The Fourth of July celebration at Waterfront Park features a professional fireworks show over the Ohio River. | Photo by Louisville Tourism
Happy 248th, America.
Independence Day falls on a Thursday this year — long weekend, anyone? — and there are lots of celebrations happening around Louisville throughout the holiday week.
Here are a few ways to celebrate the red, white, and blue around the 502:
Riverview Independence Festival, Riverview Park, 8202 Greenwood Rd., Louisville
Be among the first to wish America a happy birthday, a few days early. This free festival in the PRP area takes place Saturday, June 29, 5-10 p.m., and will include kids activities, musical performances from JD Shelburne, The Sheryl Rouse Band, and YAPA, and fireworks to wrap it all up.
194th Pekin 4th of July Festival, Various locations, Pekin, IN
The oldest consecutively-run Fourth of July celebration in the country is just about a 40-minute drive from Derby City. The two-day event starts on Wednesday, July 3, and includes a watermelon eating contest, basketball tournament, live music, and fireworks.
Waterfront Park Fourth of July, Big Four Lawn, 1101 E. River Rd., Louisville
The Louisville Orchestra provides the soundtrack to fireworks over the Ohio River, capping off a day of free, interactive science, art, and music education activities for the whole family + a talent contest. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, the day’s events include 25 singers, musicians, dancers, bands, and other performing artists. Pro tip: Bring a lawn chair.
Crescent Hill July 4th Festival, Peterson-Dumesnil House, 301 S. Peterson Ave., Louisville
This 39th-annual festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, and features free inflatable games + activities for kids, food and beer booths, a cake contest, and games of chance, all capped off by fireworks.
The Peach Truck | Friday, June 28 | 3-7 p.m. | Ten20 Craft Brewery, 1020 E. Washington St., Louisville | Cost of purchase | Stop by the Butchertown Brewery to shop fresh peaches from this roaming truck.
Saturday, June 29
Makerplace Workshop: Tufting | Saturday, June 29 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kentucky Science Center, 727 W Main St., Louisville | $20-$30 | Use yarn to create a piece of textile art, then check out the museum.
Butcher Block Party | Saturday, June 29 | 12-6 p.m. | Copper & Kings, 1121 E. Washington St., Louisville | Free | Shop local businesses, all from the 40206 area code, while enjoying bites + beverages.
Preflight Party for Flyover Film Festival | Saturday, June 29 | 6-9 p.m. | 21c Museum Hotels, 700 W. Main St., Louisville | Free | Join other local movie buffs to learn the lineup for this year’s festival while sampling food + drinks and taking part in a silent auction.
“Soul Food” | Saturday, June 29 | 6:30 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W. Main St., Louisville | $20.77-$29.54 | See music and choreography that “speaks to the soul” from Keen Dance Theatre.
Sunday, June 30
Riverside Farmers’ Market | Sunday, June 30 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremon Landing, 7410 Moorman Rd., Louisville | Cost of purchase | Shop local microgreens, produce, garden plants, crafts, and more while you listen music by Riverport Duo, Don + Lynette Davidson.
Bourbon and Beyond’s lineup has lost a headliner. Neil Young has dropped out of the festival, citing illness within the band. Festival organizers say that a replacement act will be announced in the near future. Bourbon and Beyond is set for September 19-22.
Outdoors
It’s the great outdoors, without the hum of a car engine whizzing by. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, Cherokee Park will be car free. Get out on your bike or take a stroll on foot. It’ll be a walk in the park, literally.
Open
Playground Abode, a new indoor playground for children one to eight years old, is now open at 9904 Linn Station Rd. The facility features modern play areas, including a slide, ball pits, and more. Passes are $16.99 for a two-hour session, or $135 for a 10-visit pass.
Biz
A neighborhood ice cream shop is changing hands — better hurry before it melts. The owners of PRP’s Ice Cream Corner (5115 Greenwood Rd.) are retiring + selling the business. Since 2010, the shop has offered hand-dipped cones, soft serve, malts, and shakes.
Giveaway
Friday + Saturday July 26-27, The Big Stomp will bring 30 acts to Waterfront Park, and you can see them all for free. The Louisville Independent Business Alliance is giving away two general admission tickets to someone who likes their Instagram post + tags a friend. Winners will be announced Monday, July 1.
Watch
You know the phrase: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure museum exhibit. At the Mary Street Midden Project, a local archaeologist is digging through a century-old dump at 1005 Mary St. in Germantown, piece by piece — with the help of a groundhog. (WHAS11)
Legacy
Pioneering Black journalist Merv Aubespin died earlier this week at the age of 86. In 1967, Aubespin became one of the first Black journalists at The Courier Journal, later serving as president of the National Association of Black Journalists. He also taught at Louisville’s Central High School. (The Courier Journal)
Sports
Louisville basketball is going against big programs for recruit Acaden Lewis. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Cards with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Plan Ahead
Even if you didn’t win our Coffee On Us Giveaway, the good news is that Drink Up Week sponsored by Heine Brothers Coffee is just a few weeks away. Stay tuned for a great deal from Louisville’s original coffee roaster, only available July 22-26.*
Festival
Sip, sip, hooray: The Kentucky Craft Bashreturns to Festival Plaza at Waterfront Park tomorrow, June 29. Grab tickets for this lager than life event hosted by the Kentucky Guild of Brewers and sample 100+ varieties of locally-made craft beer, cider + sake from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.*
Eat
Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include Brendon’s Catch 23 for food and Osteria Italian Seafood for ambience.*
Finance
Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*
Arts
LOU, you’re a work of art
13 murals around Louisville
This mural occupies the corner of Shelby + Breckenridge Streets. | Photo by LOUtoday
We all know that LOU has a vibrant art scene — and we’re not just talking about the Speed Art Museum or KMAC Museum. One of our all-time favorite galleries? Louisville itself.
Derby City is home to a number of meaningful murals and street art pieces. Today, we’re sharing where to find pieces that really paint a picture of our city.
Shelby Park
“What we need is here,” 900 S. Shelby St. | By Liz Richter
This two-story public art piece — which you can see above — draws attention to supporting the physical and mental health of mothers and was commissioned as part of the Lean Into Louisville initiative.
A Prime membership — because Amazon Prime Day is coming Tuesday, July 16 + Wednesday, July 17. You need a membership to be eligible for the sale prices (which are usually pretty great).
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.