Discover Oxmoor Bourbon Company, now an official partner of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

Oxmoor Bourbon Co. recently announced that they are now an official partner of the world-renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail® program, offering a new opportunity to explore where Kentucky’s Bourbon history began. A great option for those looking for something beyond the typical distillery tour — and perfect for history buffs — Oxmoor Bourbon Co. in Louisville interprets the story of a Kentucky farm as it transformed along with the state, striving to tell the story of all the people who lived and worked on the land through preservation and education. For more information, visit https://oxmoorbourbon.com/

“After two decades in the spirits business, I thought I had seen it all — but a place with such rich, undiscovered history in the category, so carefully maintained in its place in Kentucky and American history was unimaginable to me,” said general manager Rosser Lomax. “Oxmoor Bourbon Company is tied to the very origin of bourbon and how it came to be, and being part of something that actively works to preserve and share that history is an honor of the highest order. Building the Oxmoor Bourbon Company has been such an exciting journey, and we are so excited to share this wonderful history and incredible space with friends old and new, near and far.” 

During the immersive experience, visitors stroll through three centuries of architecture and learn about the five generations of legal scholars who have called Oxmoor home, the “why” and “how” behind the rules of bourbon told on every distillery tour and the almost-forgotten people who codified those rules into law to protect the good name of America’s only native spirit.  

Visitors can also explore the beautiful gardens designed in 1911 by one of the country’s first female landscape architects and the largest collection of preserved outbuildings in the region.  

Each tour concludes with a tasting of the exclusive Oxmoor Bourbon Private Label — a private stock bottling in the family tradition, awarded a gold medal by the prestigious John Barleycorn Society. Bottles of the bourbon are available for sale following the tour. Guests also have the option to enjoy a selection of cocktails in the breathtaking family library and gardens following tours.  

Tours are offered Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Guests must be 21+ to participate. Space is limited on each tour, so reservations are required — to reserve a tour, visit here

Oxmoor Bourbon Company also welcomes inquiries regarding private event bookings and corporate events and is excited to host a variety of special events and private tastings throughout 2025. 

“Visiting Oxmoor Bourbon Company is a rare and fascinating opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the history of bourbon and of Kentucky, while also supporting the preservation and the advancement of both,” said Cordell Lawrence, CEO of Eastern Light Distilling and advisor to Oxmoor Bourbon Company. “With my extensive background in the bourbon industry, I’ve experienced countless bourbon tourism offerings, and I can confidently say that the tour offered by Oxmoor Bourbon Company is unlike any other. It’s been a thrill to help bring this experience to life and I’m eager to see more Kentuckians and tourists alike explore all that Oxmoor has to offer as the latest addition to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.” 

Last June, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail celebrated its 25th anniversary, welcoming millions of visitors a year to more than 60 experiences across the state. According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, more than 80% of all Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors come from outside Kentucky. Bourbon is a $9 billion economic and tourism powerhouse for Kentucky, generating more than 23,100 jobs with $2.2 billion in salaries and benefits. 

About Oxmoor Bourbon: 

Step back in time with Oxmoor Bourbon and explore where Kentucky’s Bourbon history began. This first-of-its-kind historical tour and tasting experience takes place at Oxmoor, with buildings constructed before the Commonwealth of Kentucky had a constitution. Learn about the five generations of legal scholars who have called Oxmoor home, the “why” and “how” behind the rules of bourbon told on every distillery tour and the almost-forgotten figures who codified those rules into law to protect the good name of America’s only native spirit. Guests see the home’s three sections, constructed in 1791, 1829, and 1928, with furniture and family belongings as the family left them.

Visitors can also explore the beautiful gardens designed in 1911 by one of the country’s first female landscape architects and the largest collection of preserved outbuildings in the region. The tour includes a tasting of the exclusive Oxmoor Bourbon Private Label and the option to enjoy a selection of cocktails in the breathtaking family library. The site interprets the story of a Kentucky farm that has transformed alongside the state and strives to tell the story of all the people who lived and worked on the land through preservation and education. Multiple tour times offered Tuesdays through Saturdays; must be 21+ to participate.

Visit oxmoorbourbon.com for information or to book. 

