Horse Illustrated Magazine

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