View as a webpage  /  Share

Upcoming Events | Contact Us

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Not only do we have festive holiday events all throughout December, we also have a number of opportunities for artists both professional and amateur alike. Take a look and mark your calendar with the activities and submission deadlines below.

Photo credit: Big Heart Film

Parade of Lights & December First Friday on Main Street

Join us in downtown Louisville for an evening of festivities! This beloved holiday tradition includes a dazzling Parade of Lights with twinkling floats & marching bands, visits with Santa & festive fun, plus local choirs & musical entertainment!

Parade of Lights

Friday, December 5 | Historic Main Street
5:30 p.m. — Santa visits & local performances
7 p.m. — Parade begins

Snowed In: First Friday at the Library

Friday, December 5 | Louisville Public Library
5–7 p.m. — Live music, winter crafts, a snowy photo booth, and cozy refreshments

Museum Treat Bag Giveaway

Friday, December 5 | Historical Museum
5:30–7 p.m. — Free Holiday treat bags for children while supplies last

2025 Life in Louisville Photography Contest

Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2026 

It's your chance to showcase what Life in Louisville is all about! Submit your best photos for a chance to win bragging rights and have your photos featured throughout the year in publications like the Louisville Lantern. 

Photos must have been taken in Louisville between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025. Share photos of your favorite “hidden gems” — landscapes, local spots, people, critters, and more. The winners of the Life in Louisville Photography Contest will be announced at a City Council meeting in February, where the recognized photographers will be invited to receive their certificates in person.

Call for Entries: Mary Trebing Sculpture

Submission Deadline: 11:59 p.m., Thursday, January 8, 2026 

The City of Louisville is seeking an artist or team of artists to design and install a sculpture that celebrates the life and accomplishments of Mary Trebing, a lesser known but fascinating historic figure who spent some of her formative years in Louisville. 

Louisville Arts Grants

Applications open Wednesday, December 17

Calling all creatives! Louisville Arts Grants applications will be accepted from December 17 through February 6. Applicants may request up to $2,000 to help fund artistic or cultural events in Louisville. Arts Grants are open to individuals and organizations; you do not need to have nonprofit status to apply.

Old Town Skate is Back

Open through Monday, February 16, 2026

Louisville, are you ready? Our seasonal, outdoor ice-skating rink is officially open and this season is going to be the best yet! For the first time ever, you can purchase your tickets online — pick your perfect skating time and kick off the holiday season with us.

We want your feedback on City events!

As the year comes to a close, we want to know what YOU thought of all the different cultural events and experiences that the City organized this year. If you attended any City events in 2025, we invite you to take a few minutes to let us know what you loved and what could be improved as we start preparing for next year!

The Silhouette Project: Suspended Animation

Sunday, December 7 | 1–5 p.m. | Louisville Center for the Arts

Organized by one of our Louisville Art Grantees, The Silhouette Project is an evocative exhibit illuminating the lived realities of immigrant and refugee youth through anonymous educator testimonies and student silhouettes layered with imagery reflecting the forces shaping their lives today. 

We invite you to join us for this unique exhibit exploring the fragility of this moment and the hope for future voices to emerge, still waiting to be heard.