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The public is invited to a free, family-friendly afternoon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing on Sunday, October 21 from 1-5 p.m.
The event will feature opportunities to engage with Riverside’s history and with its long-standing public archaeology programming. Visitors can connect with their “inner Indiana Jones” through a public archaeology dig, an artifact identification and processing activity, demonstrations of prehistoric Native American tools, a brickmaking activity, tours of archaeology sites and special historic house tours. There will also be a presentation on historic clothing (and its connection to archaeology) at 1:30 p.m. by Brian Cushing (Historic Locust Grove) and a presentation on “Kentucky Before Boone” by Gwynn Henderson (Kentucky Archaeological Survey) at 3:00 p.m.
A new book about the site, entitled Riverside: The Unfolding Story, written by Historic Site Manager Patti Linn will also be available at the event. This 25th anniversary publication published by Butler Books retails for $30 and features the latest research on Riverside. It also brings its story into the 21st century. All proceeds from the sale of this full color, 8 x 10 inch, 160-page hardcover book benefit Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing and its educational mission.
Finally, at 4:00 p.m. visitors are invited to join the Riverside Management Board and Mayor Fischer for the dedication of the David L. Armstrong pavilion at Riverside. This honor is being given to the late former Louisville Mayor and Jefferson County-Judge Executive because he played such a pivotal role in championing the project to restore the Farnsley-Moremen House and open it to the public.
Directions to Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing from Downtown Louisville: Take I-65 to the Gene Snyder Freeway West. Go approximately 9 miles. Take a left at the stop light onto Lower River Road. The entrance to Riverside will be on your right after about 1/8 of a mile. Historic site is located at 7410 Moorman Road, Louisville KY.
For More Information www.riverside-landing.org
CycLOUvia, the popular event showcasing alternative transportation, is returning to Bardstown Road for the seventh time on Sunday, October 21. The CycLOUvia on Bardstown Road is named in honor of former District 8 Councilman Tom Owen, a lifelong advocate for bicycles and pedestrians in our community.
Bardstown Road from Douglass Boulevard to Broadway will be closed to vehicular traffic from 2-6 p.m. Police will facilitate motor crossings at Grinstead Drive and Eastern Parkway. Many businesses along the corridor will be open and engaging pedestrians with special events.
“CycLOUvia has become a favorite event for all ages to enjoy a car-free, dense, urban corridor,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Bring your bikes, skateboards and walking shoes while enjoying everything our small businesses have to offer.”
The return to the Highlands marks the fifteenth CycLOUvia event and seventh on Bardstown Road. Previous events have been held on Frankfort Avenue, West Broadway and in Three Points (Germantown, Schnitzelburg and Shelby Park).
Commercial establishments with frontage along the Bardstown Road corridor are encouraged to open their businesses during event hours and to engage participants, creating an atmosphere that is uniquely Louisville.
During CycLOUvia, streets become paved parks where people of all ages, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds can come to improve their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Since 2012, CycLOUvia events have attracted tens of thousands of people to neighborhoods across the city. CycLOUvia promotes healthy lifestyles, alternative transportation, safety and economic development.
For more information, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/advanced-planning/cyclouvia
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman David Yates (D-25) and Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12) are once again hosting their annual Southwest YMCA Fall Family Festival on Friday, October 19th.
It’s a free event for the whole family and the entire community.
“The Fall Family Festival gives parents and children a safe place to celebrate Halloween a little early and just enjoy the season,” says Yates. “We have a very strong partnership with the YMCA. The festival provides an opportunity for everyone in the community to learn more about the great programs offered at the Y.”
“Events like Family Fall Festival bring our neighborhoods together in Southwest Louisville,” says Blackwell. “This is a perfect opportunity for neighbors and families to gather together and enjoy fun activities for all ages.”
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
The Southwest YMCA Fall Family Festival will be held from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Y located at 2800 Fordhaven Road. It will include the following activities: Pick your own Pumpkin, Inflatable Fun, Group Fitness Demonstrations, Face Painting, Games and other activities.
Both Councilmen will be provide free hot dogs and bottled water.
The event will get underway rain or shine. In the event of bad weather, all festivities will move indoors.
For more information you can contact President Yates’ office at 574-1125 or Councilman Blackwell’s office at 574-1112. Or contact to the Southwest YMCA at 502-933-9622.
Step back in time as Big Bone Lick State Historic Site returns to days long past during the 36th annual Salt Festival the weekend of Oct. 19-21.
