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Mustard Seed Hill House
Christmas Light Show
By Ray Hunter Photography by Walt Roycraft
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1 Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill is a spectacular holiday tradition in Millersburg located just 30 minutes north of Lexington in the heart of Bourbon County. Stroll the breath-taking lights, enjoy music, gather with friends, shop for the perfect gift, and don’t miss the most stunning gingerbread house displays in Kentucky.
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2 Visitors to Mustard Seed Hill can enjoy a myriad of beautiful holiday displays, like this lovely feature of poinsettias.
3 Lighted angel ornaments float among the tree branches that line the iconic Mustard Seed Hill, an ideal holiday attraction for the whole family.
Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill is a unique holiday light and decoration attraction on the historic Mustard Seed Hill campus in beloved Millersburg.
Just 30 minutes north of Lexington in the heart of Bourbon County, folks come from far and wide to stroll the breath-taking lights, enjoy music, gather with friends, and shop for the perfect gift. The attraction boasts a 3-acre Christmas light display, highlighted by a magnificent 30-foot ribbon tree, 32-foot glowing ribbon arch, dazzling 20-foot starburst, Christmas sleigh, and more.
According to Shawn Burns, President of Mustard Seed Hill, the festive tradition began in 2018 in an effort to bring visitors to the historic town of Millersburg.
“In year one, we were astounded that 10,000 visitors came to visit,” Burns said. “In years two and three, we launched the Gingerbread House Competition and Artisan’s Market to create a more exciting guest experience.”
The backdrop of this Christmas scene is the newly renovated Allen House, a grand federal-style wedding and special event venue. Inside the Allen House, visitors can enjoy a tour of the home and its festive décor while also seeing the art and craftsmanship of the Gingerbread House display. The display will include local submissions from the Gingerbread House Competition with varying levels of skill and difficulty.
“The historic Allen House mansion has been a centerpiece of the Gingerbread House Exhibit and a favorite place for family photos in front of elegant Corman’s Marketplace décor,” Burns said. “Now, as an established Christmas tradition in the heart of the Bluegrass, we look forward this year with the addition of firepits, new displays, more music, food, and fun for gathering.”
Burns said adding the Christmas light show at Mustard Seed Hill to the event programming was the vision of the Community Ventures CEO, Kevin Smith.
“He thought it was a great way to bring the Christmas spirit and visitors to this proud, historic Bourbon County town of Millersburg,” Burns said. “I’m also very proud of our internal team, who quickly pivot from event season to Christmas installation in October.”
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4 This 32-foot glowing ornament archway is a favorite spot, allowing visitors to walk through, enjoying it inside and out.
The light display, which is free and open to the public, will be available for viewing every night from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. During that time, visitors can drive around the campus or park and walk through the campus to see the lights up close. During the week, the indoor facilities will be closed.
The Artisan’s Market will be open every Friday and Saturday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., leading to Christmas Day. During this time, local vendors will have booths set up for visitors to shop and check out local goods for sale. The Holiday Cafe will also be open during this time for visitors to purchase refreshments.
The Allen House will be open for tours, including a walkthrough of the Gingerbread House Display, every Friday and Saturday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Gingerbread House Exhibit is $5 per person and includes viewing the incredible houses in the beautifully restored McIntyre Hall and Allen House mansion (children 7 and under are free).
“The holiday event is designed to attract and welcome the community to the newly reinvigorated Mustard Seed Hill property,” Burns said. “Community Ventures purchased it in 2016 and restored it to revitalize the city of Millersburg by attracting more visitors, creating jobs, and sparking new economic development in the town.” The property is currently the home of Mustard Seed Hill Events, Bourbon Christian Academy, and one of Community Venture’s six Kentucky offices. Community Ventures is the non-profit organization that began renovating the former Millersburg Military Institute to create a hub of economic activity, business growth, and job creation in the area.
“Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill in Kentucky is an all-around classic experience to add to your holiday traditions,” Burns said. “The setting is stunning, the lights magnificent, and the creative gingerbread houses are quite literally the icing on the cake.”
Mustard Seed Hill is located at 1122 Main Street in Millersburg, Kentucky.
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5 This 30-foot ribbon Christmas tree towers over the other decorations and is the perfect spot for family pictures and singing carols. 6 The lights and Christmas programming begin on November 27. During your visit, you’ll want to spend time walking around and admiring the stunning displays.
7 This incredible 14-foot illuminated walk-through ornament is the perfect family-photo spot and a beloved location for engagement proposals.
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8 This one-of-a-kind ribbon ornament is a delight for adults and children alike.
9 Christmas at Mustard Seed Hill in Millersburg is an all-around classic experience to add to your holiday traditions. The setting is stunning, the lights magnificent, and you’ll fall in love with Christmas all over again.
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10 The historic Allen House mansion has been a centerpiece of the popular Gingerbread House Exhibit and a favorite place for family photos in front of elegant Corman’s Marketplace décor.
11 There are plenty of photo ops that are Christmas card worthy. The 20-foot starburst is also an incredible sight to see, as is the one-of-a-kind illuminated nativity scene.
Christmas Lights November 27th – January 1st Daily, 5 to 9 p.m.
