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.)
Halloween for all ages
Boo at the Zoo Presented by Meijer 2025 | Thursday, Oct. 2-Thursday, Oct. 30 | 5-10 p.m. | Louisville Zoo | $8+ | Kiddos 11 and under can trick-or-treat while enjoying rides and special attractions.
Jack O’Lantern Spectacular | Thursday, Oct. 2-Sunday, Nov. 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Iroquois Amphitheater | $14+ | Walk the ~0.7-mile trail filled with glowing jack o’ lanterns at this family-friendly event.
A Vintage Halloween Market | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | East End Farmer’s Market | Free | Peruse local foods, crafts, and vintage items at this seasonal event.
Halloween in Brown Park | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Brown Park | Free | This trick-or-treat trail features 50+ businesses and organizations handing out treats, but the park also features inflatables, hayrides, and more.
Boo Bash | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | East End Farmer’s Market | Bring the kids for trick-or-treating at the market, kids activities, and no so spooky Halloween displays.
Hallouween Parade & Festival | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 11 a.m. | NuLu East Market District | Free | Head to the largest Halloween season celebration in the region — the parade will take place in NuLu along E. Market Street at 5 p.m.
Boo Dell 2025 | Sunday, Oct. 26 | 12-4 p.m. | Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, Crestwood | $0+ | Head to the Trail of Treats and enjoy activities from the Horticulture Team.
Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” In Concert | Wednesday, Oct. 29-Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts | $24+ | Watch the Sanderson Sisters roam modern-day Salem while the Louisville Orchestra performs John Debney’s score live.
Halloween for adults
Jack O’Lantern Spectacular Pre-Lit Bash | Thursday, Oct. 2 | 6 p.m. | Iroquois Amphitheater | $84 | Enjoy food and drinks before getting early access to the luminary jack o’ lantern experience.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” 50th Anniversary with Patricia Quinn | Friday, Oct. 3 | 8 p.m. | Louisville Palace | $31+ | You’ll want to “do the time warp again” to watch this cult classic over and over.
Drag Race All Stars: Cynthia Lee Fontaine as Dracula | Friday, Oct. 10 | 8 p.m.-3 a.m. | Play Louisville | $17+ | Drag Race All Star Cynthia Lee Fontaine will host a meet and greet in between the two shows.
Midnight Mass-querade: A Queer Halloween Fundraiser | Thursday, Oct. 16 | 6-8 p.m. | Play | $5 | This Halloween-themed fundraiser will feature drag, lip syncs, a costume contest, and more.
The Haunted Hop | Louisville Halloween Bar Crawl | Friday, Oct. 31 | 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. | TBA, KY TBA, Louisville | $18+ | Spend the evening in costume hopping through some of Louisville’s best bars.
The Bizarre Bazaar presents A Saucy Halloween | Friday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | Zanzabar | $15+ | “Dastardly drag, bewitching burlesque dancers, and sinful sideshow performers” will head to Zanzabar this Halloween.
It’s a 2000’s (Halloween) Party | Friday, Oct. 31 | 9 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom | $19+ | Put on your best Y2K ‘fit and listen to some of the most iconic songs from the 2000s.
Festivals + Seasonal events
Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom | Friday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 26 | Times vary | Kentucky Kingdom Theme & Water Park | $20+ | Check out over 1,000 pumpkins, rides, performances, games, and more.
Haymarket Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Haymarket | $0+ | Meet baby goats, pick out a pumpkin from the patch, enjoy seasonal crafts, and sip on apple cider.
México: A Resilient Nation Built on Dances and Traditions | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts | Free | Learn more about Mexico’s cultural history during this event.
Goatman Festival | Friday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 11 | Times vary | Legend at Pope Lick | Free | Celebrate the most famous Louisville monster in history, the Goatman — aka the Pope Lick Monster.
Pumpkin Fest | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | East End Farmer’s Market | Free | Shop pumpkins, local foods, and artisan crafts while listening to live music.
Kentucky Bat Festival | Friday, Oct. 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Louisville Slugger Field | $13+ | Meet different live bat species, sip on a local brew, and say hi to children’s storybook character Stellaluna — kids two and under get in free.
Music and performances
Artists & Afros 2025 | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 12 p.m. | Speed Art Museum | Free | Spend the weekend listing to live jazz and admiring artwork — free with RSVP.
