WQXE News

Holiday celebrations in the City of Elizabethtown are set to ramp up this weekend with multiple events on the calendar.

City of Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles says the State Theater will host their annual Breakfast with Santa on December 7.

“Tickets include a breakfast, which is delicious, a visit with Santa, a professional photograph, Christmas crafts, and a ticket to the showing of The Polar Express, the movie that day,” Pyles said.

The Polar Express is the kickoff to the State Theater’s Christmas movie series. Pyles says tickets will go fast for these holiday classics.

“Tickets are $3 each and the box office opens one hour before showtime,” Pyles said. “You can find the full list of movies on our site, thestate270.org. The titles include The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Grinch, and White Christmas.”

Don’t forget to come to Downtown Elizabethtown this Friday night for the Light Up E-Town Parade and Tree Lighting. The parade starts at 7 p.m.

“This is what we call a ‘reverse parade,’” Pyles said. “It starts at St. John Road and travels south on Dixie Highway and ends at the square downtown. Something that we’ll do this year, we’ll have some pre-parade performances in front of the State Theater from some local dance troupes. We’ll have snack vendors in the State Theater parking lot as well beforehand for those that want to get together downtown to watch the parade.”

Santa Claus and Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory will light the city’s Christmas tree and host other festivities at Walker Square after the parade.

Find more information on all of the city’s holiday offerings at www.etownevents.com.

One of the City of Elizabethtown’s favorite holiday traditions returns Wednesday evening.

The city is ready to turn on the lights on more than 125 displays at Freeman Lake Park for their annual Christmas in the Park event.

“This is our 34th annual year for that,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “It returns to Freeman Lake Park, with the entrance being at the Blue Heron Way location.”

Christmas in the Park is open nightly from 6 to 11 p.m. and runs tonight through January 1.

Pyles says the city and the partners that set up and sponsor each display are ready to put on a spectacle for all visitors.

“You can hop in your car, and an illuminated roadway will guide you through the spectacle of the Christmas spirit that is Christmas in the Park,” Pyles said. “It is free to drive through, but we do accept donations, and those help pay for the electric bill that you can just imagine, and we add new displays and update the experience each year so we appreciate those donations.”

Visit www.etownevents.com for more information on Christmas in the Park and other Elizabethtown holiday events.

With the Thanksgiving holiday arriving, many Kentuckians will be joining a projected record number of travelers hitting the road this holiday season.

AAA is projecting nearly 80 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from November 26 to December 2 as part of their Thanksgiving plans. While Thanksgiving is a time for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the vast majority will be going with automobiles, with AAA projecting just under 72 million.

Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham says if alcoholic beverages will be part of your holiday season, plan accordingly.

“Plan ahead and designate a sober driver prior to taking the first sip of alcohol,” Denham said. “This simple step can help ensure everyone gets home safely to their loved ones. I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas.”

Travelers can check on highway conditions by visiting goky.ky.gov.