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Subscribe5K Race, Outdoor Adventure, Guided Hikes, Food Trucks & Music Highlight Event
Families can enjoy fall color at Jefferson Memorial Forest during the Wilderness Louisville Forest Adventure on Saturday, October 15 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Participants can get a pumpkin, take a hay ride, and hike trails of various lengths through the Forest at the height of fall color. The event is free to the public.
Activities include a children’s nature exploration area, Alpine Tower climbs, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, archery, and fishing. The Forest’s volunteer trail team and staff will lead hikes at various skill levels and introduce visitors to the native plant gardens, bird blind and animal exhibits.
The event will also feature a 5K trail run through the forested knobs starting at 9 a.m.
“The annual Forest Adventure is the perfect opportunity for families to discover the natural beauty and recreational opportunities at Jefferson Memorial Forest, which is thirty minutes away, or less, no matter where you live in Louisville,” Park Administrator Bennett Knox said.
With 6,600 acres, Jefferson Memorial Forest offers many opportunities for individuals and families to enjoy and explore the outdoors. The Forest features more than 35 miles of marked hiking trails, fishing, and primitive camping. It is also home to one of Louisville’s most exciting new attractions, the Go Ape treetop adventure course.
Theresa Zawacki, Chair of Wilderness Louisville, the non-profit supporting Jefferson Memorial Forest, stressed the importance of Louisville’s community forest and the general role natural areas contribute to the city’s quality of life.
“All of us, young and old, benefit from being outdoors,”Zawacki said. “Being active in nature benefits us in so many ways from helping us manage stress, to creating opportunities for families to bond, and of course, just plain fun.”
The hiking Saturday will be through the Horine Reservation of the Forest, located at 12304 Holsclaw Hill Road. Nine different trail routes in four sections of the Forest will be featured, providing a range of options for hikers of all abilities. The trails range in length from one-fifth of a mile up to five miles, and have terrain varying from relatively flat to rugged.
The Wilderness Louisville Forest Adventure is presented by Quest Outdoors.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced a new three-year
partnership that will keep the prestigious Kentucky Bourbon Affair fantasy camp in Louisville
through 2019, as well as dates for next year’s event and a national search for a KBA Director.
KDA President Eric Gregory also said Whisky Live, an international celebration of the world’s
finest whiskies, will return as the KBA’s closing event, capping off the week-long intimate,
immersive dive into Kentucky’s signature spirit.
Dates are June 6 through June 11, 2017. A limited amount of Golden Tickets will go on sale
later this year at http://www.kybourbonaffair.com/, with single tickets available afterwards.
Information about Whisky Live also can be found at http://www.whiskyliveusa.com/.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said, “The Kentucky Bourbon Affair has become a signature
event for Bourbon lovers and Louisville is honored to be its home.”
Gregory praised the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau for the three-year pact as Official
Host City. “The Kentucky Bourbon Affair has quickly become one of the industry’s most
revered events, due in large part to our friends at the Louisville CVB.
“Now, thanks to their vision, long-term commitment and collaboration with our legendary
distilleries, the KBA will strengthen its position as a world-class event, and the only one
produced by the actual distilleries themselves. “We deeply appreciate the support of the LCVB and its Board.”
Launched in 2014, the KBA is hailed for featuring daily behind-the-scenes access at the nation’s
most iconic distilleries, with elite nightcap dinners and fetes starring Louisville’s historic
Bourbon culture and top-shelf culinary scene.
The KBA has grown each year, with 35 events in 2016 and attendees from 40 states. Nearly all
events sell out quickly, with prized Golden Tickets – allowing first access to activities –
disappearing in minutes.
“Visiting Louisville for a festival or event is the number one driver for tourism in the city,” said Karen Williams, President and CEO of the Louisville CVB. “Having world-class events like the Kentucky Bourbon Affair that tie in to Louisville’s authenticity and Bourbon tradition are especially attractive and will benefit the city both culturally and economically.”
To learn more about Louisville and all its offerings, visit http://www.gotolouisville.com/.
Whisky Live Founder Dave Sweet said, “Coupled with the week-long celebration of the
Kentucky Bourbon Affair, Whisky Live Louisville 2016 was our most successful first launch
event ever with attendees from more than 20 states, coast-to-coast.”
“We’re looking forward to 2017 and adding an ever greater array of Scotch, Irish and other
international whiskies, alongside the best Bourbons that the industry has to offer. Whisky Live
Louisville is a national success and we’re just getting started.”
As part of its growth strategy, Gregory said the KDA is conducting a nationwide search for a
dynamic, full-time director to coordinate the annual showcase. A job posting is listed the KDA’s
website, http://kybourbon.com/about/careers/. The deadline to apply is Nov. 4.
“The KDA staff has done an incredible job in building this event from scratch,” Gregory said.