The festival features live demonstrations of pioneer lifeways and frontier skills. Enjoy folk and bluegrass music, listen to a storyteller, view prehistoric Ice Age artifacts, and observe a blacksmith working red-hot iron.
Guests can also see how salt was extracted from the waters of Big Bone, watch a flintknapper make a stone point, and discover how bison hair was spun into yarn. Browse the crafters corner to see the many local, handcrafted items for sale, and take advantage of the good eats at the food court.
This year’s festival entertainment will feature exclusive presentations by Kentucky Humanities performers including Daniel Boone: The First Kentuckian, and Dr. Ephraim McDowell: Frontier Surgeon. Also returning to the festival field is All Nations Drum; an Intertribal Native American group showcasing traditional song and dance.
While visiting the Boone County park, be sure to drop by the park’s museum and visitor’s center to see some of the “big bones.” A shuttle van will transport event-goers to and from the festival field, museum, and campground at regular intervals. Don’t miss seeing the bison herd, the park’s living link to Kentucky’s early history.
On Friday, Oct. 19, the park will host school groups. Schools interested in bringing classes to the festival should call the park at 859-384-3522 as advance registration is required to receive the discounted school admission rate. The deadline to register is Oct. 10. Regular festival admission is $5 per person; children 5 and under are free. Admission is cash only.
For information about the park, visit http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick/. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site is recognized as the birthplace of American vertebrate paleontology for its significant role in the development of scientific thought regarding extinction and the relationship between geology and paleontology the world over. The park is located 22 miles southwest of Covington on KY 338, off US 42/127 and I-71 & I-75. From I-75 north or south, take exit 175 to KY 338. From I-71 north or south, take exit 62 to 127N/42E to KY 338.
Louisville Metro is looking for someone to donate the large Christmas tree that will stand in Jefferson Square Park through the holidays.
“Just like most families preparing for the holidays, we’re looking for the perfect Christmas tree,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “This is the main attraction at Light Up Louisville and it will stay up throughout the holiday season.”
The tree should be a spruce or fir, about 40 feet tall and well-shaped. The city will cut and transport the tree to its prominent spot across from Metro Hall at Sixth and Jefferson streets. Anyone interested in donating a tree should call Metro 311. The tree donor will attend the Light Up Louisville sponsor reception as a featured guest of Mayor Fischer for the Light Up celebration.
Light Up Louisville is held annually on the day after Thanksgiving. This year, the event, in its 38th year, will be held on Friday, Nov. 23.
The tree will be moved with the support of LG&E, Bob Ray Company and Louisville Parks and Recreation.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
With great fall weather underway, another great Old Louisville tradition takes place this weekend highlighting some of the best blues music to hear in Metro Louisville. And no one can argue with the price for admission: it’s FREE.
President David James (D-6) and Four Roses Bourbon invite the community to the 2018 Garvin Gate Blues Festival to be held on Friday and Saturday, October 12th and 13th at The Gate on Garvin Place at Oak Street in historic Old Louisville.
“The Garvin Gate Blues Festival is yet another reason why Old Louisville is the place to be during the fall season. It began as a simple idea to bring a little music to a neighborhood and then grew into a wonderful community event,” says James. “I can think of no better place where you can sit back and enjoy some great music from some of the best in our area and across the country.”
Among the headliners for this year are the Andy T Band, Danielle Nicole, The Keeshea Pratt Band, L. C. Williams and The Driver, Jamiah “BluesSuperMan” Rogers Band, and Laurie Jane & the 45s and Friends.
The Festival grew from what began in the parking lot of the Rudyard Kipling in 1988; a simple jam session that became popular to the people of the area. Over the years, the Garvin Place Association experienced growth with new expanded boundaries and before long became the Garvin Place Neighborhood Association.
The Association extended an invitation to those in the jam session to be an accommodating host and create a new neighborhood event. Since then, legendary blues musicians that have performed at the festival through the years.
“The Garvin Gate Neighborhood invites you join us for this free annual two-day arts and music event featuring local and national performers, a celebration of the blues and the arts, this festival attracts a multiracial, intergenerational audience,” says Howard Rosenberg, Director of The Garvin Gate Blues Festival. “In addition to continuous live entertainment from two stages the festival has an array of food and drink vendors and over 50 crafts booths. The event now in its 23rd year is one of the most prestigious blues events between Chicago and Mississippi.”
