Nestled along a crook of the mighty Ohio River on the northern edge of Kentucky is the vibrant city of Louisville. While the city may be most famous as the home of the Kentucky Derby, it is also home to a multitude of other fun events throughout the year, a lively nightlife, a wealth of art museums and galleries, and the largest preservation district of Victorian architecture in the U.S.
Although it doesn’t have a pervasive nickname, the name “Louisville” has several pronunciations. Kentucky natives tend to say “LU-uh-vul” or often just “LU-vul.” Most outsiders say “Lu-E-ville” because of its French ties (it was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France). Travel Maestro tip: No matter where you’re from, the “s” is always silent.
Louisville’s most celebrated event, the Kentucky Derby, is the first of three horse races that make up the Triple Crown. Held at Churchill Downs, the Derby occurs on the first Sunday in May, and 2011 will be the 137th “Run for the Roses.” The Derby is rich with traditions that include the elegant hats worn by the ladies, the colorful racing silks of the jockeys, the singing of My Old Kentucky Home as the horses enter the track, the Garland of Roses presented to the winning horse and, of course, the Kentucky bourbon Mint Julep cocktails enjoyed by the thousands. The infield party is also a huge tradition. About 80,000 revelers pack into the grassy area inside the track for an all-out party that is as raucous as Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. “Acceptable excess” is the mantra for the celebrators at the third turn, while the first turn party is more G-rated for families.
Although the actual Run for the Roses is called “the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”, the two weeks before the Derby is full of festivities. The Derby Festival begins with Thunder Over Louisville, the largest annual fireworks display in the country. Another favorite is the Balloon Glow where dozens of hot air balloons are filled and lit at night so that 65,000 viewers can wander among them while they are on the ground. The next morning they compete in the Great Balloon Race. A marathon, golf tournaments, a Texas Hold’em tournament, and Steamboat races are just a few of the 70 events that entertain visitors and locals alike during the Derby Festival.
Louisville has a number of attractions that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. If you miss the Derby, you can still learn all about the tradition at the Derby Museum at Churchill Downs. The Fourth Street Live! district is a favorite pedestrian-only block right in the middle of downtown that is packed with bars and restaurants – definitely a hotspot for nightlife. It is regularly jammed with both locals and visitors, and while restaurants welcome families with kids during the day, in the evenings the whole block is ID controlled (must be 21). Two trolley routes and a pedestrian skywalk system connect several convention and performance centers, hotels, museums, a visitors’ center, and Louisville Slugger Field, making it very easy to get around the downtown area. Each month, the First Friday Trolley hop takes art lovers to the many independent galleries in the East Market District, or “NuLu.” The downtown area is quite safe and the city even has friendly, roaming bicycle ambassadors who are happy to provide information or assistance.
Some of the many annual cultural events include:
- Memorial Day – Abbey Road on the River (5-day Beatles festival)
- June – Gay Pride parade
- July – Shakespeare in the Park (free plays in Central Park), Forecastle Festival (indie music, art, environmental activism)
- August – Kentucky State Fair, Ultimate Iron man triathlon
- September – Bluegrass Balloon Festival, KY Bourbon Festival (Bardstown), Gaslight Festival
- October – St. James Court Art show
Whenever you visit, don’t leave Louisville without trying a delicious Hot Brown! The recipe originated at the historic Brown Hotel in the 1920s and is an open-faced turkey sandwich, topped with Mornay sauce and bacon. It is a Louisville tradition that has been copied worldwide. If you partake of whiskey libations, you must also try the fine Kentucky bourbons of the area. One-third of all bourbon comes from Louisville and is regarded as some of the best in the world.
Whether you visit nearby horse farms to see the pampered lives of racehorses, attend a free concert at the Louisville Waterfront Park, or learn about fossils at the Falls of Ohio State Park, Louisville has a wealth of interesting activities for many interests across all ages. Let Covington Travel arrange a weekend getaway or next year’s Derby tickets so you can enjoy all this energetic city has to offer.
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