It’s Not Too Late to Attend the Bourbon Classic

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Sazerac Offers the Chance to Win Pappy Van Winkles and Eagle Rare 25

Sazerac is hosting a California wildfire charity program to raise funds for those affected by the wildfires, with proceeds benefiting World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally.

Sazerac is offering the opportunity to purchase:

–          A single barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15YO (for the first time ever!)

–          A full set of the Pappy Van Winkle Collection (all 6 bottles!)

–          One bottle of Eagle Rare 25 (ultra-rare offering!)

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Bottle. Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace.

Offerings include the first-ever single barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old, a complete set of the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection, and a bottle of Eagle Rare 25 with 100% of proceeds benefitting World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally charities.

Sazerac Company is hosting a first-of-its-kind fundraiser in support of California wildfire relief efforts, offering consumers the chance to purchase three ultra-rare prize packages featuring some of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s most sought-after bourbons.

One hundred percent of funds raised through Sazerac’s California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser will go toward two non-profit organizations committed to ongoing relief efforts in the state: World Central Kitchen (WCK), which is working with restaurant and food truck partners in Southern California to provide meals to those in need; and Another Round Another Rally, which is collecting funds for real-time financial support for hospitality workers impacted by the wildfires.

“Our hearts break for those who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires that have swept across California this year,” said Jake Wenz, President and CEO of Sazerac. “The fires have caused immense destruction, and the toll on the Los Angeles community is profound. Through this program we hope, humbly, to offer a small bit of aid to World Central Kitchen and Another Round Another Rally as they continue their much-needed support of the California community during this difficult time.”

Buffalo Trace Distillery Aerial View. Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace.

Offerings available through the Sazerac California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser include:

1.     Auction*: the first-ever single barrel of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old will be available for auction as part of the initiative. This is the first single barrel of Pappy Van Winkle ever made available for purchase. The barrel was specially selected from the heart of the aging warehouses at Buffalo Trace Distillery for this auction. On average, a single barrel yields approximately 125 bottles of bourbon.

Funds raised via auction will be evenly split between WCK and Another Round Another Rally

Sweepstakes 1**: a complete bottle set of the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection

The very rare, limited-edition Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection features six unique bourbons, each reflective of a craft that blends generational knowledge dating back to the late 1800s. This highly coveted collection features Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Pappy Van Winkle 12 Year, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year, Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year, Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year, and Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year. 

Funds raised by the Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Collection sweepstakes will benefit WCK

Sweepstakes 2**: one bottle of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s ultra-rare Eagle Rare 25

At 25 years old, Eagle Rare 25 marks the oldest expression ever released from the Eagle Rare portfolio and defies existing perception of ultra-aged bourbon with its smooth, complex flavor profile. Eagle Rare 25 is the first bourbon aged in Warehouse P, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art warehouse, constructed to test if it was possible to extend favorably both the aging and maturation processes typical for American whiskey and bourbon. 

Funds raised by the Eagle Rare 25 sweepstakes will benefit Another Round Another Rally

In early January, wildfires broke out in the Palisades and Eaton communities of Los Angeles and quickly spread to neighboring communities. It is estimated more than 50,000 acres have burned, with the wildfires destroying more than 16,000 structures and killing at least 28 people. From the beginning, both WCK and ARAR have been on the frontlines in Los Angeles helping the communities hardest hit.

WCK’s Relief Team mobilized immediately in Southern California to support first responders and families impacted by the wildfires. In collaboration with 80+ restaurant and food truck partners, WCK is distributing free hot meals to those in need at several locations throughout Southern California. Since the wildfires began in early January, WCK has served more than 600,000 meals to those affected by the wildfires.

As the fire’s devastation began to overtake Los Angeles and surrounding areas, Another Round Another Rally jumped into action immediately knowing bar and restaurant workers would face an uphill battle with regard to loss of businesses and loss of income opportunities. Their Disaster Relief Fund enables the organization to provide real-time financial support to hospitality workers impacted by California’s wildfires. In the month since the fires started, Another Round Another Rally has given out over $100k in financial assistance to bar and restaurant workers affected by the disaster. 

