Don't act like you haven't been looking forward to this three-day weekend all week long. Here's where to go and what to do.
Abbey Road on the River
The 50th Anniversary of Beatlemania continues when Louisville hosts Abbey Road on the River, the world’s largest Beatles-inspired music festival, from May 22-26, 2014. This annual 5-day festival, held over Memorial Day Weekend, celebrates and pays tribute to the greatest rock band of all time, The Beatles. Fans will enjoy over 250 concerts by 60 bands from around the world, including headlining acts The Beach Boys and John Sebastian. Visit www.arotr.com to purchase festival tickets, make a reservation at the Galt House Hotel, and get more information about Abbey Road on the River.
May 22 – 26. 2014
Galt House Hotel
140 N. 4th Street
Louisville, KY 40202
216-378-1980
The Brewery's Back Deck Pig Roast
The Louisville Eats Good team, which features Chefs Dean Corbett, Shawn Ward, Nirmesh Agrawal, and Brian Flowers is hosting The Brewery's Back Deck Pig Roast. Special guest chef Fernando Martinez will join the Louisville Eats Good team on Thursday to roast a pig weighing in at more than 250 pounds! The Brewery's Back Deck Pig Roast is tomorrow, Thursday, May 22. at 6:00pm until close (or until the food runs out)! Here's the best part; it's $10 all-you-can-eat! Deck drink specials will also be available. Louisville Eats Good will be taking donations at the door to benefit The Forecastle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to protecting and saving the earth's remaining biodiveristy hotspots.
May 22, 6 – 10 p.m.
The Brewery
426 Baxter Ave
Louisville, Kentucky 40204
(502) 365-2505
$10 all you can eat
Farm to Table Fundraiser Dinner at Harvest
The Louisville charity organization WaterStep is hosting a Farm to Table dinner on Thursday, May 22 at Harvest Restaurant at 624 East Market Street in NuLu. The cocktail reception starts at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner bell ringing at 6:45 p.m. There will also be a live auction where you can bid on an Old 502 Winery gift basket, a Kentucky Proud Louisville Stoneware platter, and a Four Roses Gift Basket that includes bottles signed by master distiller Jim Rutledge. Tickets to the dinner are $100 each with proceeds going to WaterStep, a non-profit organization invested in finding solutions to the worldwide water crisis, and giving people safe drinking water.
May 22, 5 – 9 p.m.
Harvest Restaurant
624 East Market Street
Louisville, KY 40202
www.harvestlouisville.com/
502-384-9090
$100
Straight From The Bottle Wine Tasting at the Ice House
Drop by the Ice House on Thursday, May 22 to enjoy a hands-on experience learning about seasonal wines, exploring different wine tasting techniques, and learning about the worldwide variety of wines. Lessons will be taught by Ice House Director and wine expert, Erica Schnell. Enjoy a cash bar before and after your tasting. This event will be held in the Ice House Lounge from 6 to 8 p.m., and space is limited. Tickets are $20 per class; a series of 6 classes are $90. To purchase tickets, call 502-589-4700.
May 22, 6 – 8 p.m.
Ice House
226 East Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
www.icehouselouisville.com/upcoming_events.html
502-589-4700
$20 per class; a series of 6 classes are $90
Sidebar's Pro Bono Party
Help Sidebar celebrate their one-year anniversary by joining them for a night of $1 booze, bar shwag giveaways, and a new cocktail menu.
May 22, 7 – 11 p.m.
Sidebar
129 N 2nd Street
Louisville, KY 40202
www.facebook.com/SidebarLou
502-384-1600
Tonight only! $1 booze!
Kentucky Kingdom Grand Re-Opening!
Kentucky Kingdom is finally opening its gates once again! Imagine a totally revamped Kentucky Kingdom with all your favorite classics plus seven exciting new rides. The size of Hurricane Bay has been doubled for 2014. This large addition features eight new water rides and attractions, additional beach chairs and lounging areas, and private cabanas to rent. We offer free tubes and sunscreen too! Park hours – Sun-Thurs: 11-7 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 11-9 p.m.
May 24, gates open at 11 a.m.
Kentucky Kingdom
937 Phillips Lane
Louisville, KY 40209
http://www.kentuckykingdom.com
502-813-8200
Approximately $45
The Boomtown Ball and Festival in New Albany
The Boomtown Ball, a day-long concert and flea market, takes place this Sunday as the kickoff to New Albany’s Bicentennial Park Summer Concert Series. The outdoor flea market and concerts are free and family-friendly. The event will be held on Market Street in downtown New Albany and will feature the Louisville-based Flea Off Market. The market begins at 1 p.m. so patrons have ample time to search through the local vendors that offer records, book, antiques, vