End of Summer events bring books and music to Locust Grove
Find great reads and enjoy great music this August!
All the nooks and crannies of Locust Grove’s Audubon room will be filled with more than 23,000 books — all waiting for you at our Big August Used Book Sale. The books are sorted into 30-some categories, including history, mysteries, art, architecture, literature, cookbooks, humor, and more, and are displayed for easy shopping. Books, donated by readers from across the region, are $1 and $2 — with special titles $3 and up. All books are great bargains! All proceeds from our book sales support Locust Grove’s continued educational and preservation projects.
This all-day festival sponsored by local non-profit organization Luminary will feature nine bands playing traditional Kentucky music — covering those unique genres that define Kentucky’s rich musical heritage while promoting advocacy that addresses Kentucky’s 21st-century challenges.
Line-up, ticket information, and more can be found at http://www.watershedfestky.com/.
Pre-registration Admission Prices:
Event will be canceled in case of inclement weather. Camping available August 25-August 27, with a special Friday evening concert by The Local Honeys.
For our final concert of the season, Lance Minnis and Friends will perform a variety of tunes and songs from Kentucky, Appalachia, the Maritime Provinces, and the British Isles. Expect rousing chanteys, wistful lullabies, magical ballads, and fiddle tunes to make your heart race. Enjoy music and camaraderie outdoors in a tranquil, historic setting. Food, beer, and wine will be available for sale beginning at 6 PM. Bring your own blankets and chairs — and let the music speak.
For more information about these events, please contact Hannah Zimmerman, Marketing Coordinator at marketing@locustgrove.org or call 502.897.9845 x108.
Locust Grove is located at 561 Blankenbaker Lane (between Brownsboro Road and River Road), Louisville, KY 40207. For more information call 502.897.9845 or visit http://locustgrove.org/.
Before you head to Churchill Downs Racetrack for Twilight Thursday racing, join the Kentucky Derby Museum and Woodford Reserve for a Bourbon Mix & Mingle on Thursday, September 28th beginning at 4p.m. It’s the perfect bourbon experience to enhance your evening before enjoying an evening at the races!
Learn about Woodford Reserve first-hand from the brand’s ambassadors, and then learn how to craft the perfect Mint Julep and Old-Fashioned cocktail during a personalized demonstration.
Guests will be able to create two cocktails and enjoy signature Derby Café appetizers. The evening also includes a general admission ticket to Churchill Downs for live evening Thoroughbred racing at Twilight Thursday.
The Kentucky State Fair runs Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center and is the largest summertime attraction in the Commonwealth.
The 11-day celebration stays true to its 113-year heritage, while each year offering fairgoers exciting new experiences, food, music, animals, exhibits, entertainment and more.
The 2017 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.

Photo: F1 ChampBoat Racing
International Outboard Grand Prix (IOGP) Powerboats will take control of Louisville’s waterfront on August 18-20 for the third race of the IOGP F1 ChampBoat Championship series racing season, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of racing, entertainment, and fun on the Ohio River in downtown Louisville.
Teams from across North America will converge on Waterfront Park to compete in the inaugural Louisville Regatta Grand Prix with the most-nimble power boats in the world that generate more G-forces than any other racing machine with top speeds of 150 MPH.
“We are excited to bring a world-class professional racing series to Louisville, and are very pleased with the enthusiastic reception we are receiving from Kentuckiana race fans,” said Mike Schriefer, president of IOGP. “The buzz in Louisville has been awesome. We know there are a lot of race fans and boaters in this part of the country, so we are excited about this event becoming one of our flagship races for many years.”
“Downtown Louisville on the Ohio River is the perfect ‘Natural Marine Stadium’ for IOGP and our kind of racing and entertainment,” Schriefer continued.
Greg Foster, who drives for Dillard Financial Services #53, comes to Louisville as the points leader in the IOGP F1 ChampBoat Series after a victory on August 6 at the EQT Three Rivers Regatta in Pittsburgh. He hopes to increase his lead with a strong finish in Kentucky.
