Celebrate Derby time in Louisville by attending a literary event in town! Here is a list of local bookstores and libraries hosting events from everything to special storytimes to author visits to an independent bookstore celebration.
Thursday, April 23, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Picking Long Shots & Kentucky Derby Winners
Jeffersonville Township Public Library
North Program Room
211 East Court Avenue
Call 812-285-5635 for more information
Come to this event catered toward adults, the library is hosting Calvin Carter, the co-author of Horse Profiling. Handicappers will learn how to pick the long shots in races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. They will also learn some strategies for narrowing their Derby selections. This is a Money Smart Week program; learn more by visiting www.moneysmartweek.org.
www.jefflibrary.org
Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Children's Department Sebastian and the Balloon Storytime
Barnes and Noble, The Shoppes at Plainview
801 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy
502-426-0255
Come in and listen to a reading of Sebastian and the Balloon by Philip Stead. It's the Great Balloon Race Day, and this story of Sebastian and his many adventures in a hot air balloon sounds like it will accompany the day's festivities perfectly.
Monday, April 27, 6:30pm
Monday Night Lights Special Event
Southwest Regional Library
9725 Dixie Highway
502-933-0029
Event goers to this library program will have the chance to meet author Skylar James as she shares her book Shadow of a Doubt. It's a new children's novel about dreams, horses, and the Kentucky Derby.
www.lfpl.org
Friday, May 1, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Make a Derby Hat
Crescent Hill Library
2762 Frankfort Avenue
502-574-1793
Have fun making a Derby hat, fancy enough to impress the neighbors! For ages 4 and up.
www.lfpl.org
Friday, May 1, 2 - 4 p.m.
Build Your Own Derby Hat
Portland Library
3305 Northwestern Pkwy
502-574-1744
Come build silly hats in honor of Derby and Oaks Day.
www.lfpl.org
Friday, May 1, 3 - 5 p.m.
All About Horses
Highlands-Shelby Park Library
1250 Bardstown Rd
Come to a fun program devoted to the "mane" Derby event: horses!
502-574-1672
www.lfpl.org
Friday, May 1, 3 - 4 p.m.
Derby Jewelry
Middletown Library
200 N. Juneau Dr
Make your own shrinky dink earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and pins just in time for the Kentucky Derby! Support your favorite racehorse by designing some flare inspired by the 2015 Derby. Call 245-7332 to register. For tweens and teens ages 10-18 .
502-245-7332
www.lfpl.org
Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Carmichael's Bookstore Presents Independent Bookstore Day
This special day long event on Derby Day will be held at all locations: 2720 Frankfort Ave, 1295 Bardstown Rd, and 1313 Bardstown Rd.
Carmichael's invites you to celebrate local bookstores and the readers who shop local and independent bookstores. According to their website:
"We will have exclusive products (at all three stores) and all kinds of special activities and giveaways. Yes, we know it's Derby Day; we think it will add to the fun! We are throwing a day-long alternative Derby party with events and items going off all day (just like the track!) and fun activities for all ages.
As a special treat, Carmichael's has teamed up with Hound Dog Press and three other indie bookstores across Kentucky to offer you VERY LIMITED once-in-a-lifetime letter pressed KY literature items. Bookmarks featuring quotes by Wendell Berry, Silas House and the new Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon. These will be available for $2 each, with proceeds from the sales going to the Louisville Story Program. Additionally, we will have specially made posters to display a collection of all three bookmarks. On these posters ONLY the authors will sign under their quotes. The posters will be $35 with proceeds going to Louisville Story Program. Each store will only have ten posters so when they are gone they are really gone!" For more information about Independent Bookstore Day, click here. Also RSVP on the Facebook event page.
Know of other events to add to this list? Let us know in the comments or tweet @louisvillecom!
Photos and images courtesy of www.carmichaelsbookstore.com and Carmichael's Bookstore, Facebook
