This Charming Southern Town Becomes the 'North Pole of Bourbon Country' Every Holiday Season-What to Know

"That glow carries straight into the Bardstown Christmas Parade, a small-town classic brought to life by handcrafted floats, marching bands, and, if you're lucky, some Santa sightings. A few blocks away, the annual Christmas Carnival in the Park at My Old Kentucky Home State Park adds an extra touch of holiday magic. This year, the carnival will expand its footprint with additional rides, classic carnival games, crackling firepits, and live music, all set under a canopy of lights."

"Also at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, the Merry & Bright tour runs through Jan. 4, 2026, where guides in Victorian-era attire lead visitors through the festively decorated mansion, offering a history-focused look at how holiday traditions evolved. The park also hosts performances of " An Old Kentucky Christmas Carol" through Dec. 20, bringing Dickens' classic holiday tale to life inside the estate."

"For a completely different kind of holiday experience, Bardstown's most atmospheric ride awaits aboard the North Pole Express on the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. As the locomotive rolls through the countryside, guests settle into velvet-backed seats surrounded by 12-foot Christmas trees, visits from Santa, seasonal menus, cocoa, and carols-a slow, scenic immersion into Bourbon Country at its most magical."

Bardstown becomes the 'North Pole of Kentucky' after Thanksgiving, lighting 18th-century streets with garlands, wreaths, and window displays. The annual Light Up Bardstown features more than 20 coordinated light displays that transform the district into a winter wonderland. The Bardstown Christmas Parade offers handcrafted floats, marching bands, and Santa sightings. My Old Kentucky Home State Park hosts a Christmas Carnival with rides, games, firepits, and music, plus the Merry & Bright mansion tour through Jan. 4, 2026, and performances of An Old Kentucky Christmas Carol through Dec. 20. The My Old Kentucky Dinner Train runs the North Pole Express with festive decor, Santa visits, menus, cocoa, and carols.

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