What to do with kids in Louisville over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day and two on New Year’s Day. Plus eight dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens · Louisville, KY
Good to know: Letter-writing station only; no in-person Santa stated.
Kentucky Kingdom, Santa's Village · 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209
Green Tree Mall · 757 E Lewis and Clark Pkwy, Clarksville, IN 47129
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Mall St. Matthews · 5000 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40207
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…).
Oxmoor Center · 7900 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40222
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…).
Louisville Mega Cavern · Louisville, KY
Good to know: 30-minute drive through the cavern; daytime visits work for early bedtimes.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens · Louisville, KY
Good to know: Holiday crafts and letters to Santa.
Kentucky Kingdom · 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209
Good to know: 1.5M lights, 300+ trees, 175-ft real-snow tubing hill, Rudolph character experience, 10+ kiddie rides.
Shively Library, Council Chambers · Shively
Newburg Library, Meeting Room · Newburg
Louisville Mega Cavern · Louisville, KY
Good to know: 30-minute drive through the cavern; daytime visits work for early bedtimes.
Kentucky Kingdom · 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209
Good to know: 1.5M lights, 300+ trees, 175-ft real-snow tubing hill, Rudolph character experience, 10+ kiddie rides.
Open on New Year’s Day: Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Frazier History Museum.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in LouisvilleEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in LouisvilleEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in LouisvilleFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in LouisvilleIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in LouisvilleBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in LouisvilleHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in LouisvilleParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in LouisvilleKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in LouisvilleParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in LouisvillePolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in LouisvilleBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in LouisvilleChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursBirthday party places in LouisvilleStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in LouisvilleDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
Of the three places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Louisville Zoo and Frazier History Museum are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.
On the calendar: Letters to Santa at Gardens Aglimmer, Santa Meet & Greet at Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom, Santa Photos at Green Tree Mall and Santa Photos at Mall St. Matthews.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory (11 a.m.–5 p.m.), Frazier History Museum (11 a.m.–4 p.m.).
On the calendar for Jan 1: Lights Under Louisville and Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Lights Under Louisville, Gardens Aglimmer and Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Louisville, through the holidays.
