Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay features wave pools, towering slides, and rides of all sizes.
| Photo courtesy of Louisville Tourism

We’re not kiddin’ around. From major attractions like the Louisville Zoo to hidden gems like Glow Worm Play Cafe, there’s something in Louisville for children of all ages. You’ll have no trouble entertaining the under-18 crowd with this list of 32 kid-friendly activities.

🐯 Animal encounters

Bugs_2022_06_22_CallieWells558 — Sensory-friendly bags were offered at the Louisville Zoo’s IncrediBUGS exhibit. | Photo by Louisville Zoo

Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way | Family memberships available

Exhibits include the award-winning Glacier Run with polar and grizzly bears, and a HerpAquarium that’s jam-packed with rad reptiles and bewitching bats. Kids will remember hearing lions roar while riding a camel.

Purrfect Day Cat Cafe, 1741 Bardstown Rd.
Mix and mingle with LOU’s most eligible feline adoptees while sipping on a beverage from the cafe. Kids will remember the myriad of toys available to help them interact with the kitties.

🌳 Great outdoors

Bernheim Forest Giants — Bernheim’s Forest Giants are expected to be around through 2024. | Photo courtesy of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd., Clermont | Family memberships available
Experience nature like nowhere else in the region, amid 16,140 acres of hiking ground with numerous family-friendly attractions. Kids will remember the forest giants — the huge sculptures crafted of recycled wood are spread throughout the arboretum.

Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant, 2421 Engle Rd., Starlight, IN
From grape and apple picking to turtle feeding and outdoor barnyard activities, there’s lots to do at Huber’s. Kids will remember riding a wagon to the pumpkin patch.

Olmstead Parks and Parkways, multiple locations
Only one of four completed Olmstead park systems in the world, the one in LOU boasts more than a dozen parks spread throughout the city. Kids will remember spotting deer among the wide-open spaces of Cherokee Park.

Waterfront Park, 129 River Rd.
With 85 acres of greenery, this public park is filled with playgrounds, picnic areas, art, and more. Kids will remember frolicking through the splash pad on a hot summer day.

MORE IDEAS THIS WAY

POLL

Kid-friendly bars and breweries are:

A. A life-saver for me and my family
B. A fun place to gather with a group of friends
C. Places I actively avoid

SUBMIT YOUR ANSWER

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, March 17

Dinos Under Louisville | Friday, March 17-Sunday, April 30 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville | $49.99 | Drive through the caverns and see larger-than-life dinosaurs.
Noble Funk Brewing 1-Year Anniversary | Friday, Mar. 17 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Noble Funk Brewing Company, 922 S. 2nd St., Louisville | Free | Celebrate the brewery’s one-year anniversary with special edition beers, new food, and a corn hole tournament.
Wild Lights | Friday, March 17-Sunday, May 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville | $17-$20 | See the zoo light up with thousands of handcrafted silk lanterns.
St. Pawtricks Day Pawty | Friday, Mar. 17 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Club K9 Dog Park Bar, 9316 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville | Free | Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with dogs, green drinks, fun humans, and more.
Hot Brown Smackdown w/ Mr. Please | Friday, Mar. 17 | 7 p.m. | Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St., Louisville | $15 | See this bluegrass/rock/jam grass band with intermittent bursts of funk.
Life of Agony | Friday, Mar. 17 | 7 p.m. | Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Rd., Louisville | $25 | This band has shared the stage with Metallica, Black Sabbath, and more.

Saturday, March 18

Joe Creason Park Run | Saturday, March 18-Saturday, May 13 | 9-10:30 a.m. | Joe Creason Park, 1297 Trevilian Way, Louisville | Free | Join the fun at this free, timed 5K run/walk.
Whet Your Palette Drop-In Painting | Saturday, Mar. 18, Saturday, Mar. 25 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St., Louisville | Prices vary | Choose a canvas size and paint at your own pace.

