The Southern Lights, presented by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc., has returned to the Kentucky Horse Park!  The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation presents Southern Lights annually as a fundraiser in support of the Kentucky Horse Park for the enjoyment of the public.

From 5:30 until 10:00 pm each evening, visitors will be awed by the dazzling display of majestic lights.  The drive will begin at the Kentucky Horse Park Campground, and will proceed through an enhanced dreamland of dazzling lighted and often animated figures.  While many displays represent the holiday season, favorites are customized to represent the Bluegrass state.

Inside the park, visitors will be able to leave their cars behind to see a multitude of holiday happenings including seasonal entertainment, the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop and holiday craft vendors, Santa Claus and Frosty, an exotic petting zoo, pony rides, camel rides, the Mini-Train Express and model trains, dollhouses, the International Museum of the Horse, and the Bit & Bridle Restaurant serving dinner and seasonal goodies. 

The lights are on each night through December 31, and the additional attractions inside the park will be open each night, with the exception of November 22 (Thanksgiving) and December 24 to 31. 

Special weekends or events will add to the holiday excitement throughout Southern Lights and include Breyer Weekend, November 30 – December 1, Frosty’s Family Fun Weekend, December 7 – 8, Kentucky Proud Weekend, December 14 – 15, and Military Night, December 18.

For more info -

www.SouthernLightsKy.org or www.KHPFoundation.org or call 859/255-5727

Admission -

Personal Vehicle -  Sunday – Thursday - $15.00

Friday and Saturday - $20.00

Extended Van - $30.00

Limousine - $30.00

Mini-Bus - $50.00

School Bus - $75.00

Motorcoach - $125.00

NOTE:  Complimentary Passes will be accepted Sunday – Thursday ONLY

Additional Attractions -

Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop

Holiday Craft Fair

Pony Rides and Camel Rides ($)

Exotic Petting Zoo

Santa Claus with visits from Frosty, pictures with Santa by Rotary Club ($)

Mini-Train Express

Live Entertainment and Children’s Activities

Bluegrass Railroad Club Model Trains

The Bluegrass Miniature Society Dollhouses

International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate

Bit & Bridle Restaurant, home of Santa’s Workshop

Location and Parking-

Enter at KHP Campground entrance, drive through lights,

Park in Main Visitor Parking to go to additional attractions inside park

Directions to the Kentucky Horse Park*:  http://kyhorsepark.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=610&Itemid=336

*Travel Tip:  Avoid Interstate-75, exit 120, and Georgetown Road as traffic can get really backed up the last weeks before Christmas.  Instead, approach the Southern Lights gate (KHP Campground entrance) on Iron Works Pike from the east, from I-75, exit 115, and Newtown Pike.

Dates and Times –

November 16 through December 31, 2012

5:30 to 10:00 pm each evening

Driving tour only on Thanksgiving night, November 22, and December 24-31*

Breyer Weekend, November 30-December 1

Frosty’s Family Fun Weekend, December 7-8

Kentucky Proud Weekend, December 14-15

Military Night, December 18 - Free Admission per personal vehicle with military ID

*(The additional Southern Lights attractions such as the KHP Gift Shop, craft vendors, Santa Claus, Mini-Train Express and model trains, Bit & Bridle Restaurant, International Museum of the Horse, dollhouses, pony rides, camel rides, and exotic petting zoo are open nightly through December 23, with the exception of Thanksgiving night, November 22.)

Prices and dates are subject to change without notice.

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.

Laura Klumb
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
859-255-5727
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Toyota Donating 100 Cars to 100 Nonprofits in 100 Days – Public to Choose the Winners on Facebook. Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Needs Toyota Tundra Truck to Help Care for Park’s Horses and Maintain the Park

Lexington, Kentucky – May 9, 2012 – The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation announced today that it has been selected as one of 500 nonprofit finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, a major philanthropic initiative in which the automaker is giving 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days.  The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation was selected as a finalist from more than 4,000 applications nationwide.

Each day, beginning May 14, 2012, 100 Cars for Good will profile five finalists at www.100carsforgood.com.    Individual members of the public will be able to vote for whichever nonprofit they think can do the most good with a new vehicle.  The nonprofit with the most votes at the end of each day will win one of six Toyota models.  Runners-up will each receive a $1,000 cash grant from Toyota.

The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation will be up for consideration on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 10 a.m. EDT to 11:59 p.m. EDT. 

"Everyone at the Kentucky Horse Park is thrilled that the Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program," said Laura Klumb, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  "We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase the Kentucky Horse Park and hopefully win a new truck for the park!  We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and, of course, will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on Sunday, May 20, to vote for us.  A new truck would really be a game changer for our ability to care for the 130 horses living at the park and keep our park looking beautiful for our 1 million annual guests."

"At Toyota, we appreciate what a significant impact a new car can have for nonprofits nationwide," noted Michael Rouse, vice president of philanthropy for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.  "Toyota has donated more than half a billion dollars to nonprofits across the U.S. over the past 20 years, and 100 Cars for Good allows us to expand that commitment to local communities in important new ways.  The 500 finalists are an extraordinary group, and we look forward to the public learning more about them."

100 Cars for Good is the first initiative to directly engage the public to determine how Toyota’s philanthropic donations are awarded.  

For more information on the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and its efforts to win one of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, please visit the Kentucky Horse Park’s website at www.kyhorsepark.com.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter at https://www.facebook.com/kyhorsepark  or http://twitter.com/#!/KyHorsePark. For complete information on 100 Cars for Good and profiles of all 500 finalists, please visit www.100carsforgood.com.  

Local residents are encouraged to support the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and its quest for a new Toyota Tundra truck. If the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation receives the most votes and is awarded the vehicle, it will be used daily at the park to take feed and hay to the 130 horses living on its over 1200 acres, to repair and maintain the park’s 33 miles of white fences, and keep the park’s grounds safe and beautiful for the guests visiting year-round.

A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.

About the Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm/theme park and equine competition facility dedicated to man's relationship with the horse. The park is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and hosted more than 825,000 visitors and campers, as well as 15,000 competition horses in more than 200 special events and horse shows in 2011. The park is home to the National Horse Center which comprises more than 30 national and regional equine organizations.  Located at Exit 120, Interstate 75, just north of Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is The place to get close to horses.  Open daily March 15 to Nov. 4, and Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 5 to March 15.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in eight states. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design facilities. Toyota's annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from U.S. suppliers totals more than $23 billion.

Toyota is deeply committed to being a great community partner and is focused on supporting programs in ways that achieve long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, with a particular concentration on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs across the U.S.

For more information on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com.  

About Toyota Financial Services (TFS)
TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $91 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.

The Southern Lights Holiday Festival is returning for the 18th year to the Kentucky Horse Park.

Kids and adults of all ages will delight in driving tour through 3 miles of light displays with themes such as the Christmas Village, the 12 Days of Christmas, Keeneland Race Track, Show Jumping, the Spires of Churchill Downs and a brand new dinosaur display—each composed of thousands of twinkling lights.