The Louisville Zoo’s Wild Lights is open every night during spring break. | Photo by Louisville Zoo
Many Louisville kids will be on spring break next week, and while Derby City has no shortage of activities for little ones, next week things are turning up a notch.
Louisville Zoo Wild Lights is open Thursday-Sunday until May 19, but it’ll be open nightly 7-10 p.m. for spring break April 1-5. The annual zoo fundraiser and light show features dozens of brightly lit animal sculptures, like a coral reef scene, + interactive exhibits. Individual ticket prices vary $16-$26, depending on the day of the week.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Bernheim’s volunteer naturalists will be in and around the visitor center April 1-5 with hands-on nature discoveries, crafts, and short trail explorations. Plus, there’s still some room on select days of Bernheim’s spring break day camps.
Parklands of Floyds Fork Kids can explore a new area of the Parklands each day while building forts, playing games, and conducting science experiments. This day camp runs April 1-5, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and is recommended for students in kindergaren through sixth grade. Registration is $55/day.
Multiple locations Teens ages 12-15 can learn the basics of warm glass fusion at the Beechmont Community Center, explore fabric arts at the Sun Valley Community Center, or get an overview of different mediums at the Metro Arts Community Center. Younger kids can check out the Youth Camps, also being held at a variety of locations. These camps run April 1-5, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., registration is $25.
South Central Regional Library The Maker Lab is available to anyone 13+ and contains everything from a Makerbot 3D printer to sewing machines to a Glowforge laser cutter. Maker 101 training is required and will be offered on the spot. The Lab is open on April 5 between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The rest of the Louisville Free Public Library system has a plethora of events available for kids of all ages throughout spring break.
Asked
What’s your ideal spring break?
A. A quiet week at home in LOU B. Boarding the first flight to Florida
Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey Tasting | Wednesday, March 27 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Pig Beach BBQ, 1201 River Rd., Louisville | $25 | Join award-winning blender Nic Christian for a tasting of aged, cask strength whiskey and rum — and chow down on some BBQ.
Thursday, March 28
Flavors of Southern Spain | Thursday, March 28 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Paseo, 900 Baxter Ave., Louisville | $90 | Enjoy a five-course Spanish dinner with beverage pairings, plus a pre-dinner social hour with live guitar and flamenco dancers.
“MOMIX: Alice” | Thursday, March 28 | 7:30 p.m. | The Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway, Louisville | $49.73-$73.13 | Witness a live stage adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” that blends acrobatics, illusion, and magic.
Friday, March 29
Spring Speed Dating | Friday, March 29 | 6-8 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing Louisville, 642 Baxter Ave., Louisville | $10 | Meet friends, network, or find the love of your life while enjoying live music.
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift | Friday, March 29 | 8:45-9:45 p.m. | Actors Theatre of Louisville, 316 W. Main St., Louisville | $42.50 | Enjoy a multi-sensory experience with the music of Taylor Swift played by a string quartet.
Saturday, March 30
Feed the Soil, Not the Plants | Saturday, March 30 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, 6220 Old Lagrange Rd., Crestwood | $25-$35 | Learn the basics of fertilizer and soil health — also includes admission to opening day.
Whet Your Palette | Saturday, March 30 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St., Louisville | $14-$30 | Enjoy a leisurely drop-in painting session while sipping on a drink from Wild Hops — all ages welcome.
Sunday, March 31
Sunday Supper at Rosettes | Sunday, March 31 | 5-10 p.m. | Rosettes, 730 E. Market St., Louisville | $45 | Enjoy a three-course French dinner inside Hotel Genevieve.
Multiple roads will be closed on Saturday, March 30 between 4 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the Triple Crown 15K. The race begins at Brook + East Market Streets and runs through downtown Louisville before heading northeast up River Road and back. (Courier Journal)
Coming Soon
A new French bakery is coming to the Highlands. Charles Reed, formerly of Henry’s Place and Melba’s Canvas, will open Patisserie Francaise at 1355 Bardstown Rd. The new bakery will feature fresh daily bread, cakes, chocolate, + gelato, but for now it’s still under construction. (Louisville Business First)
Cause
Local nonprofit New Directions Housing Corporation received over $6 million in federal grant money to make energy-efficient improvements to housing units in the Chickasaw, Old Louisville, and Shawnee neighborhoods. New Directions serves over 1,300 people in Louisville + Southern Indiana and has more than 900 apartments across the city. (Louisville Public Media)
Real Estate
Remember the Cherry Pop house? The renovated shotgun house is back on the market. Louisville designer Dana McMahan refurbished the 140-year old Portland house last year in just 49 days. It was listed over the weekend for $189,000 and McMahan says it’s been “kind of blowing up.”
Health
A local science experiment is now in orbit. The Louisville-based National Stem Cell Foundation sent a collection of cells to the International Space Station. Cells age more rapidly in space, so the project will study accelerated neurodegeneration to develop new therapies for Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. (Louisville Public Media)
Feel Good
Two books were recently returned to the Louisville Public Library — after being overdue for ~100 years. Two cousins recently found a Russian-to-English phrase book that their grandmother, a Ukranian immigrant, checked out in 1926 + a book of famous composers that her son, a musician, checked out in 1924. (WDRB)
Sports
The search for a new Cardinals men’s basketball coach is beginning to narrow. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Travel
Planning a spring getaway? Meet the Cincy Region, where urban vibrancy and Southern Charm collide. From award-winning restaurants and unforgettable museums to Major League Baseball and countless events, Cincinnati has something for every traveler. Check out our must-dos + plan your trip.*
Try This
So, you’re planning an event. With our self-service advertising options, you can create some buzz in Louisville + make sure people show up. Psst… Your listing could be featured in this newsletter in as little as two days. Rack in the RSVPs.
Travel
Spring break isn’t just for the kids
SDF spring break travel tips
Florida is the most popular destination for travelers from LOU this weekend. | Photo by Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is expecting a record-setting spring break weekend. Over 36,500 departures are scheduled Thursday, March 28 through Sunday, March 31 — a more than a 13% increase from last year.
SDF is usually easy to navigate, but with big crowds expected, here are some pro tips for travelers looking to start their trip off on the right foot:
Arrive two-and-a-half hours before your scheduled departure time + expect longer lines than usual — especially for departures before 8:30 a.m.
Know where you’re going to park and remember that lots may close as they fill up.
Check in ahead of time on your airline’s website or app, and keep an eye on your flight’s status.
Pack smart — electronics larger than a cell phone will need to be removed at security and liquids are limited to 3-oz. containers.
The Buy
The Buy 3.27.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
New denim on Nordstrom Rack. We’re seeing great finds in women’s jeans from Joe’s, Good American, and Lucky Brand, all perfect for a spring refresh.
Whew, it’s finally starting to feel like spring. March is on track to go out like a lamb, just in time for Louisville’s spring events to start kicking off.
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