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Plan Ahead: Don’t miss these events happening in Louisville

Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.

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Last year’s Bourbon & Beyond saw record-setting attendance numbers.

Photo courtesy Danny Wimmer Presents

Lucky you. You just found LOUtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Louisville each month.

Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend visiting this month. Psst — don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back, as we update our guide monthly.

(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)

Music + festivals

Ben Folds | Friday, Sept. 5 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts | $46+ | The singer and songwriter known for his time in the band “Ben Folds Five” + songs like “Rockin’ the Suburbs” is teaming up with the Louisville Orchestra.

“MJ - The Musical” | Tuesday, Sept. 9-Sunday, Sept. 14 | Times vary | Kentucky Center for the Arts | $101.57 | This Tony Award-winning musical pays tribute to the king of pop’s music and moves.

Bourbon & Beyond | Thursday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Sept. 14 | Highland Festival Grounds KY Expo Center | $204+ | 200,000+ music fans will descend on the festival grounds to hear Phish, Noah Kahan, and more.

Algonquin Park Jazz Festival | Saturday, Sept. 13 | 12-7 p.m. | Algonquin Park | Free | Line dancing, food trucks, and a whole lot of live jazz await you at this community event.

WFPK Waterfront Wednesday | Wednesday, Sept. 17 | 5-10 p.m. | Big Four Lawn | Free | Bring a blanket, chair, and your closest friends for this monthly outdoor concert series under the Big Four Bridge — this month featuring Uwade and Maggie Halfman.

Louder Than Life | Thursday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Sept. 21 | Highland Festival Grounds KY Expo Center | $238 | Get ready to rock out to Avenged Sevenfold, Evanescence, and more at this hardcore festival.

The great outdoors

Louisville Pawpaw Festival | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Louisville Nature Center | Free | Enjoy guided hikes, workshops, and tastings, all centered around this prehistoric fruit.

Paristown Plant Swap | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Paristown | Free | Bring a plant, take a plant, and enjoy local crafts, drinks, and food.

Flutter Fest 2025 | Monday, Sept. 8-Sunday, Sept. 14 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Locations vary | Free | This annual festival celebrating the migration of the monarch butterfly takes place all week long, all over town.

Twilight in the Garden 2025 | Friday, Sept. 19 | 6-9:45 p.m. | Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, Crestwood | $+ | Get a four-course meal by the chef of Volare, along with cocktails, auctions, and garden tours, all in support of Yew Dell.

Pedestrian bridge with rainbow lights.

Take a walk across the bridge during the Big Four Arts Festival.

Photo by Jacob Zimmer

Shop

Big Four Arts Festival | Saturday, Sept. 6-Sunday, Sept. 7 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Big Four Bridge | $5 | Shop local and regional artists at this annual event, now in its 8th year.

The Monarch Festival | Saturday, Sept. 6-Sunday, Sept. 7 | 10 a.m. | Art on the Parish Green, New Albany, IN | Free | This art festival features beer + wine, an immersive butterfly experience, and a host of local artisans.

Paristown Flea Market | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Paristown | Free | Shop unique finds, vintage treasures, handmade goods and more at the outdoors monthly market.

gaslight festival

Gaslight Festival will feature booths for food and shopping on Watterson Trail + Taylorsville Road Friday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Sept. 14.

Photo courtesy WHAS

For the family

Middletown Family Fun Fest | Friday, Sept. 5-Saturday, Sept. 6 | Times vary | Wetherby Park- City Hall Area, Middletown | Free | Shop vendors, eat fair food, and see car shows, fireworks shows, and dog shows at this weekend-long event.
Gaslight Festival Balloon Glow Sponsored | Friday, Sept. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | Skyview Park, Jeffersontown | See hot air balloons lit up against the night sky to help kick off this J-Town festival.
BugFest | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont | Free | Celebrate all things buggy with kids activities, live animals, music, and food.

Sports

University of Louisville Women’s Volleyball vs. Kentucky | Thursday, Sept. 18 | 6-8 p.m. | KFC YUM! Center | $21+ | Watch the Cards take on our Lexington neighbors on the court.

Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:

  • Go to our Events page.
  • Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
  • Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
  • Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.