1. About.com
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Louisville
About.com
Louisville

Things to Do In Louisville, Kentucky

From , former About.com Guide

If you can't find things to do in Louisville, you must not be looking very hard. Whether it’s a free outdoor concert during the summer, the Kentucky Derby in the spring, or a heated college basketball game in the winter, there's always something fun going on just a few miles from every neighborhood.
  1. Things to Do in December
  2. Louisville Attractions
  3. Malls, Stores, & Shops
  4. Louisville Parks & Zoos
  5. Art Galleries & Museums
  1. Theaters and Performing Arts
  2. Annual Festivals and Events
  3. The Kentucky Derby
  4. Kentucky Derby Festival
  5. Getting Out of Town

Things to Do in December

Christmas Tree

Whether it's an event as big as the Kentucky Derby Festival or as small as the First Friday Trolley Hop, there are plenty of things to do every month in Louisville. The following events are some of the most exciting things going on this month in Louisville.

Louisville Attractions

There's something to do in Louisville every day of the year. Whether you've lived here for decades or are just in town for a weekend, you'll want to make sure that you check out some of Louisville's best and least known attractions.

Malls, Stores, & Shops

Louisville has a lot of malls and even more unique, locally-owned corner stores. Whether you're interested in shopping the chains out in St. Matthews or the oddity shops on Bardstown Road in the Highlands, you'll find everything you're looking for in Louisville.

Louisville Parks & Zoos

Louisville has one of the largest park systems in the country, many designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. Whether you're looking to go for a jog or looking to take the kids out for a day of summer fun, you'll want to check out these great outdoor attractions.

Art Galleries & Museums

Louisville itself is an artistic city. Exotic metal bike racks cover Downtown Louisville and portraits of community heroes hang from the city's skyscrapers. There are also at least three major art districts all within 15 minutes of each other.

Theaters and Performing Arts

From the Kentucky Center for the Arts to Baxter Avenue Theater, there are a ton of places in Louisville to catch the hottest movie, the best Broadway musical, the Humana Festival of New American Plays, or your favorite childhood ballet.

Annual Festivals and Events

Everyone has heard of the Kentucky Derby, but not everyone knows about the other great events that occur year after year in Louisville. From the Ford Ironman Triathlon to Art Car weekend, you'll find plenty to do every month of the year.

The Kentucky Derby

Alternatively referred to as “The Run for the Roses” or “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the Kentucky Derby is a 1.25 mile race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. The Kentucky Derby draws an average of 150,000 visitors to Louisville each year in May.

Kentucky Derby Festival

The Kentucky Derby Festival is a celebration of events that occurs in the two weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby. Thunder Over Louisville, the world's largest fireworks show, marks the beginning of the Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Derby itself marks the end.

Getting Out of Town

Louisville is wonderful, but occassionally we all need to get out and explore a new place for a few days. Lucky for us, there are a ton of places close by where we can go for a day or weekend away, as well as a major international airport for longer vacations.

See more newsletters

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.