Bardstown Road Aglow
Visitors can explore participating neighborhood shops and restaurants offering special discounts, seasonal treats, and festive holiday cocktails. The celebration features pop-up live music performances, free bus transit, and the Wendy's Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa Claus. Attendees can also participate in an Instagram photo contest recognizing the best decorated local storefronts.
Sat, Dec 5, 2026 All ages
See more Christmas lights near Louisville
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Noon-10 p.m.
Neighborhood
The Highlands
Food & Drink
Participating restaurants offer discounts on food and drinks and feature Maker’s Mark holiday cocktails; Wendy’s provides free hot chocolate during the tree-lighting festivities.
Location
Tips & Advice
- Use the free bus rides between Douglass Loop, Bardstown Road, Baxter Avenue and Broadway instead of moving your car between stops.
- Get to the Wendy's tree at 1108 Bardstown Road early, because festivities start half an hour before the lighting countdown.
- Snap photos of the best-decorated storefronts and tag @HighlandCommerceGuild on Instagram to enter the photo contest for prizes from Murphy's Camera.
- Order a Maker's Mark holiday cocktail or buy the specialty glassware at a participating bar, since proceeds support Gilda's Club Kentuckiana.
- Ask at participating shops and restaurants about their Aglow discounts on food, drinks and merchandise before you buy.
Special Events & Promotions
- Wendy's Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa Claus, music by the Voices of Kentuckiana and free hot chocolate.
- After the tree lighting, Pedal Pub and the Highlands' Reindeers take Santa down Bardstown Road.
- Instagram Photo Contest for the best Aglow-themed photos, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes from Murphy's Camera.
- Maker's Mark holiday cocktails and specialty glassware at participating spots, benefiting Gilda's Club Kentuckiana.
- Expanded hours again this year.
Links & Contact
Run by Highland Commerce Guild
Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide, not the organizer of this event. For tickets, entries, vendor spots or questions, contact the organizer directly through their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do?
Shops and restaurants along Bardstown Road, Baxter and Barret Avenues and Douglass Loop offer special discounts on food, drinks and merchandise. There's also live holiday music at pop-up spots and the Wendy's Holiday Tree Lighting.
What drinks are there?
Participating restaurants serve festive holiday cocktails made with Maker's Mark, and part of the proceeds goes to Gilda's Club Kentuckiana. All proceeds from Aglow's specialty holiday glassware sold at participating restaurants and bars also support Gilda's Club.
How do I get around?
Free bus rides run along Douglass Loop to Bardstown Road and along Baxter Avenue to Broadway.
What happens at the Wendy's Holiday Tree Lighting?
Santa Claus comes, the Voices of Kentuckiana sing, and Wendy's gives out free hot chocolate. WHAS-TV's Connie Leonard and WLKY's Kent Taylor host the countdown. The tree is outside Wendy's at 1108 Bardstown Road, at the corner of Grinstead Drive.
How do I enter the photo contest?
Take photos of the best-decorated shops and businesses, post them to Instagram and tag @HighlandCommerceGuild. Murphy's Camera sponsors the prizes for the top three Aglow photos.
Browse Christmas in Louisville
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.