I know, I know. It’s too early to start with the Christmas stuff. Thanksgiving is still nearly a week away and we’re all still snacking on leftover Halloween candy. But I can’t help but look forward to the annual launch of the Kentucky Horse Park’s Southern Lights, which takes place every year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
Southern Lights is an annual tradition that started more than 20 years ago. Lighted holiday displays line more than three miles of roads throughout the park and its campground. Visitors can drive through the display from opening day through December 31. But the event kicks off with a 5k run/walk called the Southern Lights Stroll—it’s the only time visitors can see the display on foot.
A lot of the light displays are equine-themed, naturally, and most others are Christmas-themed (a series of displays illustrating gifts of the 12 Days of Christmas is a popular mainstay of the event.) Others seem completely random. Like this deer—who does not look like a reindeer—standing guard in front of the USEF headquarters in the photo below.
I’ve run the 5K with my dog, Brit, for the past several years. Yes, it’s a dog-friendly run, and stroller-friendly, and there are more walkers than runners, so no need to be intimidated if running isn’t your thing. It’s truly an event for everyone.
If you’ve ever been to the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, you’ve likely walked on this road in the above photo, although it isn’t this Vegas-like in April. In the zoomed-out image below, you can see the Rolex Stadium and the lake on the right (and the lake monster. Who knew there was a lake monster?)
Some of the light displays aren’t on the actual 5k route, but there are other activities that take place near the visitors center during the Southern Lights Holiday Festival. Heading over in that direction also gives you the chance to visit the newly refinished Man o’ War statue.
The Kentucky Horse Park is also home to the National Horse Center where dozens of equine organizations have their headquarters. Many of these offices get into the holiday spirit, too. The United States Dressage Federation hasn’t yet outfitted the statue in front of its headquarters, but I still had this photo from last year’s Southern Lights Stroll and I think it’s worth sharing.
The U.S. Pony Club headquarters is all decked out already. I stopped by to get a closer look at their Santafied horse at the front door.
The American Saddlebred Horse Association and Museum gave their statue of Supreme Sultan a bit of holiday cheer, too.
Visiting Southern Lights is always a good way to kick-start the holiday spirit. But for those of you who are still adamant that Christmas celebration should not begin until after Thanksgiving, Brit agrees with you. That’s why she ran the race in her autumn-themed bandana.
Want to know more about Southern Lights? Visit kyhorsepark.org.
Leslie Potter is a writer and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky. www.lesliepotterphoto.com
Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky.Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.
What great pictures. What away to start another Christmas Season. Thank You!!
cool
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