The Belvedere opened in 1973, and annually hosts events like WorldFest, which attracts ~150,000 attendees. | Photo by Louisville Tourism
Located between 4th and 6th Streets, the Belvedere was built in 1973 atop a parking garage and I-64.
Its seven acres of park space attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with large public events like WorldFest and Thunder Over Louisville.
But, these days the Belvedere could use a little TLC — and the Louisville Metro Government is working to make it happen.
Here’s where things stand:
In 2023, the Louisville Metro Government awarded $150,000 to the firm K. Norman Berry to draw up a Belvedere Master Plan.
In April 2024, the state legislature allocated $100 million for improvements to downtown Louisville, including the Belvedere.
In June 2024, the Louisville Metro Council approved $10 million for the Belvedere in the 2024-2025 budget.
Learn more + offer your input at three public meetings. Register in advance to be able to share your ideas + guarantee a seat.
Book Social: “THEY ALL FALL THE SAME” | 7-8 p.m. | 3rd Turn Brewing | Free | Hear from former Poet Laureate of Kentucky Silas House and Kentucky author Wes Browne, and sip a themed cocktail.
Thursday, Jan. 16
Reset and Renew — Align Through Sound | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | PORTAL + ARTPORTAL | $20 | Bring a yoga mat or blanket and a pillow to meditate during this sensory immersion experience that uses crystal singing bowls to create a sound bath.
Friday, Jan. 17
Frank Foster | 8 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom | $35+ | This “Blue Collar Boy” indie country singer has ~234,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Saturday, Jan. 18
A Brief History of Art and Technology | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | South Central Library | Free | Learn how technology has changed art, from the introduction of the printing press to the invention of photography.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Hometown Tourist Celebration | Saturday, Feb. 1-Monday, Feb. 10 | Times vary | Downtown Louisville | Residents of Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana are invited to be tourists in their hometown and celebrate their city by exploring local attractions in Downtown Louisville.*
The House of Marigold is expanding. The Shelbyville Road breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot is adding a second location, in Norton Commons. The new location will open this summer. We’d like a hot honey fried chicken biscuit, please.
Travel
Tired of the snow? How’s about a trip to the beach?Spirit Airlines is offering seasonal, direct flights from the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport to Myrtle Beach and Tampa — oh, hey TBAYtoday. The new options take off on Wednesday, March 19. Don’t forget to pack the sunscreen.
Announced
Speaking of flight news... Alt + indie band Khruangbin — that means airplane in Thai — is landing at Bourbon and Beyond 2025. The Houston-based trio was nominated for a Grammy in 2024, and you may have heard their 2020 collab with Leon Bridges, “Texas Sun” — it’s got ~300 million plays on Spotify.
Try This
Learn the basics of tree maintenance + enjoy a frosty brew with Pruning and Pints from the Louisville Metro Department of Urban Forestry. Stop by Joe Creason Park on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 3-5:30 p.m. Gloves, safety glasses, and vests will be provided.
Arts
Local artists Hannah Drake and Josh Miller are the new co-executive directors of IDEAS xLab, a 10-year-old nonprofit that uses art to impact public health. The pair are also behind the (Un)Known Project, the organization’s primary initiative.
Sports
There are just 60 days until Selection Sunday — will the Cards get the invite to the Big Dance for the first time since 2019? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Louisville Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Job
Ready to get connected with the best local talent in 2025? We created our community job board just for you. Give it a try by posting your first listing for free.
Category
Derby
🐴 And they’re off...
The Great Hall at the Kentucky Derby Museum opened in 1985. | Photo courtesy Kentucky Derby Museum
Ask any kid in Louisville about the Kentucky Derby Museum — they’ve all been there on at least one field trip — and it’s a safe bet they’ll remember the wrap-around theater in the Great Hall.
Now, after 40 years, the Hall + theater are being upgraded, ensuring more generations of field trip memories.
A $2.3 million renovation is underway. The plans include upgrades to the theater’s projection, surround soundtrack, and lighting systems.
Additionally, the film shown daily in the theater, “The Greatest Race,” is being re-cut. It is already updated annually to include the most recent Kentucky Derby winner, but this is the most significant change in a decade.
Fun fact: The theater debuted in 1985 as a 360° slideshow of Derby photos.
The new theater and updated film will be out of starting gate with a VIP premiere on Thursday, April 10. The revamped space will open to the public on April 11.
The Buy
The Buy
Bananagrams. The award-winning family game is travel-friendly + perfect for all ages. Bonus: Add a little chaos to family game night when you try the party edition features 14 new tiles with challenges and hijinks.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? I’d pick flight.
Well, lucky for me, local photographer Brandon Culver’ drone took flight through Derby City last week during the snow — it’s a bird’s eye view to behold.
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