42nd annual Light Up Louisville returns to downtown on the Friday after Thanksgiving 2022

Louisville, KY (November 4, 2022) – Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that the city’s largest and most beloved holiday event, Light Up Louisville, is returning Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, outside of Metro Hall at Jefferson and Sixth streets.

"For generations, families from across Louisville have kicked off the holiday season the best way possible — together — because of Light Up Louisville," Mayor Greg Fischer said. "I'm grateful to be a part of keeping this cherished community tradition going strong for a 12th and final time as Mayor, and I look forward to seeing all the smiling faces downtown, celebrating the start of this magical time of year in Louisville."

Light Up Louisville, powered by Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and always held the Friday after Thanksgiving, begins at 3 p.m. Children and families are invited to visit Santa’s Workshop sponsored in part by AT&T on Sixth Street, where children can enjoy holiday crafts such as cookie decorating and write letters to Santa and veterans through the Honor Flight program. They can also get a free photo with Santa.

A Holiday Vendor Market, sponsored by Park Community Credit Union, will be open from 3 – 10 p.m. at Sixth and Jefferson streets, offering treats, holiday crafts and decorations for purchase. Also starting at 3 p.m., the Light Up Louisville stage on the west lawn of Metro Hall will feature live entertainment. The stage is organized by MERF, Musicians Emergency Resource Foundation. Performances include some of Louisville’s most talented groups including DJ Jay Campbell, Made New, JD Shelburne, and closing out the night, The Louisville Crashers.

The Lots of Lights Parade starts at 7 p.m. at Seventh and Jefferson, led by Frosty the Snowman as Grand Marshal. The parade will move down Jefferson Street to Fourth Street, where it will turn and pass through Fourth Street Live! Mix 106.9, Louisville’s official Christmas radio station, and WLKY will emcee the parade announcements. Anyone interested in participating in the parade can sign up at LightUpLouisville.org.

Around 8:30 p.m., Santa Claus will arrive and make his way to the entertainment stage to help Mayor Fischer officially “Light Up Louisville” by turning on tens of thousands of lights, including the city Christmas tree. A Zambelli fireworks show will follow.

Brought to you by Louisville Third Century, the Holiday Lights Spectacular, outside Metro Hall, will feature a nightly festive display of colors that will shine through the New Year. 

The Light Up tree, a 35-foot-tall Norway Spruce, is being donated this year by the Kaelin family out of the Parkway Village neighborhood.

“We have mixed emotions about giving up this gorgeous tree, we hate to see any tree cut down, but this beauty was getting far too big for us and living on a corner was making it hazardous to drivers,” said Greg Kaelin. “We are, however, overjoyed and delighted to share our tree with the citizens of Louisville. We are homegrown Louisvillians and could not be prouder to have been selected. Thank You, City of Louisville, City that we Love."

Also, returning this year is the popular Light Up Louisville Neighborhood Parade with Santa sponsored by Park Community Credit Union! The parade, which will take place mid-December, is a part of Park Community Credit Union’s mission to support economic opportunities for marginalized and traditionally underserved communities by visiting several Louisville neighborhoods. More information on the Neighborhood Parade will be available at LightUpLouisville.org.

Mayor Fischer noted that Light Up Louisville will again be powered through the support of LG&E.

“The holidays are a special time for everyone to take time out and come together to enjoy their families, friends and our community festivities,” said LG&E President John Crockett. “LG&E is proud to support Light Up Louisville again this year and to create this fantastic event for all of us to enjoy.”

Other sponsors include Louisville Third Century, Park Community Credit Union, Fourth Street Live!, AT&T, Louisville Downtown Partnership, Humana Military, McDonald’s Bell Restaurant Group, MERF, Hyatt Regency, Bob Ray Tree Company, Mix 106.9, and WLKY.

Special thanks also to, LEO Weekly, Louisville Public Media, Budweiser, Axxis, Visual Presentations, the Mower Shop, Parade chairs, Paul & Dan, Rodney and Pam Sutton and family, as well as Metro Parks and Recreation, Special Events, Fleet and Facilities, Public Works and LMPD.

Mayor Fischer urges people to share their photos from Light Up Louisville on social media using the hashtag #AroundLou. For more information, go to: www.lightuplouisville.org.

Toys for Tots Mayor Fischer noted that the holidays are a perfect time for our compassionate city to spread even more compassion, and he asked residents to get involved in this year’s community-wide Toys for Tots drive.

From 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, there will be a special drive-thru lane in front of Metro Hall for an easy drop-off, as part of a Mayor’s Challenge, along with drop-off boxes at all Louisville Fire Department stations.

Miracle League: December 8th Mark's Feed Stores Fundraiser

Miracle League Family,

Mark your calendars for December 8th! Help benefit the Miracle League of Louisville by eating lunch or dinner at any of the 6 area Mark's Feed Stores! Be sure to download or print the voucher below to show to your waiter/waitress before ordering.

Make sure to invite all of your friends!

