Whether it be the Oaks or the Derby, you should at least come down to see one of these annual horse…read moreraces. If you have been to the Derby, the Kentucky Oaks is basically the same type of experience, just a little less crowded (But still crazy..) I have told some people that it is the "locals' Derby, because growing up most people I knew from Louisville preferred to go to this race. This is a huge event in sports, so you must absolutely be prepared for insane crowds and overpriced everything. The experience can be completely different too depending on what section you're in. If money is not an issue and you're willing to splurge, I highly, highly HIGHLY recommend going anywhere but the infield. If the infield is the only option for you, it will still do but that is where a majority of the craziness will be. If it rains it won't be too fun out there, but it is nice if it's a sunny day and you prefer to walk around and explore rather than stay in a seat. One big tip that will make things easier is to download the Twinspires app if you plan on betting. You can bet straight from your phone and don't have to stand in the long lines to place a bet. The Oaks is another bucket list type of experience, however if you've done the Derby and are satisfied enough, you probably wouldn't need to come to this race also.

Long ago known as the "locals day", the Oaks is now as popular for city visitors planning to make…read moreit a 2-day weekend at the track. Pink is the adopted color of choice since Churchill honors breast cancer fighters and survivors. Approximately how 100 women walk the field, chosen from nominations of their loved ones. Oaks is the day for the fillies and the winner wears a blanket of lilies. The Lily is the signature drink, very sweet, and comes is a collectible glass. Parking on Oaks is crazy! You're not going to get close to the track without connections. Several locals open their yards and charge to park. Be prepared to walk. Even Uber won't save you from walking. Check out the Churchill Downs is website for details and suggested parking. If you haven't already secured a seat, the infield is open, general seating, bring your own seat or blanket. Again, check the calendar website for rules on what you can and can't enter with. Otherwise you will be pointed to a dumpster. Bags are checked to find liquor and other banned items. The infield gives you a bit of everything - some dressed up, some casual, young to old. You will rarely see the horses so it's more about crowd watching. All locals should experience the Oaks at least once. I used to go every year with my Dad (back then the infield was empty!). It's crowded and expensive but it's a memory.

If you are an experience seeking person, this is something to add to your Louisville bucket list…read more This event is a Kentucky derby festival tradition and is great for friends and family. Also a great place to people watch.

Ok so if you go right at the start be prepared for traffic and lots of people…read more If you go later it's pretty cool especially if you get good weather. They do a good job of describing the balloons and their stories. They go glows and tinkles with the lights in the balloons. It's pretty cool :-) They stop serving beer 30 min before the end so double check. There is food inside and out but the lines are really long.

Mount Washington spring festival is always a fun time here in our local community. They always have…read morecar shows and the food trucks and rides and games for all the kids to enjoy. It's a lot of fun with everybody in the community coming together and just having a great time

Potterheads everywhere!!! You must go to this event at some point in you're life - because it is SO…read moreFUN!! Potterpalooza is a free event that is held once a year at the Louisville Free Public Library downtown. They completely transform the huge space into a muggle-free world. They've got everything from a flight simulator, live animals, potion making, quidditch matches to trivia....they've literally got EVERYTHING here. For food they had The Celtic Pig, which I thought was a great selection (and fit very well) for the occasion. They also had a 21 and over section in the basement, where Against the Grain served beer. This was one of the things I wish could have been better, due to the fact that they only had two IPAs to choose from, and that was the only adult beverage you could get. They did have Heine Bros in the main entrance, too. I absolutely love how everything was decorated. They completely transform the hallway into Diagon Alley, and you can also find platform 9/34 and many other great photo ops. The only other fuss I have is that I wish they had longer hours or had more than one day. The event goes from 6-10, is free, and thousands of people show up. Therefore, literally everything had a super long line, making it near impossible to do everything you want to do. We stayed from beginning to end and still had quite a bit we couldn't do. I also did not like how there were children's craft tables in the middle of the walkways, which made it hard to maneuver around. But now, more great things!! It's awesome how many local businesses this event brings: Carmichael's, SnoWhat, Celtic Pig, Against the Grain, Kentucky Science Center, and a bunch more! Not only that, but including it into the Harry Potter theme in such a creative way. They did have trivia as well, and it was really challenging!! All about the books, and it definitely gets you thinking! Potterpalooza was seriously so much fun. I'm already planning on binge reading/watching the books and movies just to get prepared for next year!!