How to Win

Those looking to support the Sazerac California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser can participate in multiple ways:

For the Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year-Old single barrel auction, bidding will begin at $10,000 and those interested can bid as many times as they wish. Bidding will increase in increments of $1,000. The auction winner will receive a monetary prize equal to the value of the lot, which may be used to purchase the bottles yielded from the barrel as well as the empty barrel.

Link to bid: www.sazeracgivesback.com

For both the Pappy Van Winkle Collection and Eagle Rare 25 sweepstakes, entrants will receive one entry for every $50 donation made through the registration site. There is no cap on the amount a person can donate. The winners of each sweepstakes will receive a monetary prize equal to the value of the bottle they won, which may be used to purchase the bottles.

Link to donate and enter: www.sazeracgivesback.com

The Sazerac California Wildfire Relief Fundraiser started on Tuesday, February 11 at 12pm noon EST. To enter and make a donation, and to view the full official rules, visit www.sazeracgivesback.com. All entries must be received by 11:59PM EST on Sunday, February 23. One winner for each prize package will be randomly drawn and notified via phone and email the week of March 3.

About Sazerac Company

With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers around the world.   

The Sazerac House exterior. Photo courtesy of Sazerac Company.

Over 500 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Meyers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more.  

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace.

Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few.   

To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.    

About World Central Kitchen

Founded in 2010 by Chef Joseì Andreìs, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit organization that is first to the frontlines providing fresh meals in response to crises. Applying our model of quick action, leveraging local resources, and adapting in real time, WCK has served more than 450 million nourishing meals throughout the world.



When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes with the urgency of now to start cooking and serving meals to people in need. By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of local restaurants, food trucks, and emergency kitchens, WCK serves comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. To support regional economies, WCK prioritizes purchasing local ingredients to cook with or distribute directly to families in need.

We know that good food provides not only nourishment, but also comfort and hope, especially in times of crisis. Learn more at wck.org.

About Another Round Another Rally

Another Round Another Rally is a nonprofit financial and educational resource for the hospitality industry. They provide professional development resources and immersive educational scholarships to further the education of historically excluded voices in the community, and supply emergency assistance to those employed in restaurants, bars, and hotels who have fallen on unexpected hardship.

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace.

*To win the available online silent auction, you must be the highest bidder at the end of the registration period.  **No purchase or donation necessary to enter or win. Purchasing a product will not improve your chances of winning. Must be legal resident of 50 U.S. or D.C, excluding NY, age 21 or older. Registration begins at 12:00pm ET 2/11/2025 and ends at 11:59pm ET 2/23/2025. To enter, and for complete official rules including eligibility, prize descriptions and ARV, visit www.SazeracGivesBack.com. Odds of winning one of the available sweepstakes are based upon number of eligible entries received to each sweepstakes.  No alcoholic beverage is part of any prize award. Void wherever prohibited or restricted by law. SPONSOR: Sazerac Company, Inc., Louisville, KY.

It’s Bourbon Classic Time!!! Don’t Miss Out on This Great Event

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Experience One of the “South’s Best Food Cities” During Louisville’s Restaurant Week

Dine Local, Support Local: Louisville’s Restaurant Week Offers Community Support for Area Non-Profit

Morton’s The Steakhouse

Dining out locally and helping an area charity will go hand-in-hand with the return of Louisville Restaurant Week, February 24 to March 2, 2025.

Agave & Rye

This dining-out-focused week will encourage locals to experience Louisville’s lively culinary scene with a prix-fixe three-course menu for $26, $36, $46, and $56 at participating restaurants. In addition, one dollar of every meal purchased during Louisville Restaurant Week will be donated to Feed Louisville.

The Melting Pot

Feed Louisville’s kitchen diverts food from being thrown away and repurposes it into meals to send out to the homeless and food-insecure community. Their Food Rescue Program allows restaurants, caterers and other licensed food producers to donate viable, safely held food that we incorporate into our daily production of hundreds of hot and hearty meals. These meals go directly to the streets or people experiencing food insecurity each day.

The Fat Lamb

“Participating in Louisville’s Restaurant Week offers locals a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy our diverse culinary scene. By dining at participating restaurants, residents contribute to our independent restaurants and the local economy, support small businesses, and help sustain jobs within our community,” said Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism. “We are also proud to partner with Feed Louisville, a vital resource to our community, making Louisville Restaurant Week a win-win for everyone involved.”

