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Softball, flag football, volleyball, dodgeball and kickball

Metro Parks has begun accepting team registrations for Fall Athletic Leagues – softball, kickball, flag football, volleyball and dodgeball. Games begin the week of September 12.

Participants must be 18 or older. Registration deadline is September 2 or until leagues are filled.  Team registrations typically cost between $375 and $400.

For league schedules, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/athletics

“We’re widening our offerings this fall and encourage the community to form a team, get some exercise and have some fun,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Metro Parks and Recreation. “Whether it’s with family or friends, or your church, place of business or neighborhood group, our leagues always offer an opportunity for fellowship and competition.”

To register for an Athletic League, participants can pre-register online here

Payment can be made by credit card over the phone. You may also pay by cash or check at the Metro Parks Athletics Office located inside Cyril Allgeier Community Center  4101 Cadillac Court, 40213.

Payment must be made in full at the time of registration in order to reserve team’s place for the season.  Registrations after the deadline will be subject to a $35 late registration processing fee.

As part of a “visioning” exercise, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation will host 12 public meetings during the months of September, October and November to receive feedback on future park amenities including dog parks, skate parks and walking/hiking trails.

“We look forward to hearing from citizens across Louisville about what they’d like to see in their parks,” said Director Seve Ghose. “With 12 meetings and a public comment period that will last into December, we hope everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to share their hopes and dreams for the future.”

Ghose said the meetings will take place once each week for 12 weeks at four sites: the East Government Center in Middletown; Sun Valley Community Center in southwest Louisville; the Portland Community Center in the Portland neighborhood in west Louisville; and the Cyril Allgeier Community Center in the Camp Taylor neighborhood just off the Watterson Expressway.

The meetings in September will feature a discussion about dog parks; October’s meetings will address skate parks; and November’s meetings will focus on walking/hiking trails. All meetings will last from 6-7:30 p.m.

“This is our and the community’s opportunity to discuss how best to enhance the system to best serve the growing community and disparate needs while improving the quality of life of all residents,” Ghose said.

Ghose said those who would like to attend a meeting but can’t are still encouraged to send comments about these topics and others to parks@louisvilleky.gov.    Continue reading

EGGFest Starts Tomorrow

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.

Fandom Fest Kicks Off Today

Fandomfest2015_3598Today Fandomfest, the largest Comic Con in this region, will open its doors for it’s 11th annual event.   The show, which had been at the convention center downtown the previous ten years, has moved to the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center this year.

Today is an abbreviated day, with photo ops of celebrities, the vendor/exhibitor hall, an art presentation with Angel Medina, and a Q&A session was with YouTube Stars Muyskerm and LordMinion777. The vendor hall features a variety of artists and authors, as well retailers offering nearly every imaginable type of memorabilia.

Today will also start the Pokemon Go Event that will last the entire weekend. All ages are able to participate and each day will provide a new contest and raffle. The contest today is for the Most Pokemon in Pokedex. Tomorrow, Highest Combat Power Pokemon and Sunday is Lowest Combat Power Rare Pokemon. There will be a gym available by South Wing B and a prize will be awarded to the person who maintains control the longest. Each contest winner will receive a prize.

The show continues throughout the weekend with more discussions, Q&As, and meet and greets, and cosplay contests. There will also be a special screening on a new Kevin Smith movie that will feature a Q&A afterwards, which is a ticketed event. You may even get a chance to see Stan Lee wandering around the Expo Center. There will be a chance to screen a variety of independent films, both short and full length throughout the day. Be sure to check a schedule at the event (or download the free app) to see locations.

Ticket prices vary and can be purchased at the door with cash only. Friday is $30, Saturday is $40, and Sunday is $30 for the day. A package for all three days can be purchased for $60. There is an option to purchase VIP packages, and price varies ($150-$350 for the weekend) depending on what you want. All photo ops and autographs can be purchased on site as well.  The show runs the entire weekend during the following hours:

  • Friday – 4:00 PM until 10:00 PM
  • Saturday – 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, with  some events for the 18 and older crowd running until 2:00 AM Sunday
  • Sunday – 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM

Be sure to stay with the Louisville Dispatch and our Facebook page to more coverage and photos throughout the event.

Kentucky State FairThe 2016 Kentucky State Fair is coming up on us quickly. The fair will run August 18th – 28th at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center here in Louisville.

