Every October, thousands of landscapers, hardscapers, manufacturers, contractors, and dealers travel to Louisville to network with other professionals and to test-drive the latest products in an unmatched environment.

This four-day event, featuring 1,000 exhibits and hundreds of educational opportunities, will provide each attendee with new ideas, better techniques, and hands-on demos of cutting-edge products, tools, software, and strategies from innovative suppliers, vendors, and manufacturers. That's the power of Equip Expo.

Learn more about the expo and get your tickets here. 

937 Phillips Ln., Louisville, KY 40209

Louisville Parks and Recreation and JenCare Senior Medical Center are hosting the third annual Music in the Park, a free concert series designed for people ages 55 and older, located in parks around the city of Louisville!

This is the final installment of Music in the Park for 2023. Those attending the concerts should bring a lawn chair or blanket, as seating is limited.

October's concert will feature The Checkmates at Iroquois Park! In case of rain or extreme heat, the festivities will move indoors at South Louisville Community Center. 

Along with live music, several community vendors will be set up at the event to provide valuable health related information to patrons. Complimentary lunch will be provided while supplies last. Free ice cream from Brain Freeze: Cones for a Cause will also be served.

The public can call Wilderness Road Senior Center at (502) 964-5151 for more information.

2120 Rundill Rd., Louisville, KY 40214

Every third Friday of the month, the Museum will once again be open late for After Hours at the Speed. Each After Hours event comes alive with an eclectic mix of music, performances, a cash bar and food available by Wiltshire at the Speed, and of course art! 

This month's theme is: A celebration of Stories Retold: American Art from the Princeton University Art Museum

Schedule:

• 5 to 8 p.m.: Art-making in Gheens Court
• 5 to 6:30 p.m.: 4Play Ensemble, Atrium
• 5:45 p.m.: Gallery Talk in Kentucky Women: Alma Wallace Lesch with Curator Scott Erbes
• 6 p.m.: Screening of Joan Baez I Am a Noise at Speed Cinema, tickets sold separately
• 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Curator Talk with Erika Holmquist-Wall for Stories Retold: American Art from the Princeton University Art Museum
• 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.: Lipstick Wars Poetry in Amy Sherald’s Portrait of Breonna Taylor: In the Garden, Gallery 2
• 8 to 10 p.m.: Bobby Falk Group Album Release performance in Grand Hall

Come experience the Speed “after hours” as you’ve never experienced it before. Get your tickets here. 

2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40208

The Downtown Drive-In is an outdoor movie night series, taking place at Brown-Forman Amphitheater on select Friday nights through October.

Movies will begin at sundown, with the amphitheater open an hour before to allow guests time to grab their spot in the theater. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase with beer from Ten20 Brewery, lemonade from Amiracle Ade Company, and gourmet popcorn from Froggy's Popcorn. Movie-goers are also welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs to the viewing.

This Friday's movie is Hocus Pocus (1993), rated PG.

No tickets are required for the outdoor film screenings, but guests are encouraged to arrive early to save their spot. The Downtown Drive-In events are weather dependent.

129 E. River Rd., Louisville, KY 40202

Bring your family, lawn chairs and pups to Shelby Park this Friday for the Pop-up Beer Garden Series hosted by Olmsted Parks Conservancy and West Sixth Brewing!

Enjoy music, lawn games, food and fresh beer from West Sixth’s draft trailer.

This is a free, family-friendly event. 

600 E. Oak St., Louisville, KY 40203

Louisville Beer Week is going global! Participating Louisville breweries will partner with each other while celebrating the local beer community through a global lens - including international beer styles and food pairings. 

Louisville Ale Trail is kicking things off once again with Louisville Beer Fest on Friday, October 20th, at the German-American Club.

In addition to multiple brewery events around town throughout the week, Louisville Ale Trail presents the following panels:

• From Stave to Glass Barrel Panel and Tasting: October 23 at 3rd Turn Brewing Barrel Room, 10408 Watterson Trail
• Louisville Beer For All DEI Panel: October 25 at Noble Funk Brewing, 922 S. 2nd St.

Various locations. 

Join PG&J's Dog Park Bar for BARKtoberfest, a celebration of dogs, brews, brats and music! The event will feature a Stein Hoisting Contest ($20 entry fee), Corn Hole tournament ($10 entry fee), and Small Dog Races (free to enter, maximum 15 pounds and/or 15” height). All the proceeds from contest entries will be donated to local rescue organizations. 

The Gallant Fox beer trailer will be set up selling beers, including their Foxtoberfest beer. They will also be serving brats, hot dogs, and giant Bavarian pretzels. Live music will be performed by Outbreak from 2 to 4 p.m.

All ages are welcome out front in the Beer Garden, must be 21 and up to enter the bar and dog park. 

