Thursday January 22, 2026
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
Fandomfest – the largest Comic Con in the region – is returning to the downtown Louisville this summer for what the event’s producers call the flagship of their multi-city tour.
For their 10th year serving the Anime, Comic Book, Pop Culture, Movie, TV, Scifi, Horror, Literary, Arts crowd, Fandomfest will fill the halls of the KY International Convention Center at 221 S Fourth St in downtown Louisville from August 7th through 9th. The event has come a long way since their humble 2005 “Fright Night” beginnings.
As usual, the event kicks off with the Fandomfest Parade, in which community participation is encouraged. Inside the exhibit hall, the fun continues with celebrity appearances by the likes of Billie Piper, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Josh McDermitt, and many more. Great photo ops with sports legends like Ric Flair, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, and “Charlie Hustle” himself, Pete Rose. Fans of AMC’s Comic Book Men and the Jay and Silent Bob franchise will have the opportunity to see Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.
In addition to all of the celebrity photo ops and panels, the event is packed with other events including the many vendor spaces where fans can purchase memorabilia, Cosplay World, Gaming Life, and the Fantasmagorical Film Fest.
For more information and tickets, visit the official event page at fandomfest.com.
Abbey Road on the River Announces Partnership, Line-Up and Discounted Tickets
WAVE 3 News and Abbey Road on the River are partnering this year to bring the world’s largest Beatles-inspired music festival back to Louisville for its eleventh year. The five day event will take place over Memorial Day weekend, May 21-25, 2015, at the Belvedere Festival Park and the Muhammad Ali Center. To kick off the partnership, single day tickets can be purchased for just $19.64 (a $35 value) at www.arotr.com by using promo code “wave3news” now through February 28.
WAVE 3 News Vice-President and General Manager Ken Selvaggi says the station is ecstatic about the partnership. “We strive to help build a better community and this internationally recognized music festival brings more acclaim to our region as a very special place to live,” says Selvaggi. “Experiencing memorable moments fuels our community. This wonderful event stirs passion and joy, just like the Beatles have for decades!”
The line-up for the 2015 WAVE 3 News Abbey Road on the River includes rock band The Orchestra, starring former members of ELO and ELO II – Louis Clark, Mik Kaminski, Eric Troyer, and Parthenon Huxley. ELO’s spectacular run of success in the ’70s and ’80s included numerous gold and platinum albums and Top Ten hits such as “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” and “Telephone Line.” Continue reading
The Clifton Center, 2117 Payne Street, will host a concert by the Mike Tracy Brazilian Ensemble on Thursday, January 29th at 7:30pm. The five piece band celebrates the music of Brazilian masters, as well as contemporary artists. Tickets are $10 each and are available at Carmichael’s Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Avenue, or online at cliftoncenter.org.
The Mike Tracy Brazilian specializes in performing the many varied styles and rhythms that are unique to Brazil. It is led by saxophonist Mike Tracy, Director of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Studies Program at the University of Louisville, and features Brazilians musicians pianist Diego Lyra Medieros and bassist Andrey Junca Goncalves. Joining the group are guitarist Brandon Coleman and drummer/percussionist Zack Kennedy (who studied in Brazil for an extended time). Music by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Moacyr Santos, João Donato, Gilberto Gil, Egberto Gismonti, Djalma Ferreira, Dominguinhos and more will be performed. Continue reading
Cedar Lake, the region’s largest non-profit care provider for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will host its 26th Annual Gala, presented by Commonwealth Bank & Trust, at Marriott Louisville East on Saturday, November 15th from 6:00pm-10:00pm. The black-tie optional affair is themed “Live, Laugh, Love” and will include a dual-entree dinner, silent and live auctions, and entertainment by Jeff Allen, star of Comedy Central specials. Tickets are $175 per person and can be purchased at www.cedarlake.org or by calling 502.495.4942.
The evening will be emceed and auctioneered by Sherry Truhlar, who will start off the evening by leading the attendees in a “Heads or Tail” ice breaker game, where the last person standing will win $300.00 in gift cards to local eateries and shopping establishments.
A new feature of this year’s Gala is “the bourbon pull,” a $50.00 chance to win a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s 15-year bourbon.
