Atrium Brewing and Blessings in a Backpack have teamed up to create Hunger Crush Pale Ale. A collaboration brew to increase awareness for Blessings in a Backpacks mission to raise money for Shelby Traditional Academy.

Every school-aged child in America has the nourishment needed to learn and grow. As a leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Blessings in a Backpack strives to ensure children do not go hungry on the weekends by empowering individuals and communities to take action.

In addition to the beer release, both Logan Street & Norton Commons Taprooms will be hosting a sponsored bingo night with Blessings in a Backpack representatives on hand selling bingo cards to directly raise money for local elementary school, Shelby Traditional Academy.

For every four-pack sold, Atrium Brewing will donate $2 and for every draft pour Atrium will donate $1 towards Blessings in Backpack to benefit Shelby Traditional Academy. There will be prizes, giveaways, music, and good times galore!

1154 Logan St., Louisville, KY 40204

Enjoy Twilight Thursdays at Churchill Downs! You can bet on $2 select domestic beer, live music, food trucks and more from 5 to 8 p.m. in The Grove.

Live music performed by Tyler Embry. Food trucks include FlavaVille, Smokin' Cantina, HurriKanes, Bamba Egg Rolls, and Annie Up Pizza.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Come out and enjoy the thrill of Thoroughbred racing! Get your tickets here.

700 Central Ave., Louisville, KY, 40208

Nomadness Fest is a weekend for travelers of color, and allies! Bringing stories, leaders, resources and community together in one place. The festival journeys to various cities and curates the travel industry’s most honest and communal conversations on what it is like to navigate the world as a person of color. Each year’s theme is intentionally based on the climate of our culture and our needs and desires as travelers.

This year’s theme is Cultural + Conscious Travel. Are we traveling for social media, for connection, or both? When we show up in a new state or country, are we leaving it better or worse than when we arrived? And, respectfully, whose land is it anyway? This year’s theme is all about the journey from the surface conversation of travel into the underbelly, and how we all play a part. 

Get your tickets here. 

Address

Germantown Oktoberfest is returning to Goss Avenue this Friday! This time, with an expanded block party edition (Spratt to McHenry) including vendors curated by the Flea Off Market plus a Food Truck Invasion from the Louisville Food Truck Association! ESPN Louisville will be showing the game on a 20ft inflatable screen and hosting the Twisted Tea Tailgate Party.

Dust off your dirndl and lederhosen and get your drinking arm ready for the Sam Adams Stein Hoisting Contest, plus many more beer games and the West Sixth Weiner Dog Races too. Schnitzelberg's own Monnik Beer Co's Kaiser Von Schnitzelberg will be flowing all night long.

Also, cheer on your favorite Weiner Dog during the 5th Annual West Sixth DankeChain Dachshund Races! If you and your Dachshund or Dachshund mix are interested, click here to sign up. It is free to enter and a ton of fun! Spaces are limited so reserve your spot today.

As part of the Germantown Oktoberfest, The Flea Off Market is hosting an
outdoor market featuring arts, crafts, vintage, and collectibles on the street on
Goss Avenue. Festivities will include more than 80 vendors, live music, craft beer,
seasonal cocktails, a biergarten, and more.

1000 Goss Ave., Louisville, KY 40217

Dust of those lederhosen, string up those pretzels and join 3rd Turn Brewing and Louisville Silent Disco for an Oktoberfest Silent Disco!

The silent disco will consist of 3 channels of music to choose from: The Red Channel will be Decades; the Blue will be Hip-hop; and the Green is Pop/Dance. Polka classics will be thrown in throughout the night. There is a $10 charge to rent a pair of headphones. 

10408 Watterson Trail, Louisville, KY 40299

Bring your family, lawn chairs and pups to Seneca Park. Olmsted Parks Conservancy and West Sixth Brewing present the 3rd Annual Pop-up Beer Garden Series!

Gather friends and family and come out to enjoy music, lawn games, food and fresh beer from West Sixth’s draft trailer. 

3151 Pee Wee Reese Rd., Louisville, KY, 40207

The first-ever Paristown Art Festival takes place this weekend in the heart of Paristown Arts District! Experience a two-day artist takeover of Brent Street and Christy's Garden featuring dozens of painters, photographers, jewelry-makers, designers, wood artisans, and more.

Vendor lineup and Friday soft-opening concert to be announced!

