Friday December 5, 2025
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A Glorious Christmas Tour featuring For King & Country and Casting Crowns is coming to Louisville with special guest Rebecca St. James. Celebrate the holiday season with Christmas classics, carols and original songs.

The show is scheduled for Saturday, December 16 at 7:00 PM in Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition center.

Tickets range from $16 to $79 per seat and parking will be $8 per vehicle. Tickets can be purchased at the Kentucky Exposition Center Ticket Office, over the phone by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.

 

The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) is the largest all-breed, purebred livestock expo in the world, with 30,000 cattle, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas, sheep and horses competing for nearly $750,000 in premiums and awards. The show runs Oct. 31-Nov. 16 throughout the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Barrel Racing Riders race against the clock in this fast-paced competition where agility and speed are key. Youth competition begins Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. in Broadbent Arena and continues Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. with amateur, girls and open barrel racing. Juniors and seniors compete Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Cowboys take aim at ten targets in this timed event, shooting for both accuracy and speed. The winning rider is determined by compiling the most hits, fewest penalties and quickest time. This event is held in Freedom Hall: 

  • Thursday, Nov. 9 8 a.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 10 12 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 11 8 a.m.

Draft Horse Shows Draft horses, known for their beauty and strength, compete by pulling weighted carts and wagons. Teams are judged on performance, driving and conformation. The shows are held in in Freedom Hall: 

  • Friday, Nov. 10 8 a.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 11 8 a.m.

Entrance to competitions is included with NAILE admission: $6 for adults; and $3 for seniors (55 and older) and children (ages 2-12). Parking is $8 daily. Event passes for the entire expo are $25 for admission and $25 for parking.

Free admission and parking are available to visitors and North American Marketplace shoppers Nov. 7-8.

NAILE features the North American Marketplace, wool showcase, children’s barnyard and more. The separately ticketed North American Championship Rodeo is held Nov. 9-11 in Freedom Hall, in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition.

For more information, visit www.livestockexpo.org.   Continue reading

Over 10,000 street rods, customs, muscle cars and street machines will be on hand at the Kentucky Expo Center this summer as the National Street Rod Association® presents its 48th Annual Street Rod Nationals. The dates for the city’s largest vintage car show will be August 3, 4, 5, 6, 2017. This will be the 24th time the NSRA Street Rod Nationals has been held in Louisville and an all time high number of participants and spectators are expected this year. Almost all of the Kentucky Expo Center will be utilized for the event as well as many of the buildings, which will house over 350 manufacturer and dealer displays and other attractions.

The host organization, NSRA, defines a street rod as a modernized vintage vehicle that is of pre 1949 manufacture. These vehicles are equipped with the latest options available on the newest model vehicles, including but not limited to disc brakes, air conditioning, cruise control, and tilt steering wheel. Most of those attending have updated the engine and drive train to enable the owner to cruise down the highway in comfort and safely maintain the speeds traveled by more modern vehicles.

Included in this event are muscle cars, those factory produced high horsepower machines from the 60’s and 70’s along with the classics cars of the 50’s. This is truly unique mix of old and new together for the first time at Kentucky Expo Center and a national gathering of fine vintage automobiles of every description. The NSRA Street Rod Nationals is the area’s largest automotive participation event and spectators from around the area will attend the event.

The NSRA Street Rod Nationals is an excellent event for spectators to attend and those who take time to attend will be treated to the sights and sounds of some of the most beautiful, best constructed vintage vehicles ever assembled in one place. One of the special attractions for the spectators is that they can walk right up to the vehicles and check each one out close up as they are not roped-off or otherwise confined. All are in the open and can be examined top to bottom, front to back, inside and out. While the exquisite paint and other features of the car should not be touched, spectators are free to look to their heart’s content.

The big automotive show will be at the beautiful Kentucky Expo Center and is open to the public August 3, 4, 5, 6, 2017.  Make your plans now to attend the 48th Annual Street Rod Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. It promises to be one of the biggest vintage car shows in the city’s recent history and you can enjoy every exciting part of it.  Those of us at NSRA know you won’t soon forget it.

Visit us online @ http://www.nsra-usa.com

Kentucky State FairThe Kentucky State Fair announces the lineup for its Turf Concert Series, which runs throughout the fair, Aug. 17-27. The series features a wide range of musical artists and there’s a different concert every night, for a total of 24 bands. All shows are free with paid admission to the Kentucky State Fair.

Thursday, Aug. 17, 8 p.m.

  • “Elvis Extravaganza” recreates the magic and music of the King’s live performances. Recognized as the country’s best Elvis tribute artists, these singers cover his entire career – from the hip-shakin’ 50s to the rhinestone-studded Vegas years. www.elviscontest.com 
  • Brian, Dale, Mike, Scott and Jamie fly their fan flag in Tribute to “The Statler Brothers.” This heartfelt performance honors the country giants whose careers spanned 47 years, 38 albums and countless music awards. www.therivercityboys.com

Friday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m.