The Gala’s silent auction is comprised of 100 items and includes such premium items as a Galt House overnight package, a signed bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s 10-year bourbon and several get-away vacations. Online bidding for the 100 items will be available on Cedar Lake’s website beginning November 7th, 2014. To view the items or place a bid, visit cedarlake.org/26th-annual-gala.
All proceeds from the Gala will support the organization’s Indigent Care Endowment, which ensures that all Cedar Lake residents have a life of abundant possibilities despite the lack of government funding or who have no family to support those needs.
Cedar Lake operates in Jefferson, Oldham and Henry counties, has 38 properties, and supports 260 people with a staff of 430. Supports range from 24/7 support for the most medically fragile, to intermittent support for those who live independently. For more information about Cedar Lake, call (502) 495-4946 or go to www.cedarlake.org.
The 2014 Kentucky State Fair is wrapping up this weekend. Don’t miss your last opportunity to spend a beautiful Kentucky summer day (and night) enjoying everything that the fair has to offer today and tomorrow.
Of course, the midway, inside exhibits and daily attractions are going all day, including live music, ventriloquists, the cirque-style Gantry Show, freestyle motocross demonstrations, rides, games and, of course, fair food. Tonight at 7PM are the Coca-Cola Talent Classic finals. At 8, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts will perform at Cardinal Stadium with special guests Devour the Day. Tomorrow includes all of the daily attractions with special musical guests Mercy Me performing at Cardinal Stadium at 4PM.
Visit the Kentucky State Fair website for all of the details and full schedule.
View our 2014 Kentucky State Fair photo gallery on Facebook, get live updates on our Twitter feed, and keep coming back to LouisvilleDispatch.com for more pictures. Continue reading
It might be hard to believe with the relatively cooler weather that Louisville has been enjoying, but the Kentucky State Fair is upon us.
The 2014 Kentucky State Fair runs from August 14 through August 24. Gates open at 7 a.m. with exhibits opening at 9 a.m. The midway and tents will close at midnight while exhibit halls close at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission at the gate is $10 for adults and $6 for children and seniors (55+) with several special discount days including half price admission for active duty and veteran military members and their family on Military Monday (August 18), and $1 admission for patrons 55 years of age and older on Humana Seniors’ Discount Day (August 19).
Popular events include concerts (see schedule below) with performers including Billy Currington, Styx, Foreigner, Joan Jett, and locals Plain White T’s. There are also Civil War and War of 1812 exhibits and an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the US Congress’s recognition of Kentucky’s favorite spirit, Bourbon, as a distinctive product of the United States. See the full daily schedule here.
While at the fair, visitors can use the Kentucky State Fair mobile site for easier navigation of fair information.
Parking is available at the Kentucky Exposition Center, with room for 19,000 vehicles, at a cost of $8 per vehicle. Access Fair gates 1-6 from Phillips Lane, Crittenden Drive and Preston Highway. Free off-site parking is also available both weekends of the fair starting at 4:00 p.m. in lots B, C and D of the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium green lot off of Floyd Street. A free shuttle is available with purchase of gate admission or presentation of advance tickets.
Given the large number of Fair visitors from around the state and beyond combined with local construction projects, be sure to keep an eye on the Louisville Dispatch Traffic page for live traffic conditions and drive times.
The Kentucky State Fair begins tomorrow; visit Louisville Dispatch and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for highlights from the 2014 State Fair. Continue reading
Fans of both bourbon and live entertainment will be treated to something special on Thursday, August 28 at Varanese Restaurant, located at 2106 Frankfort Avenue. The restaurant will host a special four-course dinner in celebration of Broadway in Louisville’s upcoming season. The reception begins at 6:30pm with dinner at 7:00pm. Each dish is inspired by one of the 2014-2015 Broadway in Louisville productions. The evening will feature the debut of Four Roses 2014 Limited Edition Single Barrel, and Four Roses Brand Ambassador, Bourbon Historian, and author Al Young will be the guest speaker. Attendees can also enter to win a pair of 2014-15 season tickets to Broadway in Louisville and a Four Roses Gift Basket. The cost is $55 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (502) 899-9904 or emailingletsdine@varanese.com.
The menu will consist of: Continue reading
