Celebrating 43 years, Light Up Louisville, powered by LG&E returns tomorrow, Saturday, December 2nd from 4 to 9 p.m. Come explore downtown as many fun activities new and old will be taking place.

The event will feature a Children's Winter Wonderland tent sponsored by Park Community Credit Union, two stages with live musical entertainment, a Vendor Village with nearly 30 local shops, an Honor Flight tent to write holiday letters to U.S. veterans sponsored by Humana Military, the Lots of Lights Parade, and of course, the long-awaited arrival of the superstar himself, SANTA CLAUS!

In the Children's Winter Wonderland tent, you will find many wonderful activities for kids off all ages! These include cookie decorating, coloring a stocking, ornament making, writing letters to Santa Claus, and more! The Winter Wonderland will be located on 6th Street near Liberty Street and will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. Make sure to stop by and get a free goodie bag while supplies last! 

Located next to the Winter Wonderland tent is the Honor Flight tent. Make a stop by here to write a holiday letter to a U.S. veteran. Honor Flight Bluegrass will take these letters and distribute them to veterans all across Kentucky. 

The Vendor Village will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on 6th Street near Metro Hall. This market is a great place to get some holiday shopping done and check out unique local vendors! Vendors participating in the Vendor Village are Bettyz Beadz, Chocolate Potion, Derby City Light Up Toys, Gimme Hugs Dude, Gye Ngame Books & More, Madstyles, Maman African American Designer, Matters of the Heart Natural Products, Nubian Grace, Permalinx by Heather & Courtney, Sandy's Crafts, Savannah's Sweet Spa, and Trevor Inkwell. 

Don't forget to also check out all the great food vendors! There will be plenty of options for grabbing a snack and beverage while at Light Up Louisville as well as grabbing a special treat to take home! These vendors are Amiracle Ade Lemonade, Annie Up, Chic-La-Lou Food Truck, Dricks Treats, Finer Flavors, Froggy's Popcorn, Gimme Some Suga Signature Cotton Candy, Herbs & Smoked BBQ, Honey Depot, Joyful Eats, Kentuckiana Catering, KMRT Enterprise, Paradise Island Tea, and Purrl Boba!

The shopping doesn't stop at the Vendor Village! New this year, we have partnered with Louisville Downtown Partnership to bring you an expanded holiday shopping experience! Just a block down the road at 4th and Jefferson streets, the Downtown Holiday Market will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. The market will feature local vendors including Beeing2gether, 502 Hemp Wellness Center, Derby Candle Co., Ramiro's food truck, Red Top Hotdogs, and many more.

Along with fun shopping, the Downtown Holiday Market will feature free holiday photo ops with professional photography and printed pictures from 2 to 6 p.m., entertainment by Hot Sauce Brass Band from 3 to 6 p.m., and a gourmet hot chocolate bar! 

Stroll between the two shopping markets to find something for everyone on your holiday gift list! 

Light Up Louisville is excited to feature two entertainment stages this year! The Main Stage will host musical acts starting at 4 p.m. and following the Light Up moment, it will be located in front of Metro Hall facing Jefferson Street. The headliner this year is Soul Circus! Stick around after the Light Up moment to rock around the tree with them! The new stage this year, the Jingle Stage will be located in Jefferson Square Park near Liberty Street! This stage will host groups from 4 to 6 p.m.

Check out the schedules for each stage here:

Main Stage
4:05 p.m. Cheryl Price & Angie Hopperton
4:30 p.m. Tiffany Lynn Puckett
4:55 p.m. Classic Melodies
5:20 p.m. Visions of Life Outreach Ministries & Music 4 the Culture
5:40 p.m. Olivia Henken & Josh Logan
7 p.m. Classic Melodies
8:15 p.m. Soul Circus

Jingle Stage
4:25 p.m. Dancensation Showbiz Kids
4:50 p.m. Envy Dance Team
5:15 p.m. Mark Barnes
5:40 p.m. Ariana Roshae & Band

At 6 p.m. the Lots of Lights Parade steps off and makes its way through the crowd! The parade begins at 7th Street heading east on Jefferson. It will pass the Main Stage where Terry Meiners and Tony Cruise of NewsRadio 840 WHAS will be emceeing. It will then travel to the corner of 4th and Jefferson streets where an emcee with Louisville Downtown Partnership will be stationed for those at the Downtown Holiday Market to hear, then turn right onto 4th Street and travel through Fourth Street Live! DJ Jay Campbell will be emceeing the parade from Fourth Street Live!. 

This year welcomes hundreds and hundreds of parade participants from dozens of local groups including the League of Mascots, Derby City Mustangs, River City Drum Corp., and Black Sheep Jeep Club; as well as participants like EthanAlmighty, TARC, MELANnaire Marketplace, Toys for Tots, and so many more! 

Mayor Greenberg will be walking in the parade and will be accompanied by Frosty's Friends from Engelhard Elementary, and the Mayor's Band from Ballard High School! Get there early to grab a good spot to watch the parade!

Following the Lots of Lights Parade and a special performance by Classic Melodies, Mayor Craig Greenberg and Rick Van Hoose of WLKY will take the Main Stage and get us ready for the arrival of the REAL Santa Claus! Santa will begin his journey atop his magical float just before 8 p.m. and will join them on the stage where he will deliver his special present: the Magic Plug! 

At 8 p.m. Mayor Greenberg and Santa Claus will plug in the Magic Plug to Light Up Louisville! Watch in wonder as the beautiful 40-foot Norway Spruce lights up all accompanied by a Zambelli fireworks show!

Immediately following, head over to Santa's House for a free photo with Santa Claus himself to take home with you. 

Everyone is encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to Light Up Louisville this year! There will be Toys for Tots collection boxes located in both the Children’s Winter Wonderland tent and Vendor Village.