List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area

Last updated

Thunder Over Louisville fireworks during the Kentucky Derby Festival Thunder over LOUISVILLE.jpg
Thunder Over Louisville fireworks during the Kentucky Derby Festival

The following is a list of tourist attractions and organized annual events in the Louisville metropolitan area comprising Louisville, Kentucky and surrounding counties in Kentucky and Indiana.

Contents

Annual festivals and other events

Spring

Summer

View of the Forecastle Festival on the Belvedere Forecastle Louisville.jpg
View of the Forecastle Festival on the Belvedere
Louisville WorldFest 2024 on the Belvedere Louisville WorldFest 2024.jpg
Louisville WorldFest 2024 on the Belvedere

Fall

  • Asylum Haunted Scream Park, [16] the subject of the documentary Monsters Wanted , this is five haunted attractions in one location; held from mid-September through Halloween
  • Cropped Out, a multi-venue music festival, held in early fall
  • Danger Run, from the end of September through the end of October
  • Farmington Harvest Festival, [17] held the second Sunday in October at Farmington Historic Plantation
  • Garvin Gate Blues Festival, [18] held in Old Louisville in October
  • IdeaFestival, [19] a three-day conference that seeks to engage attendees with innovative thinking, held in early fall
  • Light Up Louisville & 40 Nights of Lights, [20] begins the day after Thanksgiving
  • National FFA Organization Convention & Expo, [21] previously held in Indianapolis, Indiana, was moved to Louisville again in 2013 after a 14-year absence, held in late October/early November
  • North American International Livestock Exposition, held in November
  • Spirit Ball, [22] a Victorian-inspired masquerade ball held annually the Saturday before Halloween at the Conrad-Caldwell House on St. James Court
  • St. James Court Art Show, one of the top-ranked shows of its kind in the country; held in Old Louisville the first weekend of October
  • The World's Largest Halloween Party, [23] Louisville Zoo, held 14 nights in October
  • Big Four Bridge Arts Festival, held on the first weekend after labor day.
  • Festival of Faiths, [24] a multi-day national interfaith gathering featuring music, poetry, film, art and dialogue with internationally renowned spiritual leaders, thinkers and practitioners, held at The Kentucky Center in November.

Winter

Distinctive locales

The Conrad-Caldwell House at St James Court and Magnolia Avenue in Old Louisville Conrad Historic Home, Old Louisville KY.jpg
The Conrad-Caldwell House at St James Court and Magnolia Avenue in Old Louisville

Louisville Metro

Southern Indiana

Historic properties

The Belle of Louisville still serves as the symbol of Louisville. She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2014. Belle of Louisville 2.jpg
The Belle of Louisville still serves as the symbol of Louisville. She celebrated her 100th birthday in 2014.

National Register of Historic Places listings

Museums, galleries and interpretive centers

A giant baseball bat adorns the outside of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in downtown Louisville LouisvilleSluggerMusem.jpg
A giant baseball bat adorns the outside of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in downtown Louisville

Art

Regional history

Bourbon

Spalding Hall in Bardstown, which houses both the Bardstown Historical Museum and the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History Spalding Hall Bardstown KY.jpg
Spalding Hall in Bardstown, which houses both the Bardstown Historical Museum and the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History

Cities

Counties

More regional historical collections can be found at the Louisville Free Public Library and the University of Louisville.

U.S. and world history

Front facade of the Frazier History Museum FHM 2018.jpg
Front facade of the Frazier History Museum

Other subjects

Parks and other outdoor attractions

The Big Four Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that connects the downtown area to Jeffersonville, Indiana Big Four Bridge, opening weekend.jpg
The Big Four Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that connects the downtown area to Jeffersonville, Indiana
Lightning Run, a steel roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom Lightning Run at Kentucky Kingdom - Jeremy Thompson.jpg
Lightning Run, a steel roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom

Louisville is home to many spacious city parks, several designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, as well as forested areas, trails and other outdoor attractions; distinctive examples include:

Shows and performing arts

The Kentucky Center in Downtown Louisville The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.jpg
The Kentucky Center in Downtown Louisville
The Louisville Palace LouisvillePalaceFullSign.jpg
The Louisville Palace

Venues

Performers

The Muhammad Ali Center AliCenter.jpg
The Muhammad Ali Center

Miscellaneous

See also

References

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