December 2022 events calendar: 20+ things to do in Louisville this month

Here's what you can do in the Louisville area this week:

Top December 2022 events around Louisville

Louisville Zoo, Kroger Wild Winter Days Dare to Care Food Drive. 1100 Trevilian Way. Guests who bring one can of food per person (through Feb. 28, 2023) to donate to Dare to Care may purchase tickets at the Louisville Zoo window for $9.75 per adult and $6.75 per child/senior ticket. Most-needed items: canned meats and fruits, beans, peanut butter, hearty soups, rice, rice, cereal, fruit juice, pasta and canned vegetables. No glass containers. The discount is available at the gate only, not valid for online purchases. louisvillezoo.org/wildwinterdays.

Norton Commons' Food Truck Friday. 6301 Moonseed St., 6-8 p.m. Friday. Live music, food, drinks and shopping at the al fresco market. Bing a chair. Free. nortoncommons.com.

Kentucky Flea Market New Year’s Spectacular. West Wing, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. With more than 1000 booths with antiques, crafts, jewelry, handmade items, electronics and more. Admission is free. Parking $10. 502-367-5000; kyexpo.org.

Christmas events, things to do around Louisville

4th Annual Fête De Noël: Winter Holiday Festival and Ice Skating. Christy’s Garden, 720 Brent St. through Jan. 1. Start the holiday season at Paristown’s annual Fête De Noël (Festival of Christmas) Winter Holiday Festival, a six-week winter wonderland featuring an outdoor ice-skating rink, photos with Santa, the Brent Street Holiday Market, trackless train rides and so much more. Skate, shop, eat and drink in the heart of Paristown. The Café will offer breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Presented by Stock Yards Bank & Trust. paristown.com/fetedenoel.

• Ice Rink Schedule: Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Friday, noon to 11 p.m.; New Year’s Eve, noon to 11 p.m.; New Year’s Day, noon to 9 p.m.; Monday, noon to 6 p.m. $15 per person, per 60-minute skate session and includes skate rental. Tickets can be purchased in Paristown at Christy’s Garden Skate Shack.

Lights Under Louisville. Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave. Lights Under Louisville hours: 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. The 30-minute drive through the winding cavern includes over 40 themed displays, multiple projections area, approximately 900 Christmas light displays, multiple light tunnels, holiday music, and over 6 million points of light. On the Christmas Express, visitors will be driven through the holiday adventure in the open-air tram.

• Admission: car, truck, SUV and minivan: $34; full-size van/limo/RV/small school bus: $79.99; full-size school bus, $149.99; motor coach, $349.99; Christmas Express, $19.99. Skip the waiting areas and get a Priority Pass (must be purchased online, in advance by 2 p.m. on the date of attendance), $79.99. Christmas Express: $19.99. louisvillemegacavern.com.

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29th Southern Lights Holiday Festival. Kentucky Horse Park, 4075 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, 5:30-10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. A drive through a three-mile dazzling holiday light display with more than a million lights. Also, the Holiday Village features visits with Santa, Animal Land, model trains, and more. Presented by Friends of Coal. Tickets are $30 per carload online; $35 at the festival. For more information and tickets: khpfoundation.org/southern-lights.

Winter Woods Spectacular. Iroquois Park, 1080 Amphitheater Road 6-10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Walk through this Winter Wonderland that has millions of twinkling lights integrated into dazzling holiday displays set to music. Proceeds to benefit the Parks Alliance of Louisville. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event or at the event with a credit card or cash. $15, $12 seniors, $10, free for ages 2 and younger. winterwoodsspectacular.org.

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4th Annual Gardens Aglimmer. Waterfront Botanical Gardens, 1435 Frankfort Ave. select a time between 5:45-8:15 Thursday and Friday. A self-guided walking tour of the illuminated winter wonderland of swans, snowflakes, deer, Moravian stars, oversized flowers, light bursts, candles, and a multicolor tunnel of lights. Visit Santa and his sleigh in the Graeser Family Education Center and Mrs. Claus' Cottage in the Ellen T. Leslie Botanical Classrooms. Sponsored by Stock Yards Bank & Trust and Republic Bank, Republic Bank, and Wagner Electric. Reservations must be made in advance online. No admission will be sold at the door. Admission is $10, $7.50 for members, $5 for ages 7-12, and free for ages 6 and younger. Peak night admission: $15; $11.25 for members; $7.50 for ages 7-12, free for ages 6 and younger. waterfrontgardens.org.

