My family and I just visited the Festival of Trees and Lights at Louisville Slugger Field today. It was a wonderful way to start the holiday season!
We arrived around 11am and started out our morning visiting the gift and sweets shop right inside the door beyond the admission booth. At the gift shop you can find holiday decor ranging from small greenery, wreaths, and centerpieces, all of which are handcrafted. I also saw candle decor and many items featuring UofL and UK gift ideas. In the sweets shop right next door we found cupcakes, cookies, candies, and bars. Most of the goodies ranged in price from $.50-$1.00. My daughter indulged on a peppermint frosted chocolate cupcake and a chocolate milk.
We ventured out into the main area indoors at Slugger Field. Here you will find all of the decorated trees and greenery for sale. Remember, all purchases made at the festival go to Kosair Children's Hospital through the Children's Hospital Foundation. We walked through a winter wonderland winding around decorated trees and wreaths. The smaller miniature trees were very entertaining to view, with themes such as Ernie and his rubber duckies, Keep Louisville Weird, and the many themes put forth by area Girl Scout troops. We found my daughter's troop's trees and were glad to see one had already been sold.
We were also entertained with caroling by the Taylorsville Elementary School chorus. We did not partake in a picture with Santa Claus, but my daughter and toddler chatted with him as he was super nice to call them over to greet them and give out a candy cane treat. Books are for sale at the Bookstacks Plus booth. There is a variety of children's activities that require tickets; tickets can be purchased right before entering the doors to the decorated trees. Each ticket is $.50 and activities ranged from 2-3 tickets for face painting, snowflake and ornament making, among other holiday crafts. Pictures with Santa and gingerbread house-making required 8 tickets, which is a nice donation of $4 toward the charities.
On our way out we enjoyed watching the children's model trains and railroad town set up. We had a really nice time at the Festival of Trees and Lights. I really appreciate the proceeds benefiting Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Unit at Kosair Children's Hospital. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12, and $3 for seniors; we parked on the street for free. The festival runs through 5pm Saturday, November 10 and 10am-5pm Sunday, November 11. Visit www.kosairchildrens.com/calendar-of-events or call 502-629-8060 if you have questions.
Photos by Erin Nevitt