Mesh

Louisville Restaurant Week is an excellent opportunity for local foodies to get out and experience firsthand why Travel + Leisure proclaimed Bourbon City one of “The Best Food Cities in the U.S.” and Southern Living named Louisville one of the “South’s Best Food Cities.”

610 Magnolia

A preview of participating restaurants includes: Agave & Rye, All Thai’d Up, Brasserie Provence, Ciao Ristorante, Four Pegs Smokehouse & Bar, High Steaks Rooftop Bar & Grill, Lou Lou on Market, Louvino, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Oliver’s Chophouse & Bourbon Bar, Osteria, Perso, Sarino, SideBar at Whiskey Row, The Eagle Food & Beer Hall, The Fat Lamb, The Melting Pot, and Vincenzo’s. For more information about Louisville Restaurant Week, visit www.louisvillerestaurantweek.com

Cover photo: Brasserie Provence.

All images courtesy of Louisville Restaurant Week.

Article: The Ultimate Ranking Of Michter’s Entire Whiskey Lineup

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Bourbon City Recognized As A Top Foodie Destination

Extensive collection of national outlets name Louisville a top place to visit 

As fans of Bourbon City raise a glass to mark the end of 2024, it’s time to recap and celebrate a momentous year in the city’s dynamic tourism industry. Louisville was frequently in the winner’s circle over the past 365 days, earning top travel accolades from national travel media heavyweights such as TripAdvisor, Travel + Leisure, and Airbnb, among others.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (Photo by Marty Pearl/Special to the LCVB)

Louisville started out 2024 on a high note, being named to Travel + Leisure’s list of ‘50 Best Places to Travel to in 2024.’ Contributing to Louisville’s historic year was the back-to-back hosting of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby and the 106th PGA Championship, helping Louisville earn a spot on Travel Pulse, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Manual’s lists of ‘Best Places to Travel to in May.’ Both TripAdvisor and Airbnb marked Louisville as a top “trending destination” in the United States, with the online platforms using reviews and booking data to affix Louisville to the prestigious lists.

21c Museum Hotel is a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Photo courtesy of LCVB.

Throughout 2024, Bourbon City upheld its status with an outpouring of accolades for its vibrant culinary and cocktail scene. Louisville’s restaurant reputation is sizzling, with Travel + Leisure highlighting it as one of the ‘Best Food Cities in the U.S.’ and Cheapism proclaiming it as one of ‘America’s Best Food Cities.’ The hip and artsy NuLu neighborhood earned recognition from AFAR magazine as one of the ‘Best Food Neighborhoods in the USA,’ with numerous NuLu restaurants also receiving individual accolades.

North of Bourbon. Photo Jane Simon Ammeson.

Several of Louisville’s culinary standouts were awarded accolades from the prestigious James Beard Awards. Chef Lawrence Weeks of Enso and North of Bourbon and Dallas McGarity of The Fat Lamb were both named semifinalists.

Nami interior. Photo courtesy of Edward Lee.

The LEE Initiative, co-founded by Top Chef contestant and recent ‘Culinary Class Wars’ competitor Edward Lee, received a James Beard Humanitarian award, marking the Louisvillian’s second James Beard Award win. Lee also received a shout for his Butchertown restaurant Nami, which was named to USA Today’s ‘2024 Restaurants of the Year’.

Bob Dylan’s The Last Refuge.

Several of Louisville’s beer and bourbon festivals were also recognized nationally. The sixth annual Bourbon & Beyond music festival had a record attendance of 210,000 attendees over the four-day weekend, including 60,000 on a single day. This marked the festival’s highest single-day attendance ever.

Fort Nelson Distillery. Photo Jane Simon Ammeson.

Garden & Gun magazine highlighted festivals Bourbon & Beyond, Garden & Gun Distilled and the Bourbon Boule as three of the ‘Seven Standout Southern Bourbon Festivals,’ while Tailspin Ale Fest captured a spot on USA Today’s 10Best ‘Beer Festivals in the US.’

Louisville’s powerful reputation as a convention destination was also widely recognized with a trifecta of awards including winning the Groups Today Readers’ Choice U.S. ‘Destination of the Year,’ a MeetingsToday’s ‘Best Destination Marketing Organizations in the South,’ and a ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award.

