My Family’s Five Favorite Traditions Around Owensboro

Like many, Christmastime in Owensboro means a lot to my family. Since moving to the area over 12 years ago, we have created so many memories in large part thanks to our wonderful town and surrounding areas, and the quality experiences they offer throughout this time of year. Here are some of our favorite traditions in and around Owensboro that your family might enjoy as well!

WALKING LEGION PARK

Christmas decoration sightseeing doesn't just have to be hopping in a vehicle and driving around town; it can also be a walk in the park. "Holiday in the Park" is adorned with a lot of classic decorations, such as kids throwing snowballs and penguins hopping around. They even have an actual garbage truck completely covered in lights. When we were a young family just trying to find our way a bit, taking our kids through this walkthrough while pushing them in their strollers was a much-needed experience. Now when we visit, some of those awesome core memories come flooding back to me while also creating new ones.

VISITING THE STONEGATE COMMUNITY

Nestled off Highway 54 is the Stonegate community, a neighborhood much like something you would see in a holiday movie. Every year, almost every house is decorated from top to bottom with lights and decorations, and the neighborhood welcomes visitors all throughout December. Drive by and you are guaranteed to see people walking about, taking in the view of all the different houses lit up for the occasion. The most well-known of the bunch, the Lashbrook's, have been decorating their house for over two decades (check out their Facebook page here), and it has become a family tradition of ours to visit the neighborhood and the Lashbrook house many times throughout the season. The Lashbrook home is also affiliated with Borrowed Hearts Owensboro, and on December 15, 16, and 17, will be accepting donations on their behalf. Oh, and Santa will be there to hand out candy canes too!

DRIVING THROUGH PANTHER CREEK

Christmas at Panther Creek has a slower drive-through decoration experience that we try to visit once a season, and all it costs is around $5 per vehicle. Our kids especially enjoy looking at the lights reflecting off the pond in the middle of the park, but I appreciate just how many lights they can fit in that one park, which numbers more than 500,000! Christmas at Panther Creek is enjoying its 20th anniversary this year too, and all proceeds go to help local non-profit organizations.

TAKING A SHORT TRIP TO SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA

While we enjoy so many things about Owensboro during Christmas time, our family makes sure to visit Santa Claus, IN at some point, where we visit the Santa Claus Land of Lights, which tells the classic story of Rudolph joining Santa's team on Christmas Eve. I remember taking our kids when they were little and reading the story out loud to them. And as they are getting older, they want to read the story to us!

Afterward, we head over to the Santa Claus Christmas Store and window shop the ornaments and grab some of the best cookies you can buy as we wait for our yearly photo with Santa. Living in Owensboro and being just a short trip down the road from Santa Claus, IN has allowed us to create some awesome memories that we're truly grateful for.

EVANSVILLE'S LIGHTS OF POMONA

Driving up from Owensboro to Evansville to visit the Lights of Pomona has quickly become one of our favorite things to do this time of year. We'll take an evening and just make it a whole experience by grabbing a bite to eat, shopping at the mall, and then heading out to see the incredibly detailed display. Much like visiting the Stonegate community, visiting the Lights of Pomona is free; however, they do take donations, which go to support Autism Evansville.