  • At 12 years old, Ginuwine was already performing with a local hip-hop group. Skip forward, and it wasn’t long before he had signed a deal with Sony Music. That’s all it took to launch a career filed with multiple double-platinum LPs and hit singles on R&B and pop charts. www.ginuwine.com 
  • Tony! Toni! Toné! helped define the R&B genre – and their classic songs continue to make rotation on radio stations more than 25 years later. Today the group can be found on the road, performing their hits across the U.S. and around the world. www.tonytonitonemusic.com

Saturday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m.

  • Grammy-award winning Blues Traveler covers a lot of ground with their music – blues rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul and Southern rock. After selling millions of records and logging thousands of miles on the road, the band continues to deliver energetic, eclectic live performances. www.bluestraveler.com

Sunday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m.

  • A country and gospel quartet, The Oak Ridge Boys have been entertaining Kentucky State Fair audiences for 42 years. The group has scored 12 gold, three platinum and one double platinum album; earned Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards; and were recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. www.oakridgeboys.com 
  • Alaska and Madi, a country western duo from Tulsa, have been singing together since they were 11 and 12 years old. Members of “Team Blake” on season 6 of “The Voice,” they can now be found playing stages throughout the U.S. www.alaskaandmadi.com 

Monday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m.

  • Australian brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone hit the music scene in 2012 as For King & Country, winning fans and Billboard’s New Artists to Watch. If the duo looks familiar, they have performed on “The View,” “The Today Show,” “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” www.forkingandcountry.com 
  • A Christian singer and songwriter, Zach Williams was a member of Zach Williams & The Reformation before going solo in 2016. That same year he released his first single, which reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs Chart. His first full-length album quickly followed. www.zachwilliamsmusic.com 

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m.

  • Hit after hit from the ’60s and ’70s, the Happy Together Tour unites some of the era’s top artists: The Association; Ron Dante of the Archies; The Turtles, featuring Flo and Eddie; The Box Tops; Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night; The Cowsills and more.

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 8 p.m.

  • Raised in Orange Grove, Texas, population 1,200, Chase Bryant has said there were 20 guitars in his town, and he owned all of them. The young guitar player, songwriter and recording artist produces his own music, including a single that landed in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart. www.chasebryant.com
  • One of Spotify’s Spotlight on 2016 Country Artists, Dylan Scott’s respect for traditional country, embrace of modern genres, unique voice and warm personality have made him a favorite with fans. His singles rank high on Billboard Charts, with millions of plays via social media and streaming. www.dylanscottcountry.com 
  • Chris Shrader rocks audiences with a contemporary style that has strong roots in traditional country. His wide range of influences can be heard in his songs and include: Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Cash; Smashing Pumpkins and Hank Williams; and Foo Fighters and Travis Tritt. www.chrisshrader.com 

Thursday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m.

  • Kentucky-born cellist and composer Ben Sollee has performed at Carnegie Hall, and his music can be heard on TV shows such as “Parenthood” and “Weeds.” He also uses his music to raise awareness and has performed and spoken on sustainability at South by Southwest Music and TEDx San Diego. www.bensollee.com 
  • Capturing the smooth soul of the ’70s and the hot Miami sound from the early ’80s, Tony and the Tan Lines knows how to get the party started. From Hall and Oates to Huey Lewis and Gloria Estefan to Steely Dan, this group keeps the energy going till the last note is played. www.tonyandthetanlines.com 
  • 64West began as a duo when University of Kentucky students Aaron Weaver and Bill Yackey played rock, country and R&B shows in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Ohio. The two later added a bassist, guitarist and drummer; and moved from Lexington to Louisville, which is how the band got its name. www.64westband.com 

Friday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m.

  • Having spent last year on one of country music’s biggest tours – Carrie Underwood’s “The Storyteller” – Easton Corbin is back in the studio working on a new album. The Florida native is known for his traditional country sound, authentic lyrics and mastery of understatement. www.eastoncorbin.com 
  • A Kentucky native, JD Shelburne grew up on country, gospel and pop rock music. The young musician started playing small bars in Louisville and Lexington before taking the stage at events such as the CMA Music Festival, Quaker State 400 NASCAR Race and NCAA Women’s Final Four. www.jdshelburne.com 

Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.

  • Canadian rock band Theory of a Deadman incorporates the musical styles of country and acoustic, postgrunge and alternative rock. The group has racked up eight Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Chart, with two singles reaching number one. www.theoryofadeadman.com 
  • Each member of Goldy lockS brings their own style to the group, for a fusion of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and heavy metal. They’ve shared the stage with a wide range of artists, including Nickelback, Ted Nugent, Collective Soul, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Maroon 5 and Grand Funk Railroad. www.goldylocks.net 

Sunday, Aug. 27, 4 p.m.

