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Christmas with kids in Frankfort
In Frankfort, Christmas comes with candlelight. Kentucky's capital has hosted its Candlelight weekend downtown for more than forty years, and its Christmas parade has been rolling for generations, with a 77th edition in 2025.
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Polar Express Pajama Party (Candlelight Weekend)
When: Sat, Nov 14, 3 pm
Where: Grand Theatre, Frankfort
Cost:
The story of Christmas in Frankfort
How Frankfort celebrates
Downtown Frankfort's biggest yearly event is Candlelight, a tradition that has run for over forty years. It opens on a Thursday evening with a new Christmas tree lit on the Old State Capitol lawn, and storefronts compete in a window display contest. There is live music, letters to the North Pole, craft workshops and a life-size snow globe where Santa poses for photos. The Frankfort Christmas Parade has its own long record: the 2024 parade was the 76th annual one, and 2025 brought the 77th.
Christmas last year in Frankfort
Candlelight weekend 2025 brought Governor Andy Beshear and Mayor Layne Wilkerson were scheduled to light the tree on Broadway at 6:30, with performances by Stewart Home School and Kentucky State University and a visit from Santa. Horse carriage rides ran Friday and Saturday nights, and a returning inflatable snow globe stood on the Old State Capitol lawn. The 77th Christmas Parade followed on December 6, with a $1,000 grand prize for the best float to give to charity. The Governor's Mansion put up five Christmas trees, each in its own style.
Fun facts about Christmas in Frankfort
In 2020 the parade became a drive-thru, and a few thousand people came from afar. The next year the usual parade and state tree lighting returned in front of the Capitol, and the mayor said how special it was to have a proper Christmas parade again. At the Governor's Mansion, one family tree holds tiny ice skates made with paper clip blades by the governor's grandmother. Buffalo Trace's Holidays at the Trace light festival, in its 27th year, has a 60-foot light tunnel.
Trains and Christmas near Frankfort
Frankfort families who love trains have several Kentucky museums within a drive. The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles is run by volunteers and has grounds that are free to walk any day. The La Grange Railroad Museum offers model trains and an L&N dining car and caboose outside, and its Tuesday mornings include a toddler playgroup. The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven runs excursions on the old L&N Lebanon Branch, with themed trains on its calendar from Halloween to Christmas.
- Bluegrass Railroad Museum: A volunteer-run railroad in Woodford County Park, with grounds that are free to walk any day.
- La Grange Railroad Museum: A free museum with model trains and an L&N dining car and caboose outside, plus a toddler playgroup on Tuesday mornings.
- Kentucky Railway Museum: A working railroad in New Haven with themed trains scheduled from Halloween through Christmas.
Traditions today
- Candlelight weekend: Downtown Frankfort's biggest event, more than forty years old, with a tree lighting, window displays, live music and Santa.
- Frankfort Christmas Parade: A downtown parade of decorated floats, in its 77th year in 2025.
- Snow globe photos with Santa: A life-size inflatable snow globe on the Old State Capitol lawn is a favorite photo spot.
- Horse carriage rides: Carriage rides run through downtown on Friday and Saturday nights of Candlelight weekend.
- Holidays at the Trace: A drive-through and walking light festival at Buffalo Trace Distillery with a 60-foot light tunnel, in its 27th year in 2025.
- Liberty Hall Christmas Tea: A tea that recreates holiday traditions of the Brown family, Liberty Hall's first owners, from the late 18th and 19th centuries.
A fact for kids
In Frankfort, Santa poses inside a giant snow globe! It stands on the Old State Capitol lawn during Candlelight weekend, and kids can also write letters to the North Pole.
Questions about Christmas in Frankfort
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Frankfort?
The Frankfort Christmas Parade is the oldest we could verify, because the 2024 parade was the 76th annual one and 2025 was the 77th. That is a very long record for a small-city parade. Candlelight, the downtown weekend with the tree lighting, is also long running, at over forty years.
How old is Frankfort's Candlelight weekend?
Candlelight is a tradition that spans over forty years, according to a 2024 report, and it is described as downtown Frankfort's biggest annual event. It begins on a Thursday evening with a tree lighting and continues with window displays, music, craft workshops, bake sales and Santa. The exact first year was not stated.
What happens at Candlelight in downtown Frankfort?
Candlelight brings a tree lighting, decorated storefronts with a window display contest, live music, craft workshops such as wreath making, bake sales and a Santa photo spot. In 2025 it also included horse carriage rides on Friday and Saturday nights and a new Pajama Sip and Shop. Families can also write letters to the North Pole.
Who lit the Frankfort Christmas tree last year?
Governor Andy Beshear and Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson were scheduled to light the tree during the 2025 Candlelight weekend, with the countdown at 6:30 on Broadway. Performers from Stewart Home School and Kentucky State University took part, and Santa Claus visited, so kids had plenty to watch.
How old is the Frankfort Christmas Parade?