I've always been a Harry Potter fan so of course I had to check out this event. Potterpalooza is an…read moreevent that happens at the public library completely open to the public. The event is free so it brings out a huge crowd. There is so much to do. You can get your photo taken at platform 9 3/4, walk down diagon ally, find out which house you belong to and much more. The thing that stuck out was the photo booth where your party can get different props from the movie and just have fun with it. The only source of food at potterpalooza were food trucks but they were good. The best part was the bottom floor was strictly for people 21 and up. They provided beer for everyone and a Harry Potter trivia. Just a heads up, the trivia is hard as hell unless you read the books at least 5 times and know every minor details. Even though the event is fun, there is one thing that I recommend fixing. They should honestly bump the age requirement for the event to 12 and up because it's overrun by kids that most likely have never even seen a Harry Potter movie. That or allow part of the night to strictly be for people 21 and up. It sometimes felt like you were limited on what to do because a kid was in the way or they were spending too much time at one event. I am glad that the Harry Potter franchise is still going on and this event exists. If you're a potterhead and want to nerd out, potterpalooza is the place for you.

A must visit in Louisville KY!! The tour comes with general admission. Steve our guide was friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. I learned a lot from him. The tracks, the history, the building itself and the stories about jockeys and horses are all fascinating. The day we went unfortunately the weather was not good. Couldn't get a clear view of the track and landmarks. But it was very exciting to see the actual track. Parking is free. The gift shop is good. Lots merchandise for visitors to browse through. 2 horses in the barn when we visited. The museum itself is wonderful. Many historical information and artifacts. The Secretariat section is on the second floor. The fastest horse. And I learned that he had a bigger heart than any other horses. Might be a factor that he was fast! Absolutely a highlight of our trip in KY. It makes me actually want to come for the Kentucky Derby in May.

Came here the day after Derby Day, so it was free (and track tour during this time). I waited about…read morehalf hour in line to get in (since this year's Derby merch was also half off). I liked the 360 degree movie and spent about an hour and a half checking out the other exhibits. 2026 #42

The GAC is a gem in Louisville. I don't come out here nearly enough, but the vibes are always…read moreimmaculate. And Oktoberfest is a great reason to come out. The lines look long at first, but they move very quickly. $6 for a bier can feel steep, but you get 16 Oz and at least 5.6% ABV for most of them. The food is good, not great, but it's German food in Louisville which is surprisingly hard to find. The music enhances the atmosphere. And this is very kid-friendly too. Just be patient with the lines and be diligent when looking for a seat. Cheers!

I absolutely love German American Club Oktoberfest! This event is so much fun! The German-American…read moreClub is an assemblage of German culture. Not only will you experience an array of German beer offerings, but you can also grab some delicious eats in the form of pretzels, schnitzel, spaetzle, bratwurst, and so much more! The event also boasts German music, dancing, and attire, as well as other German activities. The main dance hall is decorated with German flags and other items, including photographs, so there's a lot to see! If you're looking for something really fun to do in the Louisville area, the German American Club Oktoberfest event is one of my favorites!

This is the 20th year for this very nice local Art Show on the Square. We have attended several…read moretimes in the past but, I think this was the best one. There were some very good vendors who had some really nice locally made products that we purchased. There were a number of Food Trucks with a nice variety of different foods on the their menus. The Historical Society had a terrific separate section where they had demonstrations and served free samples of some delicious Dutch oven Apple Fritters. Seemed to be very well organized and from the size of the crowd I think it was a success.

This was an amazing festival!! I didn't realize this happened during June in Lagrange but my…read morehusband and I happened upon it when we visited Main Street Bourbon Ale House and saw all the signs. This festival is a lot more organized than other art fests I've attended and they had a very large array of different types of Fine Art and Folk Art. It's even juried so you have a vacancies to win that blue ribbon! The layout is very easy to navigate and they use the whole area for art, music, food, and the historical reenactments. If you've never been to Lagrange, visit during the Arts on the Green. Plan to spend a whole day as it takes a while to really peruse through all the art. Plus you can also visit the shops on their Main Street and really take in that small town America feel!

What a fun family event that is new to Louisville this year. It is the new Halloween balloon glow…read moreat Lynn family stadium. It features trick or treating and halllowwen adventures for all the little ones. It also has awesome balloon light up adventure at night. Great family fun all around