is $60; a school bus is $75; and, a motorcoach is $150. Companies and organizations may pre-purchase discounted admission tickets to Southern Lights by contacting the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.
The Kentucky Horse Park will continue to host many horse shows and special events throughout the winter season following the CP National Horse Show, Nov. 1-6, and pinpointed by the nationally recognized US Dressage Finals, Nov. 10-13, in the Alltech Arena, as well as KHSAA state cross country, cheerleading and wrestling championships, rodeos, equine mounted games, home and trade shows, and more. A complete schedule of events is available on the park’s website.
For information on Southern Lights or the Southern Lights Stroll call 859-255-5727 or visit www.KHPFoundation.org. For information on the Kentucky Horse Park, contact the park at 859-233-4303 or 800-678-8813 or visit www.KyHorsePark.com.
The Kentucky Horse Park is open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 6. Admission is $18 for adults and $8 for children, and includes the Next Day Free. Beginning Nov. 7, the park will be open Wednesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with winter admission at $12 for adults and $6 for children. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate; and the “Showplace for Saddlebreds” – The American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.