Christmas Expo
Holiday Lighting & Decorating Conference
Conference: July 13-15, 2023 | Pre-Show Workshops: July 10-12
Central Bank Center, Lexington, KY
We are the original Christmas Decorating Event!
Three days of shopping, decorating ideas, and non-stop education to help light your way to your best outdoor holiday display. Network with other holiday decorators, shop for products that you seldom find in stores, and take classes to learn how to improve your display. Just getting started with decorating? We have classes just for you! Christmas Expo is the best way to learn from creative DIY’ers, resourceful professionals, and industry experts that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
Christmas Expo focuses on inspiring creativity and teaching the skills to help develop a beautiful display that brings smiles to visitor’s faces.
Who should attend?
Homeowners • DIY’ers • New or Experienced Decorators
Businesses • Parks • Municipalities • Gardens • Zoo’s
Drive Thru’s • Malls • Holiday Lighting Installers
Hotels • Communities • Holiday Designers
The Conference
The event is for all skill levels and all interests, whether you are a new or advanced decorator. Homeowners with displays large or small; Commercial Decorators for cities, businesses, parks; as well as Lighting Installers will find sources, supplies and education, such as:
- Classes on DIY projects, software, music, sequencing, animation, lighting, video, hardware, techniques and more.
- Vendor Hall with lighting, decorations and supplies used in outdoor displays
- Premium in-depth workshops
- Holiday Lighting Installer Business Workshop
Event Information
The Expo is open to the public
Vendor hall hours:
Thu: 12–5pm (gen’l public)
Thu: 5–7pm (Registered only)
Fri: 9:30am–5pm
Sat: 9:30am–4:30pm
Admission to Vendor hall only:
$10 pp/day at the door (does not include classes). Children under 12 admitted free to vendor hall only.
To attend classes, you must purchase a Conference registration.
Classes begin at 8:30 Thursday
Classes end 4:30pm Sat
Expo closes 5pm Sat
Premium Workshops
We are offering in-depth workshops before and during the Christmas Expo Conference:
LOR Immersion – Basics
1-day | July 10, 2023
LOR Immersion – Advanced
2-day | July 11-12, 2023
xLights Intensive
3-day | July 10-12, 2023
xLights Sequencing
1-Day | July 14, 2023
Lighting Business Workshop
The holiday light installation industry continues to grow and we have the information to help you start or expand a holiday light installation or holiday decorating business. Our independent leaning program will teach you how to increase your holiday income with classes taught by experienced and successful business owners. Perfect for existing businesses, or a great addition for seasonal businesses such as landscapers and window washers. These classes are not associated with a franchise.
Lighting Installer Premium Business Workshop
2-Day | July 13-14, 2023
Creating an over-the-top display is easier than you think
The event is for Homeowners with displays large or small; Commercial Decorators for cities, businesses, parks; Lighting Installers who will find sources, supplies and education and more. It’s for all skill levels, and all levels of interest, whether you are brand new or are an advanced decorator. The Expo features:
- 1-Hr Classes on DIY projects, software, music, sequencing, animation, lighting, video, hardware, techniques and more.
- Vendor Hall with lighting, decorations, supplies, and services used in outdoor displays
- Full-day workshops for intensive education
- Holiday Lighting Installer Business Workshop
2023 Location
Central Bank Center
430 W Vine St | Lexington, KY 40507
July 13-15, 2023 Conference
July 10-12, 2023 Pre-Show Workshops
Have decorating questions? Join the Christmas Expo Community Facebook group to discuss all things lighting & decorating in a family-friendly and positive online setting.
SPOTLIGHT Workshops are in-depth workshops held in various cities around the country. Look for SPOTLIGHTs on LOR, xLights, and the business of Holiday Light Installation.
What our attendees and vendors are saying
“Your conference was so valuable for gathering new ideas, learning new technology and purchasing thousands of dollars worth of new products to ‘wow’ our visitors. Expo is now an annual trip for us and we are thankful to you for organizing this unique event.”
John W.
“Thank you to Joyce and Janice for being so supportive of The Great Christmas Light Fight. I don’t know if we would have gotten over the hump those first few years without the support from Christmas Expo.”
Brady Connell, Executive Producer, The Great Christmas Light Fight
“Christmas Expo has gone a long way to promoting xLights over the last 5 years and I like to support them by providing instruction and making it available to our community.”
Sean Meighan, xLights Developer
“As an absolute newbie, I learned so much in the LOR Immersion class that I was able to go home after the Expo and immediately start creating my display for this year. I had a lot of fun and my head was spinning with ideas by the time I left. Thanks for a great event!”
Philip C.
“Being a vendor at Christmas Expo this year resulted in a significant profit! It was a well-run event and I really enjoyed working with you. Thank you for all that you do for the Christmas community.”
Rob H.
“Honestly, the attendees at this show are a pleasure to work with. Everyone is engaged, intelligent and interested in the subject matter and how they can apply it for their own displays.
Adam Raugh, X-Laser
“The Expo was a lot of fun and very informative. I gained a lot of industry knowledge that I can use in my light show. Thanks for continuing to help build the Christmas community – It was a lot of fun to be around so many other crazy Christmas people!”
Jeff T.
“We do several trade shows each year and although we usually only do very large trade shows, Christmas Expo has produced the greatest return relative to investment for any show that we’ve done.”
Name Withheld for Privacy
“The was our first year as a vendor and we made 3/4 gross of what we usually earn at another large event that has a higher cost. I made money instead of just covered my booth space. Really great event!
Name Withheld for Privacy
Premier Sponsor
Free Webinar: Long Range Receivers for Dummies
With David Peace from Experience LightsWhat is a long range receiver and why are there so many options? How do they work, and do you need long range receivers in your lightshow? In this free webinar, David Peace from Experience Lights will teach you high-level concepts, practical application, and even low-level technical details so you…
Continue Reading Free Webinar: Long Range Receivers for Dummies
2023 Location and Lodging
Christmas Expo 2023 will be held at the Central Bank Center at 430 W Vine St, Lexington, KY 40507 on July 13-15, 2023 with Pre-Show workshops July 10-12, 2023. The Central Bank Center is located in downtown Lexington, close to hotels, museums, shops, and nightlife. Basic wireless internet is available. Parking fees at the Center…
2023 Expo Location Contest
Enter your guess of the city that will be hosting Christmas Expo in 2023. Enter to win one FREE 3-day pass to the 2023 Christmas Expo (includes 3 nights in the host hotel). Winner will be chosen based on correct city. In case of multiple correct winning guesses, winner will be determined by the earliest…