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery. Photo LCVB.

Some of Louisville’s top national accolades for 2024 include:

  • “Best Places to Travel in 2024” – Travel + Leisure
  • “Best Places to Go in 2024” (Kentucky) – Frommer’s
  • “The World’s Best Travel Destinations in 2024” – Culture.org
  • “The South’s Best Cities 2024” – Southern Living
  • “Trending Destinations – United States” – TripAdvisor 
  • “Top Trending Destinations Locals Love” – Airbnb
  • “Most Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in the U.S.” (Butchertown) – TravelMag
  • “Best Places to Travel in The South This April” – Southern Living
  • “Best Places to Travel in May” – Conde Nast Traveler
  • “Where to Travel in May 2024” (Churchill Downs) – Travel Pulse
  • “Best Places to Visit in May”– The Manual
  • “Best Places to Honor Black History in 2024” – U.S. News
  • “These 10 Destinations Elevate Black Culture Year-Round” – The Points Guy
  • “Awesome and Unique Bachelorette Party Destinations” – Purewow
  • “Best Vacations in the U.S. to Explore America’s Adventure Capitals” – Men’s Journal
  • “2024 Readers’ Choice Awards” (Destination of the Year) – Groups Today

Visit the city’s official tourism website for the complete list of Louisville-based accolades received in 2024, including those for hotels, restaurants, and festivals.

Buzzard’s Roost Celebrates Prohibition Repeal Day with a Barrel Roll and a New 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon

Like meeting with friends for drinks? Enjoy toasting the New Year with a glass of Champagne or order a Margarita while sitting by the pool on a hot summer day?

If so, you owe a big thanks to Repeal Day. It was a big deal on December 5, 1933 when the 21st Ammendent to the Constitution was ratified, making it legal to drink again. People came out into the streets to celebrate when the news made headlines and was broadcast on the radio.

It had been more than a decade when America went dry on January 17, 1920 with the passage of the Volstead Act, outlawing the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. Almost immediately the conseuqnces were dire.  Before Prohibition forced thousands of people out of work, 89 distilleries lined Main Street in downtown Louisville. Poof, those jobs were gone.

Not many people were for the law even at the beginning and its appeal lessened with each passing year.

According to the Mob History Museum website, as early as 1922, 40 percent of people polled by Literary Digest magazine were for modifying the National Prohibition Act (regulating alcohol) and 20 percent backed repealing the 18th Amendment. In 1926, 81 percent of people polled by the Newspaper Enterprise Association favored modifying the Prohibition statute or outright repeal of the amendment. Indeed, as time went on, the only people who really really liked Prohibition besides the most dedicated teetotaler were guys like Al Capone who was earning as much as $60 million to as high as $100 million a year from bootlegging. All that money was corrupt and dangerous with violent gang murders including the famous Valentine’s Day Massacre.

So why isn’t Repeal Day on everyone’s calendar? Afterall, both National Pfeffernuesse Day (pfeffermuesses, in case you don’t know, are a type of German cookie) and National Fried Shrimp Day are among the many rather strange holidyays that are national holidays. But Repeal Day has faded into obscurity.

At least in most cities throughout the U.S.

But in Louisville, where bourbon is king, Repeal Day is being celebrated.

Buzzard’s Roost Sipping Whiskey is literally rolling out the barrel to celebrate the 91th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition.

Buzzard’s Roost also is raising a glass to Repeal with the release of a new single-barrel Founders 8-Year-Old Bourbon on Thursday, Dec. 5

When &          Thursday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m.

Where             Barrel Roll kicks off at Buzzard’s Roost, 624 W. Main Stt at 6th St.

Who                Buzzard’s Roost Co-founders Jason Brauner and Judy Hollis Jones                                                    and Lead Distiller Ethan Spalding will lead the barrel-roll parade down
                        Main Street.

                        Hot Sauce Brass Band will lead a second line for all barrel roll                                                                     participants.

Back at the Buzzard’s Roost Tasting Room & Distillery, tastes of the new
Founders 8- Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon will be available and the bar will be open.

