Annual Festivals & Events
From an award-winning festival city
Louisville knows how to party (and host a festival)!
In fact, the whole world knows.
In addition to hosting the longest running annual sporting event in America (the Kentucky Derby), Louisville became one of the first cities in the world to be recognized as a TOP festival and event city.
The International Festivals & Events Association named Louisville a "best festival city" for its various events and how the community supports them.
Find out yourself by exploring one of the many happenings going on throughout the year.
Annual Festivals & Events
- Abbey Road on the River
- Ali Festival
- Americana World Festival
- The Big Stomp
- Jeffersontown Beer Festival
- Kentuckiana Pride Festival
- Kentucky Craft Bash
- Kentucky Shakespeare Festival
- Kentucky State Fair
- Mayor’s Hike, Bike & Paddle
- NSRA Street Rod Nationals Plus
- Old Fashioned Fortnight
- Old Lou Craft Beer Festival
- Waterfront Independence Festival
- World Championship of Dainty
- World Championship Horse Show
- Belknap Festival
- Boo at the Zoo
- Bourbon & Beyond
- Garvin Gate Blues Festival
- Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular
- Louder Than Life
- Louisville’s International Festival of Film
- Louisville Pride Festival
- Jeffersontown Gaslight Festival
- National Bourbon Heritage Month
- North American Livestock Exposition & Championship Rodeo
- NuLu Festival
- Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom
- St. James Court Art Show
- Urban Bourbon Half Marathon
- WorldFest
Upcoming Festivals
Belknap Fall Festival
1939 Harvard Dr.
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Details
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Celebrate the spirit of autumn in one of Louisville’s most charming neighborhoods at the Annual Belknap Fall Festival. Held the second weekend in October, this...
Goatman Festival
4002 S Pope Lick Rd
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
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FREE outdoor Cryptid & Art Festival featuring Louisville's own Pope Lick Monster - it's the 3RD ANNUAL GOATMAN FESTIVAL! MoviesOCTOBER 10 | Showing:...
Grateville Dead Music Festival
1301 River Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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Grateville Dead Music Festival
Join regional deadheads October 17-19, 2025, bringing it back home to the Brown Forman Amphitheater at Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY for the Grateville...
Nulu Nights
616-618 E. Market St.
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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Experience the energy of NuLu Nights, a vibrant evening series happening July 25, August 22, October 17, and December 12.On each date, the NuLu neighborhood...
Via Colori Street Painting Festival
1101 River Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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Via Colori Street Painting Festival
The 17th annual Via Colori® Street Painting Festival will be held October 18, 2025 – October 19, 2025. Kentuckiana's Largest Street Painting Festival is free...
Chili, Brats & Brew
706 Spring Street
Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
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Steins on Main
615 W. Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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Louisville Downtown Partnership and Against the Grain Brewery are partnering to bring the popular Oktoberfest celebration Steins on Main to Downtown this...
Hallouween Parade & Festival
East Market Street between S. Hancock and S. Wenzel Streets
Louisville, Kentucky
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Hallouween Parade & Fest is a FREE EVENT in Louisville, Kentucky. It is also known as the Louisville Halloween Parade & Festival. It has been taking...
Down the Rabbit Hole Halloween Party
411 S. Fourth Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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Down the Rabbit Hole Halloween Party
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: A Twisted Halloween PartySaturday, October 25 | Fourth Street Live! | 21+This Halloween, we’re not just throwing a party—we’re dragging...
Game Con Junction
1903 Embassy Square Blvd.
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
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Get ready for three days of gaming, cosplay, and all things nerdy at Game Con Junction 2025 right here in Louisville, KY! Join us October 31st through November...
Louisville Black Chef Showcase
3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, Kentucky 40212
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Louisville Black Chef Showcase
The Louisville Black Chef Showcase is an annual event created to celebrate and elevate Black culinary talent in the Louisville area. Featuring tastings from a...
Festival of Faiths
501 W. Main St.
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
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The 2025 Festival of Faiths will celebrate the interconnectedness of all people and the world we share. Together we will explore ways to cultivate communities...