Admission is free and open to the public for all ages. Enjoy dining and cocktails at The Village Market Food Hall or The Café throughout the weekend.

Art Festival hours are Friday (Soft-Opening) from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

731 Brent St., Louisville, KY 40204

The Asian Night Market returns to Fourth Street Live! on Saturday! Live performances begin at 5:30 p.m. Come out and enjoy these live performances, Asia-inspired cuisine, retail vendors, food trucks, and more!

Asia Institute – Crane House is proud to feature cuisine and entertainment from all over Asia; while highlighting the cultural aspect of the cuisine itself, it is also a prime opportunity to highlight the entrepreneurs and small business owners in the local community who are of Asian heritage.

This family friendly event is free and open to the public.

411 S. 4th St., Louisville, KY 40202

AfterGlow is a late-night silent disco that features 3 different local DJs mixing music simultaneously to create a unique dance experience in the basement at Vernon Lanes. The events features DJ SpringBreak, DJ AK and Forajinn on the same stage.

DJ SpringBreak will be mixing a little bit of everything to keep the party going, DJ AK is bring the Hip/hop and House favorites, while Forajinn spins everything from HyperPop to Acid House Techno.

Tickets are available for $10 both pre-sale and at the door. Pre-Sale tickets guarantee you have a pair of headphones in the event we sell out. 

This event is 21 and up only. 

1575 Story Ave., Louisville, KY 40206

Join the Animal Care Society for the 20th annual Bark in the Park, presented by PetSuites! Bark in the Park is a timed 5k Woof Walk & Run held at Seneca Park. All runners will receive a t-shirt, finisher medal, and fun wag bag with lots of goodies from our sponsors. 

The family festival will be full of fun for everyone of all ages! Join us and shop all our vendor booths, enjoy a silent auction, kids center, and for the first time they are offering free vaccines to their canine friends!

3151 Pee Wee Reese Rd., Louisville, KY, 40207

Join the 1st Gethsemane Center for Family Development for the second annual fundraising gala featuring a catered meal by FordDive, and sounds to keep you grooving by none other than Atone with Donna Mason!

This will be a night of celebration and community excellence as they highlight CFD’s commitment to affordable facility rental and quality activities, services and programming (including summer camps, recreational activities for all ages, a job resource center, health and wellness classes, community forums, free tutoring during the school year, and more) aligning with their mission to ‘reduce barriers of success for individuals & families’. 

Purchase your tickets to the Black & Gold Fundraising Gala here. 

1221 First Gethsemane Ave., Louisville, KY 40208

Pitbulls of St. Francis (PBSF) Dog Rescue is celebrating its eight-year anniversary with a Fall Festival Fundraiser.

The event will include a Chili Cook-Off, $20 entry fee, grand prize is $100 cash, second place is $50 cash, third place gets their entry fee back ($20 cash). A Pumpkin Dessert Contest, $10 entry fee, grand prize is $50 cash, and a Pumpkin Carving Contest, $15 entry per team, grand prize $50 bar tab. 

Contestants, please register for the Chili Cook-off and the Pumpkin Dessert Contest here. 

There will also be a Fall Festival photo booth and face painting!

Weather permitting, this is a family-friendly event. Children are not allowed inside the bar but are welcome into the front parking lot beer garden.

800 Baxter Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

The Lynn Family 5K for VIPS raises funds for Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) and features a category of race winners specifically celebrating runners who are blind or visually impaired!

Set up a fundraiser and create a team or invite friends and family to donate. Participants can submit their running times, in order to be included in the competition for prizes. Each participant in the race will receive a t-shirt and a medal.

The Lynn Family 5K for VIPS is the only race in the Louisville Metro area that features a division for blind and visually impaired runners.

The Lynn Family 5K will be held at the Brown Forman Amphitheater and participants can choose to walk or run. The event is also pet-friendly! Both service dogs used for runners with visual impairments and even your family dog, all are welcome!

1301 River Rd., Louisville, KY 40202

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) exists to strengthen families and individuals affected by mental illness through education, support, and advocacy. NAMI Louisville is your local affiliate of this nationally recognized group. They are the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Register to join the Step Forward Walk today here. 

301 E. River Rd., Louisville, KY 40202

Join Holsopple Brewery for a full day of fun Oktoberfest celebrations! They will be releasing their Oktoberfest beer for you to enjoy while listen to live music. 