Sunday, March 19

Mindfulness in Nature | Sunday, Mar. 19 | 2-3 p.m. | Waterfront Botanical Gardens, 1435 Frankfort Ave., Louisville | $15 | Explore mindfulness to help you live in the present so you can more fully enjoy your life.
TEN20 Comedy Showcase | Sunday, Mar. 19 | 7-8:30 p.m. | TEN20 Craft Brewery, 1020 E. Washington St., Louisville | Free | Laugh with up-and-coming comics from the Louisville area.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

53º | Cloudy | 15% chance of rain

Opening

We’ve been mourning the loss of Butchertown Grocery for years now, but a new restaurant is slated to bring New American cuisine to 1076 E. Washington St. in May. A group formerly from Decca, which closed last year, are joining forces to open a new concept, dubbed Decade. (The Courier-Journal)

Development

Batter up. The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory finished its first major museum gallery renovation in nearly 15 years. The biggest change visitors will notice is the Bat Vault, which has been transformed into a 638-sqft gallery — more than double its original size. ⚾ (WHAS11)

Award

It could be the crust, or maybe it’s the filling. Whatever the case is, Yelp says Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Co. in the Highlands has the best pie in Kentucky. We like the bourbon version, made with pecans, walnuts, and Kentucky bourbon, plus a chocolate pecan liqueur glaze. 🥧

Legacy

Monnik Beer Co.'s second annual Scott Hand Day is on Monday, March 20. The event honors the legacy of the brewery’s late founder with the release of special beers. $1 from every pint sold will be donated to the HOP Foundation, a Kentucky-based nonprofit.🍺

Cause

Down Syndrome of Louisville is celebrating World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) with weekend events leading up to WDSD on Tuesday, March 21. This year’s celebration kicks off on Saturday, March 18, with an all-day “Eat & Shop” event featuring Union Restaurant & Gameyard, Wine Shop, and more.

Vote

We’re looking to you to help determine LOU’s best pizza. Remember to cast your vote in our bracket before Monday, March 20 + tune in for the next round in our March 21 newsletter. 🍕

Tech

Looking for a new laptop that checks all the boxes without breaking the bank? Enter: the Acer Chromebook 311. This lightweight laptop is decked out with all the essential Google apps — like Google Chrome and Google Calendar — it’s quiet, and it has up to 10 hours of battery life.*

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EAT

Bring on the meat

A charcuterie board from Alvio’s Cuban Meats. | Photo courtesy of Alvino Lapinet

Cured Restaurant & Salumeria is a new restaurant and European-style meat shop coming to NuLu. It will be located on the ground floor of the Main & Clay apartment building, in the space formerly known as International Tap House.

Slated to start welcoming customers this summer, the restaurant is owned by husband-and-wife team Alivio and Elaisy Lapinet. The Cuban natives’ previous business, Alivo’s Cuban Meats, will operate inside.

The couple’s concept is simple: When guests dine in and discover something they really enjoy, they can visit the retail side of the business to purchase some to take home. Pro tip: All the products are sliceable, perfect for creating charcuterie boards.

If you can’t wait for Cured Restaurant & Salumeria to open its doors, check out these other charcuterie options around town:

🧀 Board and You
🥖 Cultured Cheese and Charcuterie Bar
🍇 Keeping it Charcuterie
🍷 Red Hog Restaurant and Butcher Shop

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Lennie.

Editor’s pick: One of my favorite things to do in LOU is see Broadway shows at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. A few friends and I have had season tickets for the past couple of years, and I’m super excited about the 23/24 season lineup, which was announced yesterday.

I recently took a trip to New York to see “Phantom of the Opera” before it ends its run (RIP), as well as “Wicked,” which I will happily watch again when it comes to town this fall.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See where you can get a pic with Rosie the Riveter.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Katie Molck, Lennie Omalza, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Mandey Lee | Advertise with us.

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