Perfect places to ring in the holiday season in south central Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – If you’re looking for a bit of holiday fun post-Thanksgiving, look no further than the SOKY Ice Rink.

“This season, we’ve got a couple new things. We are staying open until the end of January… January 28th, and we’re doing sessions this year. Instead of just being open 1 to 9, we’re going to be open for different sessions and closed for periods of time to resurface the ice. We’re very clear about when it’s going to be close to resurfacing,” Nikki Koller of the SOKY Ice Rink says.

Another new tradition is a way for local businesses to creatively put together their own Christmas tree.

“This year, we’ve got a Festival of Trees. Local partners are graciously decorating some of our trees and we’re going to have a vote to pick our favorite. They’re decorating those now,” Koller says.

Meanwhile, in Simpson County, the Nights of Lights, a drive thru light display in making a return.

“We open on Saturday, November 25th. Then we will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 10th and then will be open nightly from December 15th through the 25th,” Lisa Deavers with Franklin-Simpson Parks & Rec says.

Whether it’s a lights display or ice rink, it’s all about having fun and making memories with the family.

“We’re creating tradition for families. Last year was the first time Simpson County had ever done a drive thru light display, so we’re excited about that. Even more so, we’re excited about the support that our community provides,” Deavers says.

“We’re really trying to expand our reach beyond just skating, so we’ve got all kinds of things with the library. Our partnership means a whole lot. They have a tremendous reach and do amazing things for this community. To partner together at a venue like this during the winter is really unique,” Koller says.