The music starts with Trio Jeepy at 4 p.m. followed by Frankie Leo at 7 p.m. Come enjoy games, prizes and costumes at this Oktoberfest Party!

8023 Catherine Ln., Unit 105, Louisville, KY 40222

Join the German-American Club for the September Biergarten happening this Saturday! Live music will be played from 4 to 10 p.m. with German dinner and plenty of German beers on tap.

There will be live music for you to enjoy while you eat and drink with friends. Kitchen will be open from 6 to 8 p.m.

Typical Biergarten menu: *menu subject to change*

• Schnitzel
• Spätzle
• Bratwurst
• Sauerkraut
• Green Beans
• German Potato Salad
• Sauerkraut Balls
• Giant Pretzels

This is a family-friendly event and free to the public. 

Prost!

1840 Lincoln Ave., Louisville, KY 40213

Louisville Downtown Partnership, Louisville Ale Trail, and Against the Grain Brewery are excited to announce an all-new Oktoberfest celebration, "Steins on Main," hitting Downtown Louisville this Saturday at RePurposed! The outdoor celebration will include German-inspired cuisine, games and contests, music, and local breweries.

This new event will not only bring the traditional Bavarian festival to the heart of Louisville but will also aid a vital cause in the Louisville community - supporting the Coalition for the Homeless, a local nonprofit with a mission to prevent and end homelessness in Louisville.

Steins on Main will be free to the public and promises an afternoon filled with great cuisine, games, music, craft beer, and an abundance of festive cheer. Participating breweries include Against the Grain, Gallant Fox, Butchertown Brewing, Gravely, Monnik Beer Co., Hi-Wire, and the newly-opened Awry Brewing. These beers will provide a taste of both local craft mastery and the rich Oktoberfest tradition. Festivities kick off with a special happy hour from 2 to 3 p.m., offering early attendees an exciting start to the day.

615 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

It's Fest season! Join Mile Wide on Saturday for a day full of FESTivities and beer specials at Volksfest 2023!

They will be offering tall pours of select crushable favorites for a special price, some limited day-of tappings, including a N/A apple cider mocktail, as well as plenty of music and entertainment for the whole family. 

Squeeze-bot will be performing from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by a stein-holding competition at 4:30 p.m. with prizes for the top 3 placements ranging from gift cards to Mac's and Mile Wide swag, to tickets to a concert of your choice at Headliners Music Hall!

From 5 to 8 p.m. DJ SpringBreak will take the patio reigns and be laying down all the vibes, and you already know the homies at Mac’s at Mile Wide will be breaking out the grill and serving up all things encased meats!

To top it all off, there will be a live petting zoo by Farmer Steve's Mobile Petting Zoo set up from 2 to 6 p.m. with 12 different types of animals you can meet and spend the afternoon with! Prepare your stomachs for an entire day full of celebration. Prost!

636 Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

Louisville Literary Arts presents the 11th Writer's Block Festival this Saturday at Logan Street Market.

Author and professor Emily Bingham will kick off the event as the keynote speaker, then U.S. National Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate Ron Whitehead will perform.

Participants can choose from seven workshops and panels. Workshops boast a range of topics across all genres including publishing, young adult fiction, poetry, spiritual writing, and writer's block.

Email info@louisvilleliteraryarts.org for more information

1001 Logan St., Louisville, KY 40204

 🍻 Come celebrate St. Matthew's German heritage in true Oktoberfest style at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Here's what's brewing:

• More beer than last year, along with the same great selections. They've tripled their order and will have a satellite bar ensuring shorter lines and more clinks!
• Dive into gourmet beer, brats with onions, grilled brats, and hotdogs; munch on smoked bier cheese with pretzel crisps, German potato salad, sauerkraut, and Bavarian pretzels 🥨, then cool off with Kona Ice. All at the Speisenzelt (food tent).
• The little ones will hop till their heart's content while you soak in the Oktoberfest vibes at the Hüpfburg (bounce houses).
• Are you ready to flaunt your finest Bavarian attire? They are hosting a Costume Contest too!
• Just added - Roll the dice and try your luck at Beat the Dealer!

Get onboard to help make this event extra special by signing up HERE to volunteer!

