Summer’s here and Louisville is so ready. From live music and berry picking to music festivals and picnics, summer is where Derby City thrives.
Get ready to get outside with this guide featuring 31 summer events happening between June and September.
Festivals + Fairs
Kentucky Craft Bash | Saturday, June 24 | 1 p.m. | Festival Plaza at Waterfront Park, 201 Witherspoon Ave. | $50+ | Taste 100+ beers from more than 50 breweries around the state.
Waterfront Park Fourth of July | Tuesday, July 4 | 5-10 p.m. | Great Lawn at Waterfront Park, 231 E. Witherspoon St. | Free | This family-friendly event features fireworks, food vendors, and live music.
Bluegrass Veg Fest | Saturday, July 15 | 12-6 p.m. | Mellwood Art Center, 1860 Mellwood Ave. | Free | Check out an array of plant-based food + drink, watch cooking demos, and browse educational exhibits.
African Heritage Festival | Saturday, July 15 | 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | Ben Washer Park and Spalding University Soccer Fields, 519 W. Kentucky St. and 921 S. 8th St. | Free | Celebrate African, African-American, and Caribbean cultures with cultural demonstration, food, music, dance, sports, and fashion.
J-town Beer Festival | Saturday, July 15 | 4-8 p.m. | Pavilion at Gaslight Square, 10434 Watterson Trail | $10+ | Sample 85+ summer beers while enjoying live music and food trucks.
Louisville Street Food Festival | Saturday, July 22-Sunday, July 23 | 2-8 p.m. | Fourth Street Live!, 411 South 4th St. | $7.99+ | Dig into flavors from 20+ food trucks and restaurants, with everything priced at $5 or less.
Summer Beer Fest at Frazier | Saturday, July 29 | Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main St. | $55+ | Access 200+ specialty beers, food, retailers, live music and a fun zone, with proceeds supporting the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs.
Kentucky State Fair | Thursday, Aug. 17-Sunday, Aug. 27 | Times vary | Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Ln. | $9+ | Immerse yourself in Kentucky culture with 75+ daily activities, 24 artist performances, hundreds of vendors, dozens of entertainment acts, and 30,000 competitive entries highlighting the best of the Bluegrass.
The Big Stomp | Friday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 19 | Times vary | Jones Fields Nature Preserve, 8401 Dawson Hill Rd. | Times vary | $30+ | Help stomp out the stigma of mental health at this immersive, multi-day music fest withmental health-focused activities.
Louisville Wine & Food Festival | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 1-4 p.m. |Waterfront Park, 201 Witherspoon Ave. | TBA | Taste, savor, and explore LOU’s culinary scene through dishes made by local chefs, emerging talents, and nationally renowned culinary leaders.
Old Lou Brew Craft Beer Festival | Friday, Aug. 25 | 6-10 p.m. | Central Park, 1340 S. 4th St. | $15 | Enjoy live music, food trucks, and a variety of beers from Kentucky brewers while supporting the historic Old Louisville community.
Brew at the Zoo | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 5-9 p.m. | Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevillian Way | $125 | This annual, all-inclusive event features beer and wine tastings, appetizers, animal encounters, and live entertainment.
Louisville Pride Festival | Saturday, Sept. 9 | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Bardstown Road |Free | This annual festival is slated to feature 100+ vendors, DJs, drag shows, music, and food trucks.
Big Four Arts Festival | Saturday, Sept. 9-Sunday, Sept. 10 | Times vary |Big Four Bridge Lawn, 1103 River Rd. |$5 | Explore the work of 150+ juried artists while enjoying food, live music, artisan demos, hands-on art, and a llama petting zoo.
Kentucky Bourbon Festival | Friday, Sept. 15-Sunday, Sept. 17 | Times Vary | 114 N. 5th St., Bardstown | $95+ | More than 50 distilleries will share their products + there will be will musical entertainment, food trucks, barrel making demos, and more.
Concerts + Live Music
Stevie Nicks with special guest Nicole Atkins | Tuesday, June 27 | 7 p.m. | KFC Yum! Center, 1 Arena Plaza | $63.50+ | This legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will wrap up her tour in downtown Louisville.
Beyoncé | Monday, July 17 | 7 p.m. | L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, 2800 S. Floyd St. | $80+ | See this pop icon during her Renaissance World Tour that promises mind-blowing choreography, innovative outfits, and unforgettable vocals.
Alicia Keys to the Summer Tour | Thursday, July 20 | 8 p.m. | KFC Yum! Center, 1 Arena Plaza | $39.50+ | GRAMMY award-winning artist Alicia Keys will bring an all-new, redesigned concert experience + setlist to Derby City.
The Chicks World Tour 2023 | Tuesday, July 25 | 7:30 p.m. | KFC Yum! Center, 1 Arena Plaza | $39.50+ | These 13-time GRAMMY award-winning, multi-platinum selling country music stars will perform with special guests Wild Rivers.
Barry Manilow Live in Louisville | Monday, Aug. 21 | 7 p.m. | KFC Yum! Center, 1 Arena Plaza | $19.50+ | See one of the top adult contemporary artist of all time.
Bourbon & Beyond | Thursday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 17 | Times vary | Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Expo Center, 1016 Phillips Ln. | $99.99+ | Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys, The Killers, and Blondie are headling the world’s largest bourbon and music festival.
Louder than Life | Thursday, Sept. 21-Sunday, Sept. 24 | Times vary | Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Expo Center, 1016 Phillips Ln. | $119.99+ | Bring summer to a close with four-day, hard rock music festival featuring Weezer, Tool, Green Day, and the Foo Fighters.
Fruit + Veggie Picking
Huber’s Orchard & Winery | Monday-Sunday | Times vary | 19816 Huber Rd., Borden, IN | | $3-$4 |Ride a trailer into the fields to pick everything from raspberries and blueberries to green beans and sweet corn .
Berry Best Farm | Monday-Sunday | Times vary | 26011 Highway 62, Nabb, IN | Prices vary | Pick your own blackberries and blueberries, then grab some veggies to take home, too.
Eckert’s Versaille Orchard | Tuesday-Sunday | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | 1396 Pinckard Pike, Versailles, KY | Prices vary | This orchard offers pick-your-own strawberries, blackberries, peaches, sunflowers, apples, and pumpkins — just be sure to check what’s in season before you go.
Evans Orchard | Tuesday-Sunday | Times vary | 198 Stone Rd., Georgetown, KY | Prices vary | A variety of fruits and flowers are available for your own picking.
Church Picnics
Holy Family Picnic | Thursday, June 22-Saturday, June 24 | Times vary | 3938 Poplar Level Rd. | Free | Enjoy a chicken dinner on Saturday + music, booths, and games throughout the three-day picnic.
Saint Martha Picnic |Friday, June 23-Saturday, June 24 | 4 p.m. | 2825 Klondike Ln. | Free | This 52nd-annual event will feature games, prizes, vendor booths and live music.
St. Aloysius Summer Picnic | Saturday, July 15 | 2-11 p.m. | 212 Mt. Mercy Dr. | Free | Get your tickets for a chance to win this year’s raffle grand prize: A 2023 Buick Encore GX.
St. Rita Summer Picnic | Friday, July 21-Saturday, July 22 | Times vary | 8709 Preston Hwy. | Free | Eat and drink to your heart’s content at food trucks, a food tent + a beer garden — and enjoy music, inflatables, and games for kids.
St. Joe’s Picnic for the Kids | Friday, Aug. 11-Saturday, Aug. 12 | Times vary | 2823 Frankfort Ave. | Free | Play carnival + casino games, enjoy food and drinks, and enter raffles to win bourbon, quilts, and more.