Garvin Gate Blues Festival Schedule
Friday, October 12
Four Roses Stage
- 6:30-7:15 Jamiah “BluesSuperMan” Rogers Band
- 8:15-9:00 L. C. Williams and The Driver
- 10:00-11:15 Andy T Band featuring Alabama Mike and Anson Funderburgh
Info+ Kentucky Blues Stage
- 7:20-8:00 One Shot Johnny
- 9:10-9:55 Ladies Sing the Blues featuring LaToye Montgomery, Lainey Brown, and Jennifer Lauletta
Saturday, October 13
Four Roses Stage
- 2:00-2:45 The Pearls
- 3:15-4:00 King Bee & The Stingers
- 4:30-5:15 Django Knight
- 5:45-6:30 Mississippi Adam Riggle Band
- 7:15-8:15 Laurie Jane & the 45s and Friends
- 8:45-9:45 Danielle Nicole
- 10:00-11:15 Keeshea Pratt Band
Info+ Kentucky Blues Stage
- 4:05-4:25, 5:20-5:40 da Mudcats
- 6:40-7:10, 8:20-8:40 The Dirty Church Revival
In continuous live entertainment from two stages, the festival has an array of food and drink vendors and over 50 craft booths.
This free blues music festival is presented by Four Roses Bourbon and Garvin Gate Neighborhood, Metro Council President David James, Genscape, FMS Commercial Cleaning, and Down In The Alley Records
“This Festival is also one way we can help preserve the historic nature of the Garvin Gate Neighborhood in Old Louisville,” says James. “I want to thank Four Roses Bourbon for partnering with us as we keep Old Louisville unique. Help yourself to some great blues this weekend,”
Proceeds benefit the Garvin Gate and Old Louisville neighborhoods.
For more details, contact Councilman James’ Office at 574-1106 or Howard Rosenberg at 502-445-4193 or visit the website at www.garvingatebluesfestival.com.
In what has become the must-see event of the Halloween season, the Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular is returning for the sixth consecutive year to south Louisville’s Iroquois Park, where 5,000 artistically carved pumpkins will greet visitors from October 9 through November 4.
The pumpkins will illuminate a 1/3-mile trail adjacent to the Iroquois Amphitheater, and event officials estimate up to 85,000 people will visit.
The trail is open from dusk until 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets range from $10 to $17, with discounts for seniors and children 12 and under. Proceeds from the event benefit the Louisville Parks Foundation.
The wooded trail begins just outside of Iroquois Amphitheater (1080 Amphitheater Road, Louisville, KY 40214) and weaves its way through the trees with themed vignettes set to music. The carved, lit pumpkins rotate on a weekly basis, creating a different experience each weekend. This year’s show, “A Night at the Library”, is a celebration of the Smithsonian’s 50th anniversary with skits highlighting imagery from literature, pop culture, history, arts and cinema.
Concessions will be available nightly, including the sale of Parkside Coffee, a specialty blend created and roasted locally by Fante’s Coffee, with proceeds benefiting the Louisville Parks Foundation. Merchandise such as t-shirts and hats will also be available for sale, marking the first-time commemorative items are being offered.
The event is held rain or shine. Coach drop-off and on-site parking is available.
Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular is produced by the Louisville Parks Foundation and The Iroquois Amphitheater in conjunction with Passion for Pumpkins, a multimedia production company with more than 30 years’ experience in redefining fall by transforming any landscape into an illuminated organic gallery.
This year’s sponsors include Louisville Tourism, Papa John’s, Republic Bank, LG&E and KU, Louisville Metro Council, Speed Art Museum, Porta Kleen, Waste Management, Metro Fence, Wendy’s, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, Louisville Eye Center, WeatherCheck, Frazier History Museum, Wendy’s, Yellowstone Select Bourbon, Old 502 Winery, and Bristol Catering.
TICKET INFORMATION
Sunday – Thursday
Adults $13
Seniors (62+) $11
Children (3-12) $10
Friday – Saturday
Adults $17
Seniors (62+) $14
Children (3-12) $13
Individual tickets may be purchased in advance for specific nights at the Iroquois Amphitheater Box Office or online at www.jackolanternlouisville.com. Visitors are also encouraged to use the hashtag #502Pumpkins on social media to share images or experiences they enjoy while touring the show.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more can be purchased in advance by calling 502/368-5063, or in person at the Iroquois Amphitheater Box Office at 6 p.m. beginning October 9.
Group tickets are discounted at $10 Sunday through Thursday.
The event is held rain or shine. No refunds will be given, but advanced purchased tickets may be exchanged for another day.