The much-anticipated, annual Holly Day Market presented by the Junior League of Lexington is this weekend at the KHP’s Alltech Arena, November 9-11, with a preview party on November 8. 

Merchants, most not normally seen in our area, will be set along the arena concourse selling everything from jewelry, clothing, toys, books, art, food, and, of course, holiday decorations.  There is also a packed schedule of special events each day, prize drawings, and visits by Santa.  Get all the details at www.hollydaymarket.com.

Download a schedule of events at http://www.hollydaymarket.com/schedule-of-events/

Admission -

Thursday, November 8, Preview Party $35.00

Friday – Sunday, November 9 – 11, $8.00 per day

Location and Parking -

Alltech Arena

Dates and Times –

            Thursday, November 8, 7:00 – 10:00 pm

            Friday, November 9, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

            Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

            Sunday, November 11, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

With the return of the Southern Lights holiday festival, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc., the Southern Lights Stroll once again debuts as its opening night on Thursday, November 15.  The only evening of the entire event when the public is allowed to experience a major portion of the lighted route on foot, visitors may choose to run, walk or stroll their way through thousands of dazzling holiday lights in the heart of horse country, on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park.

Now in its’ eleventh season, the Southern Lights Stroll has proven popular with casual walkers and families who bring out their children and pets to get photos and see the lights outside of a car, and with serious runners who come to compete in the 5K portion of the “stroll.” 

John’s Run/Walk Shop has donated their services to the competitive 5K race, and awards will be given to winners.  Additional activities include complimentary Mini Train Express rides, refreshments, prize drawings and more.  A food drive for God’s Pantry and local animal shelters will be held in conjunction with this event.  All participants are asked to bring non-perishable items to help the needy families of Central Kentucky and local animal shelters.

Pre-registration through November 10 is $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids 7-12.  Registration after November 10 is $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for kids 7-12. Walk-up registration on November 15 begins at 5:00 pm, and the stroll begins at 6:45 pm.  Check-in is at the park’s Visitor Information Center.  The first 500 registered adults receive a free souvenir t-shirt and the first 200 registered kids receive a free holiday ornament compliments of Breyer.

All proceeds of Southern Lights and Southern Lights Stroll support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  The 2012 Shining Star Presenting Sponsor is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. and the Holly and Ivy Sponsors are Kerr Brothers Funeral Home and Café Press Inc.  Additional sponsors are Pepsi, Breyer, Kentucky Utilities, SafetyTec, John’s Run/Walk Shop and the Mini Train Express Company.  In September, the American Bus Association (ABA) selected Southern Lights a Top 100 event for 2013, which is an annual compendium of the best events for group travel in the United States and Canada. 

Southern Lights is open from 5:30 pm to 10 pm nightly from November 16 to December 31, 2012.  Indoor attractions will be open every night except November 22 and December 24 - 31. The cost is $15.00 per car Sunday through Thursday and $20.00 per car on Friday and Saturday.  Contact the KHP Foundation for more information at (859) 255-5727, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or www.khpfoundation.org.

The registration form is downloadable here:  http://khpfoundation.org/southern-lights-stroll.html.

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The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, fulfills its mission to enhance, expand and improve the Kentucky Horse Park by fundraising within the private sector.  This partnership between private donors and the support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is what has enabled the incredible success of the Kentucky Horse Park.  Since its inception in 1985, the KHP Foundation has raised more than $25 million, which has funded critical improvements such as new facilities, research projects, new horses, landscaping ventures, and much more.

The 30th Annual Fayette County Farm Bureau Farm Machinery Consignment Auction will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at the main entrance of the Kentucky Horse Park. 

The auction is open to the public and draws a crowd of more than 1,600 potential buyers with an average of 1,300 pieces of lawn and garden equipment being consigned to the sale.  This sale is the largest of its kind in Kentucky.  

All of the proceeds from the sale go towards the Fayette County Farm Bureau Education Foundation helping provide scholarships to Fayette County high school students. To date the auction has helped 30 students and provided over $580,000 in scholarship monies.  

The auction is put on by volunteers giving of their time for the benefit of Fayette County youth.  It is also a great opportunity for them to connect with fellow farmers from other parts of the state.  The sale provides an avenue for farmers to buy and sell used equipment making it more affordable for their farming practices.

For more information on the Farm Machinery Consignment Auction, or if you would be interested in volunteering, contact Carrie Johnson at (859) 253-0023 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Patrick Smithwick, author of "Racing My Father" will be here to sign his new book,
"Flying Change: A year of racing and family and steeplechasing" 
Saturday, July 21, 11am to 1pm 
Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop 

Don't miss this chance to meet the author and pick up his book, which is described as, "This memoir of dueling ambitions is the tale of a man who decides in mid-life to call off all restraints, silence all naysayers, put his mind and body and courage to the test, and do what in his case-he has been away from the world of racing for twenty-five years-is the impossible: within a nine-month period get a horse to ride in the most difficult steeplechase race in the world, and then, ride that horse as if his life depends on it, which, literally, it does."

See you here!

WHO:  Justin The Artistic Horse 

WHAT:  Painting Demonstration and Q & A with Justin The Artistic Horse and his Owner, Adonna Combs, in advance of the auction of one of his paintings. 

WHEN:  Thursday July 12, 10 am 

WHERE:  The American Saddlebred Museum’s Showplace For Saddlebreds, adjacent to the main Parking lot at the Kentucky Horse Park.  

WHY:  One of Justin’s original paintings will be selling at Noon on Saturday July 14 in the American Saddlebred Museum’s annual Equine Art, Antique and Rare Book Auction. 

Justin is a seven year old Friesian who has said “no” to the show ring and instead opts to pursue his passion for painting.  

The Equine Art, Antique and Rare Book Auction, now in its eighth year, is a consignment auction.  The auction is a fundraiser for the American Saddlebred Museum and will be held at its Showplace for Saddlebreds at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday July 14 at Noon.  Justin will give a painting demonstration for the general public and those interested in bidding on his painting immediately preceding Saturday’s auction at 11:00 am outside the Showplace for Saddlebreds. 

Great photo and video ops will be available at the press conference, as Justin will demonstrate the many skills he has developed in his quest to become the nation’s foremost equine artist.  He opens his containers of paint, grabs the brushes in his mouth and paints on a canvas, either on an easel or on the ground.  His owner only selects the paint colors – Justin does the rest, including signing the painting with his hoof print.  Adonna will be available for interviews.

HOW:  Members of the media, please park in the Kentucky Horse Park’s main parking lot adjacent to the Showplace for Saddlebreds.

CONTACT: Tolley Graves, American Saddlebred Museum at the Kentucky Horse Park
4083 Iron Works Pkwy   Lexington, KY  40511   859-259-2746   www.asbmuseum.org
859-259-2746 Ext. 304; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Everyone seeks to find his passion in life. This is the story of a horse who was successful in finding his. Read more in Ky Forward