If you’re an animal lover

• GRRAND: Golden Retriever Rescue & Adoption of Needy Dogs | Help dogs in need get back on their paws when you sign up to take them for walks or give them a ride to vet appointments. Volunteers must be 18+ and can join one of 15 volunteer animal care teams.
• Louisville Animal Care Society | Turn your passion for animals into service by fostering or cuddling with shelter animals, exercising them, or assisting with administrative tasks + community engagement. Volunteers must be 16+ and agree to a minimum time commitment of two hours.

If you have a passion for disabled community members

• Down Syndrome of Louisville | Dedicate your time on a weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis by joining in activities like the Boogie Down Dance Crew, helping out with social activities, or providing translation services. You can also volunteer virtually by writing thank you cards + assisting with database updates.
• Harbor House of Louisville | Support local adults with disabilities by working directly with participants as an instructional volunteer or become an ambassador for the organization + assist with special events like the Ken-Ducky Derby.

If you’re passionate about supporting local minority groups

• Change Today, Change Tomorrow | Download the When I Work app to be notified of volunteer opportunities like food distribution, drives + fundraisers.
• Asia Institute - Crane House | Support Asian heritage and culture in Kentucky as a volunteer for special events — like the Asian New Year Celebration — administer educational programs for adults and children, or serve as an office assistant. There’s also the opportunity to volunteer as a Dragon Dancer.

For the outdoorsy types

• Louisville Grows | Help Louisville Grows in its mission to plant 5,000 trees by 2025 when you work the Plant 5k Run and Walk on Sat., Sept. 17 or participate in the Smoketown Community Wide Planting Day. Across the river? You can also volunteer to plant trees in Jeffersonville + Clarksville on Sat., Oct. 22.
• TreesLouisville | This environmental nonprofit looks to maintain 45% of Derby City’s overall tree canopy + you can help by participating in Tree Week from Oct. 8-16 or becoming a Canopy Corp Volunteer to plant trees on based on your schedule.

If you want to help your neighbors in need

• Dare to Care | Fight hunger in the community when you volunteer at one of Dare to Care’s 300 food pantries or kitchens. You can also assist shoppers at the Mobile Market, sort food in a warehouse + distribute meals.
• Metro United Way | Improve access to equitable education, economic opportunity + health in Metro United Way’s seven-county service radius when you donate your time as a tutor, landscaper, or supply drive organizer. Bonus: find a project to join for Metro United Way’s Day of Action on Sept. 23.

• September Happy Hour: “Butterflies and Brews” | Wed., Sept. 14 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Louisville Zoo | Grab a seat in the African Outpost + try Mile Wide Brewing’s “Reign,” which supports monarch butterfly conservation. 🦋

• Give for Good Louisville | Thurs., Sept. 15 | All day | Online | Donation-based | Share the love by donating to your choice of 100+ local nonprofit organizations.
• Louisville Pride Kick-Off Trivia Night | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 7-10 p.m. | Play Louisville, 1101 E. Washington St. | $10 | Grab a team of 2-6 friends or test your individual knowledge at this Pride Festival kick-off. 🧠

• Coffee: Swing, Swagger & Sway | Fri., Sept. 16 | 11 a.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts | $29+ | From smokey blues to exuberant big band, Teddy Abrams opens the Louisville Orchestra Classics season with a big and brassy tribute to jazz in the classics. 🎷
• Gaslight Arts & Crafts Festival | Fri., Sept. 16- Sun., Sept. 18 | 7 p.m. | City of Jeffersontown | Free to attend | Peruse hundreds of vendors from across the country in the center of this small town.

• Dino Day | Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kentucky Science Center | Included with museum admission | Welcome the 4,800-lb World’s Fair triceratops back home with a naming ceremony, dino dance party + paleontology-themed activities.
• Open Studio | Sun., Sept. 18 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Speed Art Museum | Price of purchase | Get inspired by the Speed’s many galleries as you create your own masterpiece. 🎨
• Riverside Farmers’ Market | Sun., Sept. 18 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Farnsley-Moremon Landing, 7410 Moorman Rd. | Free to attend | Get fresh produce, eggs, local honey, farm-raised pork, preserves, hand-made soaps + more.

• Louisville Bats vs. Nashville Sounds | Mon., Sept. 19 | 6:35 p.m. | Louisville Slugger Field | $19+ | ⚾

• Fall Archery Lessons 2022 | Tues., Sept. 20 | 6-7 p.m. | E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park| $60 | Channel your inner Katniss Everdeen as you learn the 11 steps to properly shoot a bow.

• 83º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain

• A new sports bar called Parlay will be opening in the former Hiko-A-Mon downtown at 416 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. The lounge-themed restaurant will offer food like Philly cheesesteak cheese sticks and pork sandwiches + cocktails. Parlay looks to be up and running by early November so patrons can enjoy the World Cup in the new digs. ⚽ (Louisville Business First)

• Monnik Beer Co. closed its New Albany taproom at 415 Bank St. on Mon., Sept. 12. The spot was known for its sizeable outdoor patio space + its 15-barrel brewery — which nearly doubled the brewery’s capacity. You can still get a pretzel and a pint at the Schnitzelburg location at 1036 E. Burnett Ave. (WLKY)

• Bob the Drag Queen is coming to the Louisville Comedy Club on Thurs., Dec. 1. You may recognize Bob from HBO’s “We’re Here” or from being crowned the season eight winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Tickets are $30. We can’t wait. 🎭

• Thanks to its success last year, TreesLouisville will be hosting another free tree giveaway at the Louisville Zoo on Sat., Oct. 8 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Households will be eligible to receive two, one-gallon trees on a first come, first served basis. Tree species include redbud, pecan, lobolly pine, sweet birch + blackgum. 🌳

• In addition to making direct charitable contributions to regional organizations as part of Give for Good Louisville, you can also support local causes by attending events. Tonight, Everyday Kitchen will be donating 10% of its proceeds to Dress for Success Louisville + Home of the Innocents.

• Drivers can expect delays on the Abraham Lincoln Bridge from Mon., Sept. 19-Fri., Sept. 23 due to single-lane closures as Kentucky Transportation officials perform a biennial inspection. The lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. during next week. (WDRB)

• The Ultimate Halloween Fest opens on Fri., Sept. 30 — with a new, 30-minute outdoor escape experience. Check out the full lineup of events + participate in the Pumpkin Smash on Sat., Nov. 5 to get rid of those pesky jack o’lanterns still on your stoop. 🎃 (LEO Weekly)

• Family S.T.E.A.M. Day returns to the South Central Regional Library at 7300 Jefferson Blvd. on Sat., Sept. 24 + will include presentations from the Kentucky Science Center and the Frazier History Museum. Bonus: Belle and Rapunzel from Princesses of Louisville will be there, too.

• Calling all interior design lovers — it’s time to make some space in your weekend calendar. Homearama 2022, located at The Hamlet (Norton Commons’ exclusive Oldham County section), is kicking off this weekend. Louisvillians 12 and up can purchase general admission tickets to see the latest in building trends, technology + interior design. 🏡 *

• More savings, more perks. Take advantage of free grocery delivery, double the Fuel Points, and specialty savings when you become a Kroger Boost member. 🛒 *

• Still trying to fill your September calendar? Check out this list of must-do activities in LOU this month. 🗓️ *

• Buzz without the crash? Yes, please. This healthy coffee drink tastes like your fave latte, but contains zero grams of sugar and no artificial sweetener. Bonus: 10 grams of protein get you through the day without crashing. ☕ *