Cold weather brings with it a host of family activities to be enjoyed both inside and out.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While summer in the Bluegrass State is full of festivals and outdoor activities in the sun, at this point in the year Kentuckians have dug out their winter coats, hats, and gloves, and most likely won’t be putting them away for a while.

Despite the chilly conditions, there is still much to do in the wintertime months regardless of whether that means braving the cold or staying nice and warm indoors.

Indoor Activities

Enjoy a unique dining experience and beautiful scenery on the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, located in Bardstown, where riders will take a 2.5-hour, 35-mile trip through the Kentucky countryside. Both dinner and lunchtime rides are offered, or try out one of the themed rides!

Enjoy a night at the theatre at one of the state’s many performance arts centers, including the Lexington Opera House and three popular Kentucky performing arts venues located in Louisville: The Kentucky Center, the W. L. Lyons Brown Theatre, and Old Forester’s Paristown Hall. Visitors can enjoy everything from ballet, to Broadway, to bluegrass music and are sure to have a night to remember. 

Cozy up in a cabin with loved ones for a weekend getaway. Explore rentals for every budget, across the state, and enjoy the mountains without having to layer up. Stay in lodging at a state park and take advantage of KFB member benefit discounts!

Basketball season is a well-loved Kentucky tradition for everyone, regardless of whether they are dressed in Cardinal Red or Wildcat Blue. Head out to the court for the day to cheer on the team and enjoy a basketball game. Looking to stay in? Invite friends and family over and host a game-night watch party!

Take a food tour and experience the culinary side of Kentucky culture! Participants, led by a tour guide, will get the opportunity to try some favorite foods and restaurants from the area while learning and hearing stories about local history. Bites of the Bluegrass offered in Lexington and Danville, Louisville Food Tours, and the Mainstrasse Village Food Tour in Covington are a few of the most popular experiences in the state.

Wintertime is the perfect time to visit a museum. There is something for everyone in Kentucky’s 60+ museum attractions ranging from history to art to science and are a perfect day activity to enjoy while getting out of the cold. A couple of noteworthy options are the International Museum of the Horse, paired with the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, and the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.

Outdoor

Ice skating is a holiday staple both in the movies and in real life. Anyone ready to lace up their skates and take on the ice is in luck! There are several indoor rinks open year-round around the state, along with a couple of special holiday-themed outdoor options, including the SoKY Ice rink located in Blowing Green and the Triangle Park rink located in Lexington. Both are open through the Christmas season until mid-January.

For those ready to brave the cold, a winter hike is perfect, and nature enthusiasts ready to hit the trails can enjoy the scenery without the crowds. Attractions like Red River Gorge, Big South Fork, Cumberland Falls, and more that are usually busy in the warmer months, will thin out as the air gets cooler. Head out after it snows to experience a magical winter wonderland, just be careful of any ice, and dress warm!

Christmas lights are one of the most magical parts of the holiday season, and even after! Patti’s Festival of Lights in Grand Rivers is one of the most spectacular Christmas light setups in Kentucky, and it costs nothing to visitors! The event runs through the Holiday season until mid-January.

Take on the title of “tourist-for-a-day” and explore one of Kentucky’s many picturesque small towns. According to a Southern Living article, The Most Charming Small Towns in Kentucky, these include Bellevue, Pikeville, Berea, Paris, Bardstown, and Augusta, among many others. 

Unfortunately, Kentucky lacks any ski slopes, however, many of the surrounding states make up for it! Hit the slopes at nearby Paoli Peaks and Perfect North in Indiana, Ober Mountain in Tennessee, and Winterplace Ski Resort in West Virginia to enjoy a fun day of skiing, snowboarding, and tubing!

Take a trip to one of Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Certified Farm Markets to enjoy special Christmas events, activities, and old-fashioned farm fun. The Roberts Family Farm in Guston, Bear Wallow Farm in Nancy, and the Winter Fest produced by Devine’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Harrodsburg all have seasonal activities during December and January that are fun for the whole family.

Jillian Wise

KFB Insurance Fall Intern