800 Baxter Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

Head to Barret Avenue this Saturday for the 2nd annual Boo on Barret! The event will take place across many stores along Barret including The Barret Babes, ShopBar, Glow Worm Play Cafe, and more. Trick or treat at shops along Barret all day and collect stamps to be entered into a raffle to win a gift basket.

Outside the Glow Worm Play Cafe, everyone can enjoy local vendors, Farmer Steve’s petting zoo (until 4 p.m.), crafts and more. Their cafe and bakery will be open to the public for food and drinks!

ShopBar will be hosting a dog costume contest beginning at 5 p.m. Dress your pup up in their best Halloween costume, judging begins at 7 p.m. with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and include trophies, gift cards, bandanas, treats and much more.

Boo on Barret is a family-friendly event, open to the public. All bars at 21+ to enter. 

Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

La Casita’s annual Circle of Solidarity gala is right around the corner! The Circle of Solidarity gala is an opportunity to support La Casita’s mission and celebrate the way they collectively accompany one other in honoring the resiliency of our Latinx and immigrant communities. It is a true fiesta full of music, delicious foods, dancing, singing, and a special moment when we reflect on the impact of the small but mighty La Casita team!

Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the program set to begin at 6:45 p.m. There will be complimentary coffee and water with a cash bar available for additional beverage options. 

Click here to fill out your form to purchase tickets to the Circle of Solidarity. 

116 W. Jefferson St., Louisville, KY 40202

Join Idlewild Butterfly Farm for a Creepy Things event celebrating all of the creepy crawlies of Kentucky this spooky season! The event, creepily titled Kreeptucky, will feature their Spider House filled with Orb Weavers, carnivorous plant sales and display, ”Kreepers of Kentucky: Spiders” presentation with Blake Newton of UK Entomology, face painting, kreepy krafts, and so much more! 

Wear your creepy, crawly costumes and enjoy beer from Mile Wide Brewery. This is a spooky, not scary, event for all ages! 

Get your tickets here. 

898 E. St. Catherine St., Louisville, KY 40204

Celebrate the one and only Ethan Almighty with a special beer release and fundraiser for the Kentucky Humane Society this Saturday at Mile Wide!

The event will feature special pet-related vendors, dogs that you can not only play with but also adopt from the Kentucky Humane Society, and live music from DJ Clay Baker from 1 to 5 p.m. And EthanFest is not complete without Ethan himself hanging out all day!

Along with local beers, there will be cocktail and mocktail specials, and Mac's at Mile Wide will be joining in with some hot dog specials!

EthanFest is a free, all-ages event.

638 Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204

Get ready for fall colors and outdoor fun at Jefferson Memorial Forest during the Forest Adventure Campout, presented by Wilderness Louisville! Explore the forest, show off your costume, and sleep under the stars! Activities include archery, guided hikes, a climbing wall, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, and more! Reservations for activities will take place on the day of the event.

This event is free and open to the public. There will be a food truck and West Sixth on site.

Families are encouraged to pitch a tent and stay overnight. $25 will reserve one of the Forest’s family campsites and for $15, campers can set up in the field in the Horine Reservation.

12304 Holsclaw Hill Rd., Louisville, KY 40118

Sometimes the grossest things are also the most interesting. Discover the science of really gross things, inspired by Sylvia Branzei’s Grossology book series, it is sure to be interesting and also delightfully gross. Join Parklands Rangers and community partners for grossology-themed games, activities, hikes, and fun for the whole family!

Junior Explorer is a free family-friendly program at The Parklands that is open to all age groups with activities geared toward pre-k through 12 years old. This program is a drop-in-style event that happens four times a year and explores a different nature topic each time. Please see the link below for more information about the 2023 Junior Explorer Program and additional dates and topics.

Schedule:

• 4:30 p.m.: Grossology-themed hike
• 5 p.m.: Worm Hotel Workshop
• 6 p.m.: Grossology + You Activities
• 7:30 p.m.: Night Hike

Other activities, including fish cleaning demonstrations by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, bug displays by Atelier Insecta, science-based activities, crafts, games and more are available at all times throughout the program.

10702 Broad Run Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40299

The annual Arts and Crafts Fair presented by Kosair Shrine Center returns this Saturday. The event will feature more than 30 craft and art vendors for you to check out and start your holiday shopping list! 

Sign up to win fun door prizes and shop local, handmade arts and crafts with friends and family. Food will be available to purchase. 

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

4120 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40218

Paristown Flea returns to Brent Street and Christy's Garden featuring more than 100 vendors selling vintage, vinyl, antiques, mid-century, art deco, plants, books, funk junk, repurposed, and more!

Come enjoy some "outdoor pickin" in historic Paristown this Saturday. Located near The Cafe and the indoor Fleur de Flea warehouse. This is a curated event; it is free and open to the public. 