508 Breckinridge Ln, Louisville, KY 40207

Family Adventure Day is the perfect event for the entire family to enjoy a day of fun under the Twin Spires. Thrilling racing, and over 20 activities that kids under 12 can enjoy including:

• Face Painters from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
• Churchill Charlie Walk About from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• Sports inflatables, inflatable slide and obstacle courses
• Charlie’s Corner soft play & toddler bounce
• Bubble Station
  Game Zone featuring Cornhole, Giant Jenga, Checkers, Tic-Tac-Toe and more
• Music by the VIP gate
• Hula Hooping dances throughout the day
• Arts & Crafts Station
• Kona Ice Truck

Gates Open 11:30 a.m., first race is at 12:45 p.m. Activities end at the conclusion of last race.

For more information on Family Adventure Day and to purchase tickets, click here. 

700 Central Ave., Louisville, KY 40208

At the end of September each year, Madison’s National Landmark Historic District welcomes thousands of visitors during the two-day Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art. Come and experience Southern Indiana’s premier outdoor juried arts & crafts festival featuring approximately 175 exhibitors. This festival is free to the public and designed for the whole family to enjoy, although pets do need to remain home.

 In addition to the fine artists and craftsmen showcasing their handmade work, the festival features continuous live entertainment, a riverfront food fest, kid’s activities, and an entertainment garden with local craft beer and wine available. 

 Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art is a non-profit organization operating under the umbrella of Visit Madison, Inc. For the last 50 years, a committee of volunteers and coordinators have worked hard to ensure this festival has something for everyone. Along with them, hundreds of volunteers, City of Madison employees and the Mayor of Madison work together to make the entire Chautauqua weekend a success.

​Along the Ohio river between Broadway and Vine St in Madison, IN

The LRSFest ALL Stars at Headliners features the best local acts to play LRSFest over the last five years! Enjoy local art vendors and food trucks at the event while LRS records the show to create "The return of the LRS102 Homemade Album; Alive and well from Headliners!" Each band will have a live track on the album which will be available for preorder that night. Fans will also have a chance to leave a comment at our audio booth and the best fan comments will be included on the Homemade Album between tracks!

The LRSFest All Stars include:

• Mojothunder
• Anemic Royalty
• Scrooge Mandela
• Boombox Poets
• Layne's Calling
• Antithesis
• Skipping Stone
• Tin Zelkova
• Sweet Lady
• Rattlesnake Pasta

Tickets are $15 in advance and $15 day of show. Doors open at 12 p.m. and show begins at 1 p.m. This is an all-ages show. 

Get your tickets here. 

1386 Lexington Rd., Louisville, KY 40206

This Sunday’s Sunday Sunset Music Series features the legendary Jug Band group, The Juggernauts. 

Come spread out under the shaded lawn with blankets and chairs located by the horse pasture. The 1792 barn serves as the stage backdrop and offers a spectacular sunset view. It’s the perfect place to meet friends and family for a fun night out!

Explore the grounds and enjoy feeding the farm animals along the fence line. Food and merchandise are available for purchase. 

Admission is $20 per carload at the entrance. Cash appreciated.

3200 Tucker Station Rd., Louisville, Kentucky 40299

Join the Parks Alliance for the Pre-Lit Bash and visit the Jack O' Lantern Spectacular without waiting in line. Food and beverages (including the alcoholic kind) are provided.

Chicken dinner and Vegetarian dinner entrée options available!

Purchase your tickets here. 

1080 Amphitheater Rd., Louisville, KY 40214

It’s Fall Break time! Gather the family and travel to the Speed for Fall Family Day. During this afternoon, the Museum will be filled with programming created for families. Get ready for story time, drop-in artmaking, and scavenger hunts throughout the Museum. These activities will be included in your ticket to the Museum.

Schedule: 

• 1 – 4 p.m.: Imagination Playground in Grand Hall with board games and coloring pages
• 1 – 4 p.m.: Baby Playdate/Toddler Takeover in KY Gallery with Kentucky Women: Alma Lesch
• 1 – 4 p.m.: Scavenger Hunt available at Welcome Table in Atrium
• 1 – 4 p.m.: Cozy Reading Area in Atrium
• 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Art-making activity in Gheens Court

2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40208

Join the Office for Immigrant Affairs as they celebrate Welcoming Month with lots of wonderful events and activities! These inclusive events are aimed at celebrating the city’s welcoming environment.

In 2018, Louisville became the second city nationwide to be designated as a Certified Welcoming city. This designation was renewed in October 2022 after a rigorous review process of the city’s welcoming infrastructure. Louisville boasts a connected community that is welcoming to all that choose to make Louisville home, regardless of their place of origin. 

