This Saturday, Sept. 6, the intersection of Bardstown Road and Grinstead Drive will close between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. for the 2025 Louisville Pride Festival — not to be confused with the Kentuckiana Pride Festival in June. This year’s theme is “Decades of Resistance & Hope.” Here’s a sampling of what you can expect at the free event:
Live music, dance, and drag on two stages
LGBTQ+ vendors, plus nonprofits and advocacy groups
Local food trucks
Arts and crafts for all ages
If you’re interested in helping out, you can sign up to volunteer for setup, cleanup, and more.
Wild Workout Yoga | 6-7:30 p.m. | Louisville Zoo | $25 | Stretch those neck muscles and assume your best downward dog giraffe at this outdoor yoga class.
Thursday, Sept. 4
2025 Michter’s Speakeasy at the Frazier | 6:30-9 p.m. | The Frazier History Museum | $49 | Take it back to the 1920s with this Great Gatsby–themed speakeasy featuring music from the era, dancing, cocktails, and exclusive tastings.
Portals, Pathways, and the Space Between Us | 7-9:30 p.m. | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Clermont | Free, $15 suggested donation | This traveling exhibition highlights the Ohio River as a point of both division and connection.
Friday, Sept. 5
Middletown Family Fun Fest | Friday, Sept. 5-Saturday, Sept. 6 | Times vary | Wetherby Park- City Hall Area | Free | Shop vendors, eat fair food, and see car shows, fireworks shows, and dog shows at this weekend-long event.
Sip & Tour | 6 p.m. | 21c Museum Hotels | $23.18 | Take a guided tour of the art museum with an exclusive cocktail in hand.
Brittany Kelly is the new head chef at North of Bourbon after Lawrence Weeks left earlier last month. Kelly has been at the restaurant since 2022 as sous chef and later chef de cuisine. Expect a revamped menu later this month. (Courier Journal)
Biz
Cornbread Hemp, one of the fastest-growing companies in Kentucky last year, is now a sponsor of the Louisville Cardinals. It’s the first THC beverage sponsorship in college athletics.
Coming Soon
Louisville Barrel Whiskey Co. is a distillery and tasting room from Nashville Barrel Co. set to open on Market Street early next year. It’ll be taking over the NoraeBar space with a bottle shop and hands-on distillery experiences. (Courier Journal)
Closing
The Hilltop Tavern is set to close down at the end of this month. If it’s your favorite place in town, worry not. The owners will be back with a new venture in the coming months: Dive Bar on Frankfort. (Courier Journal)
Drink
Craft beer fans can head to Central Park for the Old Lou Brew Craft Beer Festival this Friday, Sept. 5, 6-10 p.m. Sip local beer while jamming to live music — and bring a friend, because you’ll get a discount when buying two tickets.
Festival
If you’re planning to attend the German American Club’s Oktoberfest this weekend, you might consider springing for the $50 fast pass. This VIP experience includes early entry, free food, and a reusable cup + pitcher. Bonus: Check out these other upcoming Louisville Oktoberfests.
Open
Acai-Ville Café is now open in the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center on Muhammad Ali Boulevard. The new fruit bowl and smoothie place also has a location coming to Broadway, with an opening date TBD. (Louisville Business First)
Sports
Caullin Lacy emerges as Louisville’s Swiss Army Knife in their dominant 51-17 victory over Eastern Kentucky. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Cards with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Biz
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The Buy
Your go-to item for upping fall runs and workouts: a top-selling weighted strength training vest. Choose from six pounds up to 30 pounds and add the weighted vest to runs, classes, or gym sessions to enhance calorie burning, improve your core, and increase muscle gains.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Get those vocal warmups ready, LOU. “American Idol” is hosting online Idol Across America auditions this month, and Kentucky auditions will be next Monday, Sept. 8. Hopefuls can get real-time feedback on their audition + try for a chance to be featured on the show. We’ll see you on TV.
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