720 Brent St., Louisville, KY 40204

Sista Strut is back in 2023, returning to the west end of Louisville. Sista Strut's mission is to increase awareness of breast cancer and provide information on community resources and funding to area programs. A portion of the proceeds from the Sista Strut 3k will benefit Kentucky African Americans Against Cancer.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. First 500 walkers to check-in will receive a Sista Strut backpack.

Register for Sista Strut here.

3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, KY 40212

Pickin' in Paristown brings you a free, family-friendly concert experience in Christy's Garden! This will be the final Pickin' in Paristown event of the year. This month's music will be performed by Hot Brown Smackdown! 

Hot Brown Smackdown is a dynamic, high-energy newgrass fusion band hailing from Louisville.

Enjoy $5 happy hour at the Village Market Food Hall from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Show from 6 to 9 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs; no outside food or beverage is permitted. 

720 Brent St., Louisville, KY 40204

Visit the Frazier History Museum for an afternoon of Halloween-themed fun with activities, guests, and performances! David Domine will tell stories from his Louisville Historic Tours and Victorian Ghost Walk. There will be a special edition of “Dish with Tish,” with Tish Boyer (Manager of Collections Engagement) showing-and-telling about uncanny artifacts from their collection. The event will also feature family-friendly music and crafts, and an all-ages puppet and variety show. Costumes encouraged!

Schedule: 

• 11 a.m.: Speaker David Domine
• 12 p.m.: Ghost Story from Stories In Mind
• 12:30 p.m.: Dish With Tish: Spooky Artifacts Show-And-Tell
• 1 p.m.: Puppet Variety Show performance
• 1:30 p.m.: Art activity following the show
• 2 p.m.: Spooky events close, but the museum stays open until 5 pm!

Spooky Tours and Scavenger Hunts happen throughout the afternoon.

This family-friendly event is free for museum members or included with regular museum admission. Purchase regular admission tickets here. 

829 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

Spring Street Bar & Grill is hosting a festival for all ages in the Irish Hill neighborhood and beyond to come together for good old-fashioned fall fun! The inaugural Spring Street Fall Fest will take place this Saturday in Spring Street's parking lot. The bar and restaurant's interior space will remain open as well. 

The festival will feature a pie eating contest, bobbing for apples, an adult pumpkin carving contest, kids pumpkin decorating station, barbeque, and performances from Louisville Leopard Percussionists.

Schedule:

• 12 p.m.: Spring Street Fall Fest Begins
• 2 p.m.: Pumpkin Carving Judging
• 3 p.m.: Louisville Leopard Percussionists
• 4 p.m.: Pie Eating Contest
• 5 p.m.: Louisville Leopard Percussionists

The kids pumpkin decorating station is free to all attendees. Children and families can paint, decorate and take home their own mini pumpkin. 
 
Adults can showcase their creative skills by entering the pumpkin carving contest. To enter, participants must bring their fully carved medium to large size pumpkin to Spring Street Bar & Grill between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the day of the event. Judging will take place at 2 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the pie eating contest and adult pumpkin carving contest winners.

300 S. Spring St., Louisville, KY 40206

Via Colori Kentucky is a festival in which hundreds of artists, community organizations, vendors, and partners come together to host the most creative festival in Kentucky. Over 100 artists participate with the intent of making an artistic masterpiece on a large scale, directly on the sidewalks of Waterfront Park.

Via Colori will also feature live music on the main stage, a bounce house, a maker mobile, kid-friendly activities, food trucks, additional nonprofits, animal rescues and resources, a food court, street performers, cosplay and costumed characters, and of course, street art.

Via Colori supports the efforts of the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana.

Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free to attend.

1101 E. River Rd., Louisville, KY 40206

The 5th annual Louisville Taco Festival is returning to Fourth Street Live! this weekend! Get ready for the biggest Taco Festival in Kentucky history. 

The festival will feature more than 20 taco and food vendors, a tequila expo area, Lucha Libre Wrestling, margarita bars, VIP nacho and queso bar (included with VIP ticket), a churro stand, Kids Zone with moon bounces on the 2nd floor, kids pumpkin painting and piñata smashing, live authentic and modern entertainment, and much more!

All food-related items will work on a voucher system with stations located throughout the festival grounds. Purchase your taco vouchers (sold in sheets of 5 for $20) at any of the stations and then simply exchange them for tacos, elotes, nachos and all food-related menu items! All food vendors will offer 1 food item for 1 voucher with vendors only accepting food vouchers (no cash or credit). There will be bars and beverage stations serving margaritas, tequila flights, ice-cold beer, water, soda on a normal cash & credit system. Multiple ATMs will be on-site & and strongly encourage cash sales at voucher stations.