The Frankfort Christmas Parade had its 76th annual edition in December 2024 and its 77th in 2025. That makes it part of Frankfort holidays for generations. It carried on through hard years too, including a drive-thru version in 2020 and a return to the full parade in 2021.
What happened at the 2025 Frankfort Christmas Parade?
The 77th parade took place on Saturday, December 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. It featured elaborately decorated floats, and the grand prize winner received a $1,000 check to donate to a favorite charity. The parade runs through downtown Frankfort.
What was Christmas like in Frankfort in 2020?
In 2020 the parade was scaled down to a drive-thru, and a few thousand people came from afar. In 2021 the full parade and state tree lighting returned in front of the Capitol, and Mayor Wilkerson said how special it was to have a proper Christmas parade again. Governor Beshear and Santa attended.
What is the snow globe at Frankfort's Candlelight?
It is a life-size inflatable snow globe that Commonwealth Credit Union sets up on the Old State Capitol lawn, along with other life-size holiday displays. Families step inside for photos, and Santa appears there. It returned in 2025, so kids who loved it once can see it again.
What is Holidays at the Trace?
Holidays at the Trace is a light festival at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, in its 27th year in 2025. It has thousands of lights, a 60-foot light tunnel and dozens of themed scenes. Cars can drive through nightly in December, and walking tours on three weekends require reservations.
What is the Liberty Hall Christmas Tea?
It is a December tea at Liberty Hall that recreates the holiday traditions of the Brown family, who first owned the house, from the late 18th and 19th centuries. In 2025 it was held on December 13 at 2 p.m., with seating limited to 40 guests, so it is a way to see how Christmas looked long ago.
How does the Governor's Mansion decorate for Christmas?
In 2025 the mansion had five Christmas trees, each in a different style, from a traditional tree in the governor's parlor to a whimsical one in a puzzle room. Putting the decorations up takes about a week. Each December the decorated mansion opens to state employees as a thank you for their service.
What ornaments does Kentucky's first family treasure?
The Beshear family gives each other annual ornaments that mark the year's memories. Their family tree includes ornaments made by the governor's grandmother, such as tiny ice skates with paper clip blades. Their dog Winnie even wore a Christmas sweater and watched for Santa from the front window.
What can kids learn about holiday music in Frankfort?
The Kentucky Historical Society offered a free short tour called Sounds of the Season in December 2025, on three Saturdays at 3 p.m. It looked at how winter music has shaped Kentucky's holiday traditions, using artifacts pulled from collection storage. It was free with general admission, and no registration was needed.
How can I explain Candlelight to my kids?
Tell them that downtown Frankfort gets dressed up for Christmas, with decorated shop windows, a big tree, horse carriages and a snow globe they can step into. Kids can write letters to the North Pole and meet Santa. It is like a small holiday village that grows right in the middle of town.
Where can kids see a big Christmas tree in Frankfort?
A new Christmas tree is lit on the Old State Capitol lawn at the start of Candlelight, and in 2025 the tree lighting countdown happened on Broadway. A state tree lighting has also been held in front of the Capitol. Our Frankfort Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates.
Is there a Christmas parade in Frankfort this year?
Frankfort has held its Christmas Parade for 77 years as of 2025, so a new edition is expected each December. For this season's confirmed date, time and route, see our Frankfort Christmas events guide on this page, since details change from year to year.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Frankfort?
Downtown Frankfort is decorated during Candlelight, and Buffalo Trace Distillery runs Holidays at the Trace with a 60-foot light tunnel. A drive-through option makes it easy for little ones. Our Frankfort Christmas events guide on this page has this season's confirmed dates and times.
Where can kids see trains near Frankfort at Christmas?
The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven runs excursions on the old L&N Lebanon Branch, with themed trains scheduled from Halloween to Christmas. The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles has grounds that are free to walk any day. Check each museum's calendar before you go, since schedules change.
Is there a free train museum near Frankfort for toddlers?
Yes. The La Grange Railroad Museum is free, run by volunteers, and has model trains and an L&N dining car and caboose outside. Tuesday mornings bring a toddler playgroup, and the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday. It is a calm place for little train fans to explore.
What makes Christmas in Frankfort different from other cities?
Frankfort celebrates in a historic capital setting. The tree lights up on the Old State Capitol lawn, Santa poses in a life-size snow globe, and horse carriages roll through downtown during a Candlelight tradition of more than forty years. Add a state tree lighting at the Capitol and a Governor's Mansion with five trees.
Sources
- Frankfort's Candlelight tradition lights up the capital city, WUKY
- Governor Beshear and Frankfort Mayor Wilkerson to light the tree at the capital city's annual Candlelight weekend, WUKY
- Christmas time is here, Visit Frankfort
- 76th Annual Frankfort Christmas Parade, Macaroni KID Frankfort
- Christmas parade, tree lighting return to Frankfort, WKYT
- Governor's Mansion transforms into winter wonderland with five Christmas trees and family traditions, LEX18
- Sounds of the Season Holiday Highlights Tour, Kentucky Historical Society
- La Grange Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Kentucky Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Bluegrass Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train