Admission is $10 per person (children under 5 are admitted free) at the gate, but advanced tickets can be purchased online or at your local Kroger for $6. Any person who rides the city bus , TARC, from 4th St. downtown to Gate 4 during the fair will receive discounted admission at the gate. Parking is $8 per car and $20 per bus at the gate. Discounted parking can be purchased the Expo Center ticket office and Kroger for $5. There will not be any free parking available at the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium this year. Some days will have special promotions:

  • August 21 – Military Day: Free admission for active and retired military and their families, parking not included
  • August 23 – Senior Day: Free admission for seniors 55 and older until 5;00 PM, parking not included
  • August 24 – $20 Carload Day: $20 for every car, inlcuding parking

The Exhibition Hall opens at 9:00 AM daily and allows visitors to see a wide range of displays, including entries into the many contests, representatives from each county, LMPD, LG&E, and a flea market. Throughout the area, there will be daily shows, such as acrobatic performances, educational exhibits, BMX bike performances, music performances, dog tricks, cooking demonstrations, and even comedy shows. You can also watch people compete in the annual talent show, the World’s Championship Saddlebred Horse Show, Cheer & Dance Championship, and the cooking competitions.

No fair is complete without carnival rides for entertainment. The Midway  will run throughout the entire fair, with rides opening at 12:00 PM on Friday – Sundays, and 2:00 PM on Monday through Thursdays. Rides do cost extra and wristbands are only good for one day. Wristbands can be purchased at the fair for: adults – $25 and children 12 and under that are also shorter than 56″ – $12. Discounted wristbands can be purchased online for $20 (no discount on child wristbands) through August 17th. During Military Day (August 21st), with proper military ID, military members and their families will be able to purchase wristbands for $10.

There is a large selection of food vendors to visit. Fried foods reign supreme, but you will be able to enjoy barbecue pork and beef from local farms and other fair treats, including hot dogs, hamburgers, gyros, french fries, funnel cakes, and the donut burger. There’s even the opportunity to bid on prized-country hams during the 53rd Annual Kentucky Country Ham Breakfast and Auction on August 25th.

Admission also gives access to the nightly Turf Concert series, which will feature performances by ABBA, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chris Janson, Oak Ridge Boys, and Rachel Platten to name a few.  There will also be three Main Stage concerts that cost extra, but the ticket price includes gate admission. These concerts will feature Reba McEntire, Jeff Dunham, and Chris Young and Brett Eldredge.

With over 600,000 visitors to last year’s State Fair, and the hope that this year will see an increase in attendance, the 2016 Kentucky State Fair will be a hot spot of activity this year.

Weekend-Long Festival Features Dozens of Headline Acts

LouderThanLife2016Louisville heavy metal fans rejoice: the Louder Than Life Festival brings big rock names to Louisville this October 1st and 2nd – including acts such as Slayer, Avenged Sevenfold, Anthrax, Disturbed, Korn, Slipknot, Clutch, and many more.

Gates open at 11AM daily for the all-day performances and the event will be held rain or shine.  Single-day tickets are currently available starting at $80 while weekend tickets currently start at $110 with prices increasing as the event draws closer.  VIP packages and ticket/hotel packages are also available.

The two-day outdoor music festival will take place at Champion’s Park at 2050 River Road.  The venue features several stages, food and drink vendors, music related attractions, and camping facilities.  Camping accommodations are available for car/tent camping as well as RV camping.

In addition to the musical performances, the festival includes other entertainment opportunities such as the mobile Jack Daniels museum, the Monster Energy viewing deck, The Music Experience – where fans can meet band members, check out equipment, and win equipment and swag, and the Keep Golf Metal mini-golf course.

On top of all that, the event also gives back by hosting a number of altruistic outlets such as the Dyin 2 Live wish-granting organization, which works to enrich the lives of those fighting cancer through inspiration and entertainment, and Take Me Home, which works to save the lives of homeless animals.

Continue reading

Comic Expo Moving to New Venue for 2016

Fandomfest2014_0897Fandom Fest is “Getting Nerdy Again in Louisville” July 29th through 31st.

The largest Comic Con in the region returns with another iteration of the popular event, which spans a total of seven days with the convention portion lasting the traditional three days.

Fandom Fest aims to draw the Anime, Comic Book, Pop Culture, Movie, TV, Scifi, Horror, Literary, Arts crowd by “bringing the best of popular culture to the region.”   Fandom Fest, which has been operating in one form or another since it started as Fright Night more than a decade ago, is the flagship show of the event organizer’s multi-city tour.

Typically held downtown in past years, this year the event moves to the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center at 937 Phillips Lane.  Doors are open 4-10PM on Friday, 10AM-7PM on Saturday, and 11AM-4PM on Sunday.  Tickets will be available at the door and are currently available online at discounted prices.

Celebrities slated to attend the 2016 Fandom Fest include comic book creator Stan Lee, Kevin Smith, Anthony Michael Hall, members of the bands N*Sync and Backstreet Boys, original Ultraman Satoshi Furuya, actors from zombie shows such as The Walking Dead and Z Nation, professional Cosplayers, and a star-studded lineup of the artists and authors of fans’ favorite works.

In addition to the celebrity meet-and-greets, photo-ops, and autograph sessions, Fandom Fest also features a large hall of exhibitors with comic books, graphic novels, accessories, memorabilia, services, and more for sale, as well as a full schedule of talks and presentations that is sure to have something for everyone.

For more information about the 2016 Fandom Fest, visit fandomfest.com.

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