ROADSHOW for The Week of Nov. 13, 2022

New items or changes in project status are shown in bold

Inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances may occur, so the information below is strictly of an advisory nature and is subject to change with no notice.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

• I-Move Kentucky (I-64 / I-71 / I-265): Find the latest project updates here: https://i-moveky.com/.
• Sherman Minton Bridge (I-64 & US 150 over the Ohio River between Louisville, KY, and New Albany, IN): Find the latest project updates here: https://shermanmintonrenewal.com/.
• I-65 South: Single-lane closures through Dec. 16 on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, which carries I-65 South over the Ohio River. The lane closures will be contained to either the far-right or far-left lanes. Digital message signs will be placed on I-65 South notifying motorists of the work well in advance of the closures. The bridge is undergoing a federally-mandated inspection of its metal welds. There will be no lane closures during the Thanksgiving holiday. The Abraham Lincoln Bridge, which carries I-65 North over the river, will not be impacted.
• U.S. 31E (Bardstown Road/Baxter Avenue): Lane closures and delays are possible from Bonnycastle Avenue to Broadway for asphalt resurfacing and related work. Drivers will be directed through these work zones via flagging operations. Motorists take note: On-street parking will be restricted. This is part of an overall Highway Safety Improvement Program within the Bardstown Road corridor.
• U.S. 31E (Bardstown Road): Lane shifts and delays are possible at Southpointe Boulevard for intersection improvements. The intersection is being reconstructed to include dual turn lanes. The work is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023.
• U.S. 31E (Buechel Bypass): Right lane of the bridge closed over the Norfolk Southern Railroad (mile point 10.4). The contractor is on site and working under the bridge where they are not visible to motorists crossing the span. The contractor is still coordinating with the railroad to be able to cross the tracks to finish the repairs. The project is expected to be completed no later than spring 2023.
• KY 61 (Jackson Street): Daily lane closures and delays are possible between the I-65 ramp extending east to Muhammad Ali Boulevard to install pavement markings. Motorists will be directed through the work zone via flagging operations. The project is expected to be completed in fall 2022.
• KY 841 (Gene Snyder Freeway): KY 841 North will be closed from 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, just past Exit 37 for U.S. 42 to Prospect. Northbound traffic impacted by this closure should detour using Interstate 71 South to Interstate 65 North to cross the Ohio River into Indiana. KY 841 South will be closed from 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, just past Exit 11 for Utica and River Road. Southbound traffic impacted by this closure should detour using Interstate 65 South to cross the Ohio River into Kentucky. The closures are for maintenance related to the fire suppression system.
• KY 1065 (Outer Loop): Daily closures of the right lane of westbound Outer Loop are possible at Grade Lane to reconstruct the intersection. This project is expected to be completed fall in 2022.
• KY 1450 (Blue Lick Road): Weekday lane closures are possible on Blue Lick Road between Gene Snyder and Preston Highway for road widening work. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2023.
• KY 2050 (Herr Lane/Lyndon Lane): Daytime lane closures and delays are possible between KY 146 and Moredale Road for striping. Motorists will be directed through the work zone via flagging operations. The project is expected to be completed in fall 2022.

November 2022 Hot Topics

1.       Consumers looking to make some extra cash this holiday season should be wary of holiday job scams, including mystery shopper scams. A local consumer received a fraudulent cashier’s check along with a fake mystery shopper job offer. Don’t fall for this scam!  

2.       A consumer reported receiving a fake job offer allegedly from Progressive Insurance.  The “job offer” included a mailed check for office supplies. The consumer contacted Progressive directly and was alerted that this was not a legitimate job offer.

3.        A consumer received what they believed to be a letter from Humana Military. Upon calling the phone number in the letter, they realized they were dealing with a phishing scam. If you receive a suspicious message that appears to come from a legitimate company, contact the company directly to verify the message’s legitimacy. Do not give out personal information over the phone or online until you verify the source.

4.       Consumers in the area continue to report fake invoice scams. The emailed invoices appear to come from companies such as Best Buy, Amazon, and Apple, and direct the consumer to call if they did not make the purchase listed on the invoice. This is a phishing scam. If you receive an unexpected invoice, contact the company directly to verify. Do not give out any personal or financial information, and do not grant anyone access to your accounts.

5.       BBB continues to receive reports of pet scams in the area; one local consumer even reported a pet hedgehog scam! Whether you’re looking for a puppy, kitten, or a more exotic pet, remember to always see the animal in person before you buy and check the breeder’s credentials, references, and reviews.

6.       A consumer reported to BBB that they were the victim of a scam after sending a Facebook friend money in order to take part in an investment “opportunity.” BBB advises consumers to be cautious of social media messages regarding investment opportunities. Anything that promises immediate large returns is a red flag!  

7.       A consumer contacted BBB to report a scam phone call regarding the recent student loan forgiveness initiative. BBB warns consumers to be on the lookout for similar calls and messages; scammers will try to take advantage of any confusion around student loan forgiveness.

8.       Consumers continue to report receiving text messages regarding Indiana Department of Workforce government grants. This is a scam and an attempt to steal consumers’ personal and financial information. Do not respond to these texts or click on any links within them.

9.       BBB warns consumers of healthcare scams that are likely to crop up during open enrollment periods. Be wary of any unsolicited phone calls regarding Medicare or other health plans, and do not give out your personal information over the phone.

10.   As the holidays approach, many consumers will want to decorate their homes with seasonal décor. BBB warns consumers to watch out for holiday decoration scams. Research companies first before buying online and beware of deals that seem too good to be true.