If you’re looking for one of the best Christmas light displays, look no further than Patti’s 1880’s Settlement in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.
Patti’s was once featured on ABC’s Great Christmas Light Fight, if that gives you any idea of how amazing the lights are here! They put up over 1 million and a half lights each year!
It’s so beautiful, that we try to make the hour and a half drive from our home every holiday season.
Patti’s 1880’s Settlement is a recreated historic settlement with shops, dining, and more.
Related Article: Magical Christmas in Dollywood
Making a reservation for the Patti’s 1880s Restaurant is recommended if you’re hoping to try out their famous pork chops and pies. (You can make reservations online here!) It was voted #1 Small Town Restaurant in Southeast US by Southern Living Magazine.
Other dining options include The Grist Mill Cafe and T. Lawson’s Grill.
Patti’s Boutiques are open Monday-Thursday 11-7pm, and 11-8pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Festival of Lights
This year will be Patti’s Festival of Lights’ 34th year.
Hours are nightly 4-10pm and it is free to walk-thru. It begins November 4 and ends on January 29, 2023.
Just walking through the massive amounts of light displays is such a good time! Grab a hot chocolate from the Grist Mill to keep your hands warm while you wander!
There are photo ops everywhere you look. Light tunnels are one of the best!
Other Things To Do at Patti’s
Aside from just walking around the light displays, there are several boutiques for you to do some shopping. Some of them include The Wagon Wheel, The Pink Tractor, Little Lambs, and Yesterday’s.
They also had a little playground area for the kids, and some other kid-friendly activities in that area.
Something else we have done, that was really fun, was getting an “old time photo”. It’s always a joke in our family, wherever we go, there are always seems to be these old time photo opportunities, and Mike always says “Look! Old timey photos!” and then we laugh. One time, we just had to do it!
Patti’s 1880’s Settlement also has miniature golf and panning for gold, but we haven’t personally done those activities yet.
This year, they will be having a live nativity on certain nights from 6-8pm. The dates are November 25, December 2, 9, and 16.
Santa at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement
Santa and Mrs. Clause will arrive on November 25 this year. They will be available Monday-Friday from 6-8pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 5-8pm. Friday, December 23rd will be the last day, and will be from 4-8pm.
The lines for Santa get pretty long on the weekends, so expect a little bit of a wait!
Other Things to Do around Grand Rivers Kentucky
Grand Rivers, Kentucky sits between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Make sure if you are there for the Festival of Lights, that you stop and take a look at the boats in the marina. They get all dressed up for the holidays too!
- Try the fudge at Grand Rivers Fudge Factory
- See a show at Badgett Playhouse
- Visit Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
- View wildlife at the Elk and Bison Prairie (about 30 minutes away in Golden Pond, KY)
Patti’s 1880’s Settlement Address:
1793 J.H. O’Bryan Ave.
Grand Rivers KY 42045
Cost of Admission:
Festival of Lights is free to walk through!
So, have you been? What are your favorite Christmas light displays?
Next, read these other Christmas articles:
- Talon Falls Christmas in Kentucky
- Magical Christmas at Dollywood
- Best Gifts for Camping Lovers (for all budgets)
- Stocking Stuffers for the Adventurous Kid
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