“There is a huge coolness factor associated with this type of powerboat racing in the US and abroad, and our team at the Louisville Sports Commission has been working for 10 years to bring this event to Louisville,” said LSC President & CEO Karl Schmitt. “The accessibility of recreation on the river via Waterfront Park, a three-year commitment from the nationally recognized IOGP, and local residents’ affinity for boating were huge factors in making this event happen.”
The Louisville Regatta Grand Prix kicks off Friday afternoon with open practice for the F1 ChampBoats taking place from 3 to 5 p.m. Live music featuring Louisville-based “From Paris” kicks off the Regatta Festival. Saturday’s events include practice midday, heat races in the afternoon, and local rock band “Mary Mary” that night. In addition to great bands on Friday and Saturday night, DJFun will be cranking out the tunes throughout the day along with a late-night foam party scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
The F1 ChampBoat finals will run Sunday afternoon from 1-5 p.m.
Advanced tickets are available at www.LouisvilleGrandPrix.com or at the gate. Papa John’s is offering a $5 discount coupon when local residents order pizza delivery. The coupon can be redeemed at the gate.
The Kentucky State Fair runs Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. It’s the Commonwealth’s largest summertime attraction – and America’s largest indoor fair. The celebration’s popularity draws nearly 600,000 visitors for the once-a-year opportunity to experience fair food, music, animals, exhibits, entertainment and more.
The Kentucky State Fair offers money-saving discounts, promotions and programs to ensure all residents are able to enjoy the festivities.
The 2017 Kentucky State Fair is Aug. 17-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the Fair on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or its blog.
Citizens interested in adding their voice to the review of public art that could be interpreted to honor bigotry, discrimination, racism and/or slavery now have an online forum to share their thoughts.
People can visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-art/public-art-review and add their thoughts to the public conversation.
“Getting citizens input from all sides is important – we want to hear from a wide variety of people,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.
On Sunday, Fischer announced that he asked the Louisville Commission on Public Art to review its catalogue of art in the public right of way to develop a list of those tied to discrimination, racism and slavery, in preparation for a community conversation about their display.
The Mayor’s remarks come after a day of violence surrounding a white nationalists rally in Charlottesville, Va., that left three people dead and 35 injured. The review also came after a statue of Confederate officer John Breckinridge Castleman in the Cherokee Triangle neighborhood was vandalized.
“For many, the Castleman statue is a beloved neighborhood landmark, but for others, it’s a symbol of a painful, tragic and divisive time in our history — which gets at the complexity of this conversation,” the Mayor said.
Sarah Lindgren, the city’s public art administrator, said the Commission on Public Art will announce before the week’s end a series of public meetings to gather further input.
“This is an opportunity for citizens to both speak and listen,” Lindgren said.
There is a special weekend in August when the people of Newburg come together to celebrate unity and pride and welcome back former residents to one of Louisville’s well established neighborhoods. This year “Newburg Days” will get underway on Friday, August 18th, Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th.
“It is time to welcome back old friends and family as the people of Newburg come together to have some fun, remember old times and share friendships in our community,” says Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin (D-2). “We want to welcome everyone and ask them to come out and join us for some fun and entertainment.”
“Newburg Days” kicks off on Friday with rides and music in Petersburg/Newburg Park. Saturday begins with the Community Breakfast in the Petersburg Park. Newburg Community Days is known for its parade which begins at 12:00pm and continues through out many local streets in the Newburg area. This year, there will be tournaments in cornhole and basketball tournament, children’s activities which include face painting and balloons. The Seniors Tent will feature a variety of activities throughout the afternoon.
On Sunday, a community worship service and gospel festival will highlight the last day of the event. Here is the schedule of events for Newburg Days:
Friday, August 18th
Saturday, August 19th
Sunday, August 20th
There are also many community volunteers and organizations who will come out to help with various activities. “Those of us who live in Newburg know it is a wonderful place to live and we are keeping the tradition of the old fashion community get together like the kind many towns had in years past. So come out and join us,” says Shanklin. For more information about “Newburg Community Days”, contact Councilwoman Shanklin’s Office at 574-1102.