Sports in Louisville December 2022

Bellarmine University vs. Liberty. Freedom Hall, 937 Phillips Lane, 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Men’s basketball. Tickets start at $5. Parking is $10. kyexpo.org.

University of Louisville Cardinals vs. Syracuse University. KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza, 7 p.m. Thursday. Women’s basketball. Tickets start at $10. ticketmaster.com.

University of Louisville Cardinals vs. Syracuse University. KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza, 7 p.m. Tuesday. Men’s basketball. Tickets start at $20. ticketmaster.com.

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Concerts in Louisville December 2022

The Bolo Mules: 90s County Hits. Thursday, 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $15. zanzabarlouisville.com.

St. Paul United Methodist Church Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival. Enjoy this musical and theatrical event based on the Boar's Head festivals of medieval times that celebrated the triumph of good over evil. Thursday and Friday, 5 and 8 p.m., at the church, 2000 Douglass Blvd. Free, but tickets are required. 502-459-1595.

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Stephanie Mills, After 7. Friday, 8 p.m., Memorial Auditorium, 970 4th St. Tickets start at $60 and are available at Better Days West, Lyles Mall and eventbrite.com.

Bendigo Fletcher. Friday, 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $18. zanzabarlouisville.com.

Dance in Louisville December 2022

Shen Yun: China Before Communism. Friday, 7:30 p.m., Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. For ages 4 and older. Tickets start at $98.28. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

Theater shows in Louisville in December 2022

"Christmas Carol: A Radio Play." Actors Theatre of Louisville audio adaptation of Dickens’s classic tale of redemption, connection, and generosity. This spirited listening experience can be streamed from any device for the whole family to enjoy. Streaming through New Year's Eve. Pay what you choose, starting at $10 plus fees. actorstheatre.org.

"Grumpy Old Men." Derby Dinner Playhouse presents the story of love and romance based on the 1993 film. Wednesday, 7:45 p.m., at the playhouse, 525 Marriott Dr., Clarksville. End Feb. 12. $40-49. 812-288-8281; derbydinner.com.

"Pride and Prejudice." Kentucky Shakespeare show explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. Recommended for ages 13 and older. Tickets start at $23.08. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

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More events this week in Louisville

Kentucky Science Center. 727 W. Main St., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Do Science at Kentucky Science Center’s 50,000 square feet of fun on Main Street. Get hands-on with fun exhibits, see a movie or tinker in MakerPlace. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged; visit kysciencecenter.org to purchase.

Speed Art Museum: Speed Online. Features art activities; view films from the Speed Cinema; coloring page; Make Your Own Story, inspired by the exhibition Loose Nuts: Burt Hurley’s West End Story. Participants become the author, illustrator, and creators of their own book and more. For more information, visit speedmueum.org.

Louisville Parks and Recreation Golf Courses: Golf courses are open from daylight to dark seven days a week. In the clubhouses, food service will be limited to take-out only.

• Bobby Nichols Golf Course, 4301 E. Pages Lane. 9 holes. 502-937-9051

• Charlie Vettiner Golf Course, 10207 Mary Dell Lane. 18 holes. 502-267-9958

• Crescent Hill Golf Course, 3110 Brownsboro Road. 9 holes. 502-896-9193

• Iroquois Golf Course, 1501 Rundill Road. 18 holes. 502-363-9520

• Long Run Golf Course, 1605 Flat Rock Road. 18 holes. 502-245-9015

• Seneca Golf Course, 2300 Pee Wee Reese Blvd. 18 holes. 502-458-9298

• Shawnee Golf Course, 460 Northwestern Parkway. 18 holes. 502-776-9389

• Sun Valley Golf Course, 6505 Bethany Lane. 18 holes. 502-937-9228

• Quail Chase Golf Course, 7000 Cooper Chapel Road. 27 holes. 502-239-2110

Reach Features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: December 2022 events calendar: 20+ things to do in Louisville