Get your tickets here. 

411 S. 4th St., Louisville, KY 40202

The Flea Off Market returns this weekend for their usual fun, plus some additional excitement! They will be set up in their usual spot at Fresh Start Growers’ Supply with great vendors, food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, live music, entertainment, and more! 

The Flea Off Market features artists, makers, craftspeople, and vendors selling vintage, collectible, and handmade items.

Hours are:

• Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Flea Off Market is free and open to the public. 

Saturday, join them from 7 to 11 p.m. for The Supernatural Soiree, a fundraiser for Greenstreets. The Halloween party will feature an Old-Timey Square Dance, costume contest, and DJs.

Schedule: 

• 7 p.m.: Doors open
• 7:30 to 7:45 p.m.: Spiral Dance in the tradition of the Reclaiming-a branch of witchcraft that combines the Goddess movement with feminism and political activism, led by Wendy Jo Johnson
• 8 p.m.: Square Dance led by Randy Wilson
• 9 p.m.: Costume Contest

1000 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40206

CycLOUvia is your opportunity to experience Louisville as you never have before, by walking, cycling, skateboarding, or dancing in the street. Streets account for a massive amount of public land in all cities. CycLOUvia repurposes these public spaces by temporarily replacing traditional vehicular traffic with pedestrian traffic.

Streets become paved parks where people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds can come to improve their mental, physical, and emotional health. In addition, CycLOUvia allows residents to enjoy our great local businesses along some of Louisville's most iconic corridors!

The next edition of CycLOUvia will take place in the Highlands on Bardstown Road from Grinstead Drive to Douglass Boulevard.

1424 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40204

Visit the Paddock Shops this Sunday for Fest-O-Ween! Families can trick-or-treat through the Center while supplies last and do some fun shopping as well. Show your $10 receipt from any Paddock Shops retailer (must be dated 10/22/23) and receive a free pumpkin while supplies last! 

Kids will also receive a fun treat bag, one per child while supplies last, and get to meet Oreo and Snickers! The two ponies who will be at the event! The ponies are for viewing and meeting only, not for petting.

4055 Summit Plaza Dr., Louisville, KY 40241

The haunting hour is drawing near, and the ghosts and goblins at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory are ready to knock it out of the park once again! 

The event will feature the World's Largest Vampire Stake, a Trick-or-Treating Adventure, balloon artistry, photo-ops, mini-pumpkin to take home, spine-tingling screenings of Halloween-themed movies and shows in the theater, and a Bat-tastic Activity Table where kids can decorate mini-bats to their heart's content!

Kids in costume getting free admission, while adults are only $5. Get your tickets here. 

800 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

Hot Brown Showdown, the fundraising event for Friends of Waterfront Park returns this Sunday! This cook-off and tasting event invites restaurants and caterers from around the Bluegrass to compete for the title of the best Hot Brown in town.

Competing restaurants and caterers will serve 2 oz. servings of their own unique take on the famous Kentucky Hot Brown dish. Attendees will receive a tasting card along with a voting slip to vote for their favorite dish. First, Second and Third places will be awarded. There will also be a panel of judges composed of notable local personalities who will select the Judge’s Choice winner.

The local 6-piece newgrass-fusion ensemble, Hot Brown Smackdown will be back again performing live during the event. Hot Brown Smackdown has delighted concert and festival goers for years, combining brightly textured, hard-driving, powerful bluegrass polyphony with high-energy groove and soul.

There will be additional local food trucks onsite, as well as a full bar with beer, bourbon, and other spirits available for purchase.

A limited number of tickets are available for $30 per person in advance, and $40 at the door (if tickets are still available). Children 10 and under get in free. Get your tickets here. 

231 E. Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202

Louisville Hot Brown Week offers a unique celebration of a Louisville staple - The Kentucky Hot Brown. Participating restuarants include Big Bad Breakfast, Biscuit Belly, Parlour,Rubbie's, The Cafe, and more! 

Download the Hot Brown Week app today to check in, earn points, and win prizes! Check in at 4 or more locations and be entered to win $250 in gift cards.

Various locations. 

The Happy Hour Friend-Raiser this month will take place at Martini Italian Bistro! Enjoy a special cocktail crafted for the evening while listening to live music by Logan Leet on the patio.

Spin the wheel for fun swag prizes complimentary of Green River KY Straight Bourbon, enjoy a Bardstown Bourbon whiskey tasting, and have fun meeting APRON Inc. board members! 

The mission of APRON Inc. is to provide temporary, limited financial relief to professional food and beverage workers in the Louisville metro area who work at locally owned establishments and who are experiencing financial distress due to illness, accident, emergency, or catastrophic event through no fault of their own.

4021 Summit Plaza Dr., Louisville, KY 40241

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

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