  • Matthew West is an award-winning Christian artist – Dove Award, American Music Award, Billboard Music Award and Billboard’s Hot Christian Songwriter of the Year – plus an Emmy and four-time Grammy nominee. His music has sold more than 1.6 million albums. www.matthewwest.com 
  • A gospel performer from Tennessee, Colton Dixon started singing when he was 13 years old and placed seventh on the 11th season of “American Idol.” www.coltondixon.com 
  • Hawk Nelson is a Christian rock and pop punk band. The Canadian group has released seven albums and won multiple GMA Awards. Their songs have also been used in promotions for “American Idol,” the NFL, Nike, JCPenny and the Olympics. www.hawknelson.com 
  • A Christian performer, Sarah Reeves plays pop and worship style music and has released a number of albums with chart-topping hits. Her popularity is boosted by her YouTube channel which, at last count, had over 13 million views from around the world. www.sarahreevesmusic.com 

The Turf Concert Series is held in Cardinal Stadium with seating on the field, which is first-come  first-served. Gates open approximately an hour-and-a-half before the music begins.

Trigg County High School emerged from the largest field in the 16-year history of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Kentucky state tournament to win the team competition on April 1 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.

The two-day event drew a record 6,071 students from 295 schools across the state.

“The tournament was awesome,” said Lisa Frye, state NASP coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Over 6,000 smiling faces participating in a culminating event showcasing the skills they learned as part of their in-school NASP program. For most archers, it isn’t about competition. It’s all about participating together in a common sport.”

Elementary, middle and high school student archers competed for individual and team honors. After practice rounds, each competitor shot 15 arrows from 10 meters and 15 arrows from 15 meters for a total possible score of 300 points.

Lincoln County High School junior Roby Mullins won the boys’ overall title with a score of 298 and Hancock County High School sophomore Kayla Woodward won the girls’ overall title with a score of 296.

Trigg County’s overall team title was its fifth in the past six NASP Kentucky state tournaments. Madison Central High School and Lafayette High School finished second and third behind the Arrowcats in the high school division.

Pulaski Northern Middle School won the middle school division and Morgantown Elementary placed first in the elementary school division.

The top 10 seniors in the boys’ and girls’ divisions received $1,000 scholarships to apply to any post-secondary education.

Complete state tournament results are available online at nasptournaments.org. Click on “Tournaments” then select “Kentucky” and “Completed This Season” from the dropdown menus.

The next step for many of the archers who competed in the state tournament is the 2017 NASP Nationals scheduled May 11-13 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

One of the largest school archery tournaments in the country will kick off March 31 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville.

More than 6,200 archers from schools around Kentucky will compete for state championships at the 2017 National Archery in the Schools (NASP) tournament March 31-April 1. Tournament participants include archers in the fourth through 12th grade.

NASP, which originated in Kentucky, had its first tournament in 2002. Kentucky now hosts the largest state NASP tournament in the United States, only exceeded in size by the organization’s national tournament. The organization’s national tournament is set for May 11-13 in Louisville.

The Kentucky state tournament, held in the North Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center, includes hourly flights of teams beginning at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern) each morning. Daily admission is $5 per person for spectators, with $8 charged for parking. The center is located at 937 Phillips Lane.

Spectators and archers also can take advantage of their down time to meet their range day requirements for Kentucky’s hunter education certification. The certification can be met by using an air rifle. Employees of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resource will set up an air rifle range in the Expo Center to help people meet these requirements.

Range day participants must complete the online course at www.fw.ky.gov (search under the keywords “hunter education”) and bring a copy of their course completion voucher to the Expo Center. Participants must preregister for range day at www.register-ed.com/programs/kentucky/121.

Range work will take 30-45 minutes. Range hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 31, and 9 a.m. until noon April 1.

LouisvilleDispatch_NFMS17_0567The National Farm Machinery Show continues to be one of the largest-attended events at the Kentucky Exposition Center — and is ranked 6th in attendance for the Top Ten Largest U.S. Trade Shows. Held Feb. 15-18 of this year, attendees, exhibitors and agribusiness professionals totaled more than 300,000.

The National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) spanned 1.2 million square feet and was packed with 880 booths of the agricultural industry’s latest and most comprehensive display of equipment, services and technology. Other highlights included 15 free seminars with topics ranging from market strategies to aerial imagery to farm data.

As the nation’s largest indoor farm show, NFMS brings an economic impact of $17 million to Louisville annually, filling local hotels and restaurants with attendees from across the country and around the world.

An indicator of the show’s future potential, the National Farm Machinery Show and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announced a verbal agreement. Beginning in 2018, AEM will assist with management and co-promotion of NFMS, and have an equity position in the future growth of the event.

The Championship Tractor Pull, held in conjunction with the farm show, sold more than 65,000 tickets.  Fans flooded Freedom Hall for five pulls, which drew the nation’s top drivers as they competed for the title of Grand Champion and more than $200,000 in prize money.

For more information, visit www.farmmachineryshow.org.

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