Merry Christmas, Louisville! See how the holiday has grown through the years
If you're like me, the Christmas season starts in early October with gift-idea lists and an overstuffed Amazon cart. By early November, the tree is up and decorations are unboxed. However, most Louisville residents tend to mark the holiday season around Black Friday or the annual Light Up Louisville event downtown.
From there, the city begins to glow brighter each day as people put up holiday lights and Christmas decorations of their own. Homes light up. Storefronts follow. Pop-up bars join in.
It's a yearly tradition in Louisville — one that brings the city a little closer together each winter.
To mark Christmas this year, we looked back through photos from past decades to see how much the holiday — and the city itself — has changed over time.
See Christmas being celebrated in Louisville through the years
Jean Sawyer, wife of Jefferson County Judge, decorated the family Christmas tree at their hiome in Louisville. Sawyer's daughter Diane went on to find fame as a national television news personality. By Charley Pence, the Courier-Journal. Dec. 18, 1968
Santa and Mrs. Claus headed for the North Pole via Standiford Field in Louisville. By James N. Keen, The Courier-Joural. Nov. 30, 1954
Sherman Cooper, age 2, gazed with a child's fascination at the lights on Louisville's official Christmas tree at Fifth & Market streets. The lights were tourned on that night by Mayor Stansbury. By David Sutherland, The Courier-Journal. Dec. 2, 1977
Published Dec. 16, 1994: Downtown Louisville’s Christmas in the City is still brimming with activities.
Published Nov. 29, 1986: Right, Jo and Richard Hufhes lit candles to join in festivities at Jefferson Square with an estimated 100,000 people.
Published on Nov. 29, 1986: The Louisville Chorus sang Christmas carols in front of the Kentucky Center for the Arts last night during Dickens on Main Street, which followed the Light Up Louisville ceremonies.
Published Nov. 28, 1987: Mayor Jerry Abramson and Santa flipped the switch in Jefferson Square to Light Up Louisville. Left, Major Ted Arrowood played in the Salvation Army band at Dickens on Main Street.
Ray Padilla is a digital producer for The Courier Journal.