Welcoming Month events include:

• Asian Night Market, September 30

Interested in volunteering at an event? Click here to sign up. 

Various locations. 

In 2007, the U.S. Senate declared the first National Bourbon Heritage Month to occur annually in September. 

Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month with so many wonderful activities and events around the city. Learn how to make an Old Fashioned cocktail, attend Bourbon and Beyond, check out a bourbon tour, learn how to cook with bourbon, and so much more! 

View more Bourbon Heritage Month events here. 

Various locations. 

A Louisville tradition for over 40 years, Halloween-time transforms your Zoo into a living storybook, complete with some of your favorite characters brought to life, fun music and a safe place for trick-or-treating for kids 11 and under. This party experience is designed to give you all the merry you love with none of the scary.

Your party price includes ALL Boo at the Zoo rides, attractions and parking! Enjoy a spin on the Spooktacular Carousel. Get up close to REAL creepy crawlies at the walk-through, free-crawling “not-so-itsy-bitsy” Spider House. Hear the tale of the legendary Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow — all FREE with your party admission. Parking is easy and convenient in the Zoo’s lot and included for party guests!

Costumes are welcomed but not required. Adults may wear costumes, but we ask that they be family friendly (not scary please). Since this event caters to small children, adults may NOT wear costume masks that cover the ENTIRE face.

Thursday, Oct. 19th is Allergy-Friendly Night.

Get your tickets to Boo at the Zoo here. 

1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY 40213

Jack O'Lantern Spectacular has become the "must-see" event of the Halloween season. Presented each October along a winding path through the majestic woods of Iroquois Park, guests are treated to an organic art gallery of more than 5,000 artistically carved pumpkins in themed settings. This family-friendly event has become an annual tradition for thousands, who come back each year to experience a variety of themed vignettes, set to music. Ask anyone who has attended...the event simply can't be described....it must be experienced. This year's theme is Wanderlust: The World is your Pumpkin.

Hours & Entry Times:

Sunday through Thursday Hours: 6:30 to 10:00 pm. Timed ticket entry to the amphitheater: 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:30p and 9:30p ​
Friday through Saturday Hours: 6:30p to 11:00pm. Timed ticket entry to the amphitheater: 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:30p, 9:30p and 10:30p

1080 Amphitheater Rd., Louisville, KY 40214

The glow is growing at Kentucky Kingdom this fall. More than 1,000 bright orange pumpkins have appeared all over the park, inviting you to play all day on world-class rides and explore fall-themed fun like games, street performances, and colorful new characters. Stay after sundown to watch the park transform into a whimsical wonderland of glow featuring larger-than-life pumpkin sculptures!

Discover play days and glow nights during Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, glowing weekends in October.
Explore the glow plus a full season of family fun with a 2024 Season Pass.

Get tickets here. 

937 Phillips Ln., Louisville, KY 40209

Visit beautiful Colonial Gardens this summer during the Summer in the Gardens series! 

The next opportunity to groove on the Patio is September 29th with Corner Pocket on the Patio from 6 to 9 p.m. Then on September 30th with Lampus on the Patio from 6 to 9p.m.! There are several more to enjoy on the patio the rest of the summer!

To view the full list of performances at Summer in the Gardens, click here. 

818 W. Kenwood Dr., Louisville, KY 40214

Each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. experience Food Truck Wednesdays at 4th Street between Jefferson and Market Streets! Louisville Downtown Partnership has curated many amazing food trucks to serve lunchtime patrons each Wednesday!

The street will be closed off to vehicular traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each week. Food trucks will serve food from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Come on over to 4th Street and eat some delicious, local food!

S. 4th St. between Jefferson and Market, Louisville, KY

The Food Truck Clinic is a one-stop-shop where food and beverage vendors can get the green light from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Louisville Division of Fire and Jefferson County Fire Service, and Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to legally sell food and drinks to the public.

Every Thursday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., from now until Oct. 19, food trucks and other mobile vendors can stop by the alley at Armory Place, behind the Metro Development Center to get their permits to operate.

The Food Truck Clinic not only benefits vendors, but community members, too. Each Thursday, the public is invited to the clinic to enjoy food and beverages after food trucks get the go ahead to open.

444 S. 5th St., Louisville, KY 40202