6th Annual Sunset Music Series: Kaintuck Band | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 5-7 p.m. | Blackacre State Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead | $20 | Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab a bite from local vendors, and enjoy local live music in front of a 1792 barn transformed into a stage.
Nate Bargatze: “Big Dumb Eyes World Tour” | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 7 p.m. | KFC YUM! Center | $40+ | Watch the Nashville-based, Grammy-nominated comedian on his world tour.
The Chamber Orchestra of Louisville presents: EFFERVESCENCE | Monday, Oct. 6 | 7-8:30 p.m. | St. Francis in the Fields, Harrods Creek | $10+ | Listen to our local orchestra perform pieces written by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Josef Suk when they were young.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise: “Thanks For Coming Tour” | Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 8 p.m. | Old Forester’s Paristown Hall | $72+ | Check out the indie band known for songs like “It’s Called: Freefall” and “Goodnight Chicago.”
Jim Gaffigan: A Bourbon Set | Tuesday, Oct. 7-Thursday, Oct. 9 | Times varyKentucky Center for the Arts | $74+ | This all new set by the Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer, and producer is sure to make you laugh.
World Ballet Company: “Cinderella” | Thursday, Oct. 9 | 7 p.m. | Louisville Palace | $64+ | Watch the classic fairtytale come to life as a ballet.
“DRACULA” | Friday, Oct. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | The Brown Theatre | $23+ | Louisville Ballet will put on this revived adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”
Jesse McCartney: “The Weightless Tour” | Friday, Oct. 10 | 8 p.m. | Louisville Palace | $53+ | Get your “beautiful soul” to this show – meet and greet tickets available.
Taylor Swift Silent Disco Album Release Party at Hi-Wire Louisville, KY | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 10:30 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing Louisville | $13+ | Dress up in your best showgirl ‘fit and dance along to Taylor’s newest album.
Grateville Dead Music Festival | Friday, Oct. 17-Sunday, Oct. 19 | Times vary | Brown-Forman Amphitheater | $30+ | Deadheads, this is your event — check out acts like The Pranksters, Grateful Dads, and Fatbox.
Taylor Fest | Friday, Oct. 24 | 9 p.m. | Headliners Music Hall | $27 | This party is “for Swifties, by Swifties.”
Outdoors
Grand Opening of the Art Park | Wednesday, Oct. 1 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Speed Art Museum | Free | Explore the new art park with performances and activities.
7th Annual Louisville Steps Against Melanoma Walk | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Iroquois Park | Free | Participants who raise $50 or more will receive an event t-shirt at this walk with a goal of ending melanoma.
Full “Harvest Moon” Hike | Monday, Oct. 6 | 7:15-9:30 p.m. | Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, Clermont | $15+ | Hike the Lake Nevin Loop under the glow of the full moon.
Tree Week | Friday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 19 | 12 a.m. | Various Locations Around Louisville | Free | Celebrate the role trees play in our lives with a week full of activities across Louisville.
Food and drink
Prost to Octoberfest! | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 3-11 p.m. | Gravely Brewing Co | Listen to Polka by Boom Pah Pah while sipping German beers.
Enchanted Forest Gala | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Louisville Nature Center | $150 | Head to the forest for a night of craft cocktails, dinner, live music, and dessert.
Louisville Taco Festival - 7th Annual | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 8 p.m. | Fourth Street Live | $10+ | Get your belly ready for 20+ taco vendors, a tequila expo, food eating contests, games, and more.
United Spirits Bourbon Fall Festival | Thursday, Oct. 23 | 6-10 p.m. | Progress Park Airstream Resort & Event Venue | $+ | Enjoy chef-curated food stations, specialty tastings, a s’mores bar, and live music at this fundraising event.
Misc. events
“MOANA": Live-to-Film Concert | Friday, Oct. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | The Brown Theatre | $49+ | Watch a full-length screening of the Disney movie accompanied by live music performances.
Video Nasties Fest 2025 | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Planet of the Tapes | Free | Get a taste of nostalgia at this event where you can shop VHS and Beta tapes, CEDs and Laserdiscs, DVDs, and Blu Rays.
2025 AIA CKC Home Tour | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 12-6 p.m. | Louisville and Surrounding Areas | $20 | Get the chance to tour local residential architecture designed by Kentuckians.
Game Con Junction | Friday, Oct. 31 | 12 p.m.-12 a.m. | Louisville Marriott East | $30+ | Enjoy three days of gaming, cosplay, and more.
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.