Spring festivals you don’t want to miss in Louisville

Spring in Bourbon City blooms like a tulip, smells like a Mint Julep, and marks the official start of Derby season. Read on for all the major happenings in Louisville this year, and be sure to check out the Kentucky Derby Festival’s calendar of events for a full list of all Derby season events.

🌷March

Tailspin Ale Fest | Saturday, March 7
Take flight at the historic Bowman Field airport, one of the oldest continually operated airports in the U.S., for the 13th annual end-of-winter beer fest. The outdoor event features over 250 samples from 50+ breweries, food trucks, a cigar lounge, a silent disco, live music, and a display of historic planes.

St. Patrick’s Parade | Saturday, March 14 | FREE
Line the corridors of Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue in the eclectic Highlands neighborhood for this annual parade and St. Paddy’s celebration, which begins at 3 p.m. Hosted by the Louisville Ancient Order of Hibernians, the parade has taken place for over 50 years and features local parade floats and marching bands — plus, there’s plenty of green beer to go around thanks to the surrounding Irish bars Molly Malone's, O'Shea's, and Flanagan's.

Louisville Arcade Expo | Friday, March 27-Sunday, March 29
Prove you’re a pinball wizard or a classic gaming champ with hundreds of arcade and pinball machines on free play. The two-day gaming showcase at the Triple Crown Pavilion will also feature vendors, classic computers, classic consoles, and host tournaments. Cosplay is also welcomed and encouraged.

NuLu Bock Fest & Wurst Fest | Saturday, March 28 | FREE
Located on a stretch of Market Street between Nanny Goat Strut and Billy Goat Strut, the NuLu Bock Fest celebrates Louisville's rich beer history with local breweries, music, and goat races. Wurst Fest is back for 2026 too, and will feature Louisville restaurants facing off to create their best sausage. The festivities start at 12 p.m. and end at 6 p.m.

🌷April

Thunder Over Louisville | Saturday, April 18 | FREE
This massive fireworks and air show is the official kickoff event for the Kentucky Derby Festival. Heralded as North America's largest annual pyrotechnics display, Thunder Over Louisville brings hundreds of thousands of spectators to the banks of the Ohio River.

Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville | Thursday, April 23-Friday, May 1
This nine-day Kentucky Derby Festival celebration takes place annually at Louisville’s Waterfront Park and features concerts, midway rides, and the Chow Wagon, a collection of carnival food vendors and food trucks. The 900,000-sqft venue will also host the balloon glow, GospelFest, the Ken-Ducky Derby, and more.

Cherokee Triangle Art Fair | Saturday, April 25 & Sunday, April 26 | FREE
This two-day event is one of the oldest art fairs in the region and features more than 200 artist booths with art ranging from paintings and sculptures to jewelry. The fair takes place in Louisville’s historic Cherokee Triangle neighborhood on tree-lined roads, making it a picturesque springtime event.

Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon & Marathon | Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25
This long-standing tradition allows runners to see iconic Louisville sites including the world's largest baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum, historic homes of Old Louisville, and the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. Those who opt to do the full marathon will run through two Frederick Law Olmsted-designed parks, taking a lap through Louisville's Central Park and Iroquois Park.

The Great Steamboat Race | Wednesday, April 29 | FREE
Beginning in 1963 with a head-to-head battle between two historic vessels, the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, The Great Steamboat Race is one of the Kentucky Derby Festival's most unique traditions. This year’s race will include Louisville’s Belle of Louisville and the Belle of Cincinnati. Locals enjoy picnicking along the river at Waterfront Park and getting a bird's eye view of the start and finish from the historic Big Four Bridge.

🌷May

Kentucky Oaks | Friday, May 1
Held the day before the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs racetrack is the second highest-attended horse race in the U.S. Run by three-year-old fillies, the Oaks offers a $1.5 million purse and awards the winner the iconic Lilies for the Fillies garland. Spectators have a tradition of wearing pink on Oaks Day in an effort to bring attention to the fight against breast and ovarian cancer.

Kentucky Derby | Saturday, May 2
Considered the longest continually held sporting event in North America, the Kentucky Derby is a tradition unlike any other. Held at the iconic Churchill Downs racetrack, "the most exciting two minutes in sports" takes place annually in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, with up to twenty Thoroughbreds racing head-to-head for a chance at being named Kentucky Derby champion and a shot at the coveted Triple Crown

Maifest | Saturday, May 9
German American Club’s annual Maifest — sometimes called “Octoberfest’s little sister” — kicks off the outdoor biergarten season. The traditional German festivities include stein holding contests, polka bands, a full German dinner, and German beers, of course. Plus, this event is family friendly, offering face painting and a kids scavenger hunt.

Poorcastle | Friday, May 15-Sunday, May 17
This local music festival is making a return this year, and in a new location to boot. Hundreds of musicians, local businesses, artists, and vendors will come together at Jubilee Field, a community complex and green space in the trendy Germantown neighborhood.

Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo | Saturday, May 15-Sunday, July 26
Experience the wonder of light and culture as artistry comes to life when Wild Lights returns to the Louisville Zoo this Spring. This year’s festival debuts an all-new collection of handcrafted Chinese lantern displays, blending centuries-old artistry with imaginative design to create an unforgettable nighttime adventure. Stay tuned to the Louisville Zoo website for when tickets go on sale near the end of March.

Abbey Road on the River | Thursday, May 21-Monday, May 25
This annual Beatles-inspired festival comes together just across the river from Louisville at Big Four Station Park in Jeffersonville, IN for five days of peace, love, and rock-n-roll. The fest will feature some of the best Beatles cover bands in the world, as well as other 1960s tributes. This year’s lineup includes Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, The Cowsills, and Laurence Juber of the Wings.

Admission is free for attendees under 20 accompanied by a ticketholder.

Uncle Boojie's Roots Revue | Friday, May 22 & Saturday, May 23
Back for its third year, this two-day bluegrass, roots, and folk music festival will be hosted in Christie's Garden in the heart of Paristown. The festival will feature some of the best and up-and-coming bluegrass musicians, local food, and cocktails.

Fleur de Flea Vintage Urban Outdoor Market | Saturday, May 23 | FREE
Held the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, this massive urban outdoor market will be held at Louisville's Waterfront Park on Waterfront Plaza and feature 200+ vendors from all over the region.

Kentucky Shakespeare Festival | Wednesday, May 27-Sunday, Aug. 9 | FREE
Taking place in Old Louisville’s scenic Central Park, the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival continues its decades-long tradition of providing free performances of some of Shakespeare’s greatest works. The shows for this year’s season are “As You Like It,” “Antony and Cleopatra,” and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Performances begin nightly at 8 p.m., but attendees are encouraged to arrive early to get a bite from a local food truck and enjoy pre-performance activities.

For more things to do in Bourbon City, check out our calendar of events.