The Baird Christmas Showdown returns to Pickleball Paddock in Lexington, Kentucky, running December 11 through December 13, 2026, with a $55 entry fee, according to the tournament's listing on PickleballClubs.com (checked October 29, 2026). Registration was open as of that check, with the field still filling.
Pickleball Paddock sits at 968 Enterprise Ct and runs nine indoor courts with pro-cushioned surfacing and LED lighting. The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the facility's own website (checked October 29, 2026).
What last year's Baird Christmas Showdown looked like
The 2025 edition, held December 12 through 14 at the same venue, drew 209 players across Men's Doubles Open, Women's Doubles Open and Mixed Doubles Open, with $250 in cash prizes awarded in each open division, according to the tournament's results page on PickleballTournaments.com (checked October 29, 2026). Brackets outside the open divisions paid out Ronbus paddles and head covers to winners. Play ran as round robin pool matches feeding into a single-elimination finals bracket, with Lifetime LT Pro 48 balls used throughout.
If the 2026 field follows the same shape, expect a full weekend of doubles across multiple skill levels rather than a pros-only event, which makes it worth watching for recreational and competitive players around Lexington alike.
Where else to play pickleball in Lexington
Pickleball Paddock is one of eleven active listings for Lexington in the PickleCourtsNearMe directory. A few others worth knowing about:
- Shillito Park, 300 W Reynolds Rd, has 20 free outdoor courts, the largest public pickleball setup in the city, maintained by Lexington Parks and Recreation.
- North Lexington Family YMCA, 381 W Loudon Ave, built a dedicated outdoor pickleball center with 10 courts in 2023. It runs 60 hours a week of open-skill play and is open to YMCA members, per the YMCA's own site (checked October 29, 2026).
- Sports Center Lexington, 3801 Mall Rd, has 9 indoor courts available for a per-visit admission fee.
Pickleball Paddock stays indoors year-round, which matters in a Kentucky December when outdoor courts like Shillito Park get cold and wet. Players who want to keep playing through the winter without a YMCA membership have the Paddock and Sports Center Lexington as the two paid indoor options in the city.
Full list of Lexington courts, hours and fees: Lexington, KY pickleball courts.