“But it has easily become a year-round position that needs dedicated resources, much like the
KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences.”
Gregory said KDA distilleries are hard at work on building once-in-a-lifetime events for 2017.
The 2016 Affair featured private distillery tours, personal barrel selections, limited special
releases, rooftop dinners with renowned Bluegrass chefs, skeet shooting with a legendary Master
Distiller, custom cocktail parties, receptions at the homes of famed Bourbon Barons and more.
“One of the most attractive aspects of the Kentucky Bourbon Affair is that it changes from year
to year,” he said. “And while we’re always looking for opportunities to grow, the KBA is
committed to maintaining the intimate distillery atmosphere that guests clearly love.
“Kentucky is the one, true and authentic home of Bourbon. The Kentucky Bourbon Affair
features our Southern hospitality and genteel spirit in a way that makes it unique from any other
whiskey event in the world. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience.”
With great fall weather underway, another great Old Louisville tradition takes place this weekend highlighting some of the best blues music to be heard in Metro Louisville. And no one can argue with the Cost: it’s FREE.
Councilman David James (D-6) and Four Roses Bourbon invite the community to the 2016 Garvin Gate Blues Festival to be held on Friday and Saturday, October 7th and 8th 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 is Castro Coleman aka Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child” who is the 2016 Best New Blues Artist Album Award Winner; along with Hector Anchondo Band and Karen Lovely.
It 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 grwoth 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 Blues Festival continues a great month of October for the Old Louisville Neighborhood,” says Howard Rosenberg, Chairman of the Old Louisville Neighborhood Council. “We began the month with the St. James Court Art Show, now the Festival and will finish the month with the Victorian Tales of Terror on October 13, 14, 15 and 16th. It is a great time to be in Old Louisville.”
Garvin Gate Blues Festival Schedule
Friday, October 7
Four Roses Stage on Oak St. @ Garvin Pl.
6:30-7:30 Sheryl Rouse and the Bluez Brothers
8:00-9:00 Mark Telesca
9:30-11:00 Karen Lovely
Info+ Stage on Oak St. @ Fourth St.
7:30-7:55, 9:00-9:25 Robbie Bartlett
Saturday, October 8
Four Roses Stage on Oak St. @ Garvin Pl.
2:00-2:45 Tyrone Cotton Band
3:15-4:00 The King Bees
4:30-5:15 Louisville White Lightning Curtis
5:45-6:30 daMudcats
7:00-8:00 Southern Avenue
8:30-9:30 Hector Anchondo Band
10:00-11:15 Mr. Sipp, The Mississippi Blues Child
Info+ Stage on Oak St. @ Fourth St.
2:45-3:10, 4:00-4:25 The Tarnations
5:15-5:40, 6:30-6:55, 8:00-8:25 Laurie Jane and The 45s
In addition to 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 The Garvin Gate Neighborhood and is sponsored by Louisville Metro Councilman David James, Genscape & FMS Commercial Cleaning.
“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 and A Recipe to End Hunger, a charitable cookbook started by WAVE3 television personality, Dawne Gee. Proceeds help schools raise the funds needed to feed every child in need.
For more details, contact Councilman James’ Office at 574-1106 or Howard Rosenberg at 502-445-4193 or visit the website at http://www.garvingatebluesfestival.com/.
The two day long Louder Than Life music festival rocked heavy metal and rock fans from all over this past weekend with a jam-packed lineup of nearly 40 acts from around the world for the third annual celebration of bourbon, music, and gourmet man food.
Music fans made the journey to Louisville’s Champions Park in massive numbers despite the rain and chilly temperatures early on the first day. Once inside the venue, they were treated to a series of unforgettable shows from their favorite artists – along with all the staples of a good music festival: food, booze, dancing, and band merch.
The three-dozen-plus bands shredded, pounded, screamed, and, yes, even bagpipe-ed for the electric crowds in front of the festival’s three stages. Although the two main Monster Energy stages were side-by-side at one end, the third was located at the far opposite corner of the venue – good for not having bands drown each other out, bad for trekking back and forth.
As the performers thrilled festival goers, thousands of fans packed as far forward toward the stages in a closer-than-usually-socially-acceptable mass of humanity that smelled of unwashed campers, smoked turkey legs, smoked pork, and other, possibly illicit, smoked items. Dancing, hugging, fist bumping, fist pumping, moshing, and getting knocked down only to be helped back up was the routine throughout the crowd.
Despite the signs warning the faint of heart against the potential dangers, crowd surfing fans could be seen during nearly every performance. This activity started off slow until, on day one of the festival, Michigan metalcore rockers I Prevail instructed everyone to make with the crowd surfing. After this, the waves of surfers grew throughout the weekend until Sunday’s headline acts Korn, Disturbed, and Slipknot were greeted by an absolute sea of bodies skimming the surface of the crowd toward the stage where they were helped down and escorted back into the audience by the alert security staff. The smaller venue at the Zorn stage – where bands like Clutch, Zakk Sabbath, Kyng, Being As An Ocean, and Bishop Gunn played – had minimal crowd surfing and only a small handful of mini-mosh pits.
Likely thanks to the easy going nature of rock fans, despite some of the crazy outfits, and the large presence of event security and LMPD officers, Louder Than Life attendees were on their best behavior. I did see one possibly dehydrated, likely inebriated reveler being carted off by medical staff to be checked out. The condition was apparently not serious enough that I didn’t spot him back out in the crowd later with a bandage on his arm – perhaps from an IV to help recover from the dehydration brought on by all-day dancing in the heat. Continue reading
The opening weekend of the Kentucky State Fair may be in the books, but there is a lot of Fair left to enjoy.
The Midway is open throughout the fair, which lasts through Sunday, August 28th. The midway is open for the duration for fair visitors who wish to try their hand at games of skill or seek some thrills on the rides. The indoor exhibits, including Main Street Kentucky, Health Horizons, Pride of the Counties, Heritage Hall, Gourmet Garden, the Product Showcase, and the Performing Arts Showcase also last through the end of the fair.
Also at various time throughout the fair are numerious free shows, which include Miller’S Border Collies, The Buck Trout Show, Cuzzin’ Grumpy’S Porkchop Revue, Neecha’S Amazing Dobermans Show, Lady Houdini, Chinese Acrobats Of Hebei, a simulated Trial By Jury, and The Magic Of David Garrard.
If those acts don’t satisfy your appetite for entertainment, there are also still several free Turf Concert Series shows left, including Newsboys with special guest 7eventh Time Down tonight, the Happy Together tour tomorrow, and Chris Janson, Brooke Eden, Dylan Schneider; Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bo Bice, Stephen Bishop; American Authors, Public; Rachel Platten, Jeffrey James; Francesca Battistelli, Building 429, Lauren Daigle, and Finding Favour later in the week. On the main stage, Chris Young and Brett Eldredge will be performing with special guest Chris Lane on the 28th.
For the animal lovers, different animals will be rotating into many of the spaces in the West Hall and Pavilion on changeover day today. Dairy goats, dairy cattle, poultry, pigeons, mules, and rabbits will be on display through tomorrow while today is the last day to see the meat goats. Tomorrow and throughout the week, visitors will have the opportunity to see the sheep, swine and beef cattle. This Thursday will feature the 4-H & FFA Sale of Champions and the Draft Horse and Mule Pull will be on Sunday the 28th.
Be sure to stay with Louisville Dispatch for more about the 2016 Kentucky State Fair online and on our Facebook Page – where you can see our photos from the fair and share your own.
“SPECTRE” brings to a close another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 13th
James Bond, Agent 007, returns to fight a takeover of the world by one of the most sinister and terrifying organizations as “SPECTRE” closes out another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 13th at 8:00pm.
“This is a great movie to wrap up another successful summer of films. We invite everyone to come out and have some fun as summer winds down,” says Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15). “Once again, Iroquois Amphitheater has seen a great response and people are enjoying all the amenities of Iroquois Park.”
Actor Daniel Craig returns as the famous MI6 Agent in the 24th movie of the Bond Series. He encounters an attempt to create a worldwide surveillance network of control around the world by the criminal organization known as SPECTRE. He also meets the group’s leader Ernst Stavro Bloefeld.
The 2015 film also stars Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris.
“We’re grateful for the support of Councilwoman Butler and the Metro Council,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation. “It’s a pleasure to be able to offer free, quality programming the whole family can enjoy in the historic setting of the Iroquois Amphitheater. We’re looking forward to another great year in 2017.”
The Free Summer Movies program is made possible by several Metro Council members. For the 2016 movie season, more than 7,000 people attended the free films that were shown on Monday and Saturday nights.
Concessions are available. No outside food is permitted.
The 8th annual Big Green EGGFest starts tomorrow with a Meet & Greet at 6:00 PM. The Meet and Greet will be at Brownsboro Hardware and Paint (4858 Brownsboro Road). There will be live music and food for everyone who attends. Cost is $20 per person.
The main event is Saturday, starting at 9:00 AM, there will be cooking classes throughout the day. The classes will start easy with how to use Big Green Egg and then progress into different meats and finally, dessert. Visitors will also be able to watch local chefs compete in a Chopped-style competition on stage. Admission is $15 per person (soda and water will be available for purchase at $1 and beer available at $4). There will be free parking available at the Christ Church United Methodist Church (4614 Brownsboro Rd) and a free shuttle that will operate every ten minutes between the church and the hardware store.
All proceeds from the two events will be donated to Blessings in a Backpack and A Recipe to End Hunger.