Buzzard’s Roost Founders; 8-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon

  • 115.6 Proof
  • Available only at the Buzzard’s Roost Tasting Room & Distillery ($150 per bottle)

Visuals           Judy and Jason leading the barrel roll down Main Street, followed by the
                        Hot Sauce Brass Band and bar-towel-waving crowd

                        The Buzzard’s Roost team will be dressed in 1920s Prohibition-era garb, with plenty of                             flapper dresses, fringe and bow ties and bowler hats!

                        Jason Brauner and Ethan Spalding rolling the barrel down the sidewalk
                        and across the street

Experience The Best in Travel This Holiday Seasons

“This year, people seem to have gotten a jump on hauling out the holly and decorating everything that’s not moving,” writes my friend Mindy Bianca, owner of Mindy Bianca Public Relations. “But we suggest taking that holiday spirit on the road and having a few experiences that could result in the best gift of the season: memories made with family and friends. From reindeer prancing through Kentucky to a gingerbread display that hits it out of the park in New York, there’s no shortage of merry and bright adventures waiting in some of MBPR’s client destinations. Get ready to unwrap some one-of-a-kind happenings that will make your season extra bright this year.”

Run, Run Reindeer

The Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Photo courtesy of BGKY.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to embrace the magic than spending time with Santa’s favorite critters? This hands-on farm experience lets you get close to a team of more than eight not-so-tiny reindeer, plus you can take a ride on a festive sleigh, stroll through holiday-themed displays and ice sculptures, and spend time with the jolly guy himself. New this year, the farm just added a zipline, so if the sight of these creatures playing reindeer games inspires YOU to really know how to fly … have at it!

These Halls are Decked

Houmas House in Ascension Parish, Louisiana

“Let it snow” might not be the theme of a Louisiana Christmas, but that doesn’t mean the holiday season is any less jolly here. At Houmas House Estate and Gardens, the Southern Christmas vibe is strong, with majestic oak trees draped in twinkling lights and a grand historic home decked out like something straight out of a classic holiday movie. Guests can stroll the beautifully lit gardens, have a cup of cheer and enjoy delicious culinary offerings.

Santa’s Little Helpers

Storybook Holiday in Frostburg, Maryland

Photo courtesy of the City of Frostburg.

Frostburg, located on the Mountain Side of Maryland, is home to the nationally recognized Storybook Holiday event, complete with the ever-popular Elf Olympics, kid’s activities, a Christmas market, shops, a featured children’s author and a parade led by none other than Jack Frost himself. Fitting for a town named “Frost”-burg, Mr. Frost closes out the day’s activities by hosting a town-wide snowball fight. The 21st annual Storybook Holiday is scheduled for Saturday, December 7. Even if you can’t make it to town on that particular day, Frostburg is one of the most charmingly decorated holiday towns on the East Coast throughout the season.

Have a Holly, Dolly Christmas

Dollywood Resorts in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Photo courtesy of the Dollywood Company.

They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but what if you could enjoy all the cozy vibes without the food prep and dirty dishes, laborious set-up and take-down of decorations, and the ensuing stress? Have yourself a merrier little Christmas at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa or Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Cozy accommodations, carolers and holiday-themed packages (including one featuring a tree in your room) will make your stay as sweet as sugar plums. And just in case your holiday barometer measures in this way: This part of east Tennessee was the set for a bonafide Hallmark movie, “Christmas at Dollywood,” back in 2019.

Have a Holly, Dolly Christmas

The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, New York

Photo courtesy of the Otesaga Resort Hotel.

The Otesaga Resort Hotel is the place to stay during a visit to Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum. Each year, The Otesaga’s culinary team pulls out all the stops to create an amazing gingerbread creation that’s proudly displayed throughout the holiday season. This time they’ve hit a home run by building a gingerbread replica of historic Doubleday Field. For nearly 100 years, this celebrated baseball stadium has seen everyone from Hall of Famers to lucky kids play America’s pastime here in the village. Now it’s been transformed into gingerbread and royal icing.

Photo courtesy of the Dollywood Company.

If you’re dreaming of a merry and bright holiday season, gather your loved ones, pack your favorite holiday sweaters (ugly or not) and get ready to make memories that will last way longer than the extra pounds you pick up during this festive time of year. 

UPROXX: The Ultimate Ranking Of Michter’s Entire Whiskey Lineup

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