For the 2015 list of the best Christmas light displays in Louisville, click here!
As a kid, one of my favorite holiday traditions was peeking out the frosty backseat window of my parents' car at the neighborhood Christmas light displays around Louisville. The bigger, bolder, and wackier, the better. You know, the kind of Griswold houses that lit up the sky, caused a traffic jam, and probably drove the other neighbors crazy.
I grew up in Louisville's East End. At that time, Lake Forest was a new development "out in the country." Its claim to fame was the annual Christmas light display. People from all over town would pack in cars to stare at the beautifully decorated homes. There were even reindeer in the open fields near the entrance. Those days are long gone. It's still worth a look, although I don't think it's as big of a production as it was a few decades ago. (Gee, I'm getting old!)
There is a great Griswold house right off of Westport Road (on your left, past Springhurst, before you get to the Watterson, if you're coming into town). The kids will like that one.
In Crescent Hill, you can wind your way through the streets and find some fantastic light displays. Those good neighbors on Hillcrest Avenue, responsible for the legendary haunted Halloween displays, put up a good show in December as well.
Of course, you can always pay to see good light displays around town. The Mega Cavern's Lights Under Louisville continues to be a popular attraction, although I'm not sure it's worth the $25 per vehicle admission. I'm more of a fan of driving around above ground, enjoying carols on the radio, and listening to the kids scream as they try to be the first to spy a festive display. And that entertainment is free.
So where do you go to see great lights? Which houses and neighborhoods can rival Clark Griswolds'? Are there any undiscovered, free streets of lights that Louisvillians should know about? Leave your comments below and share the holiday spirit!
Photos: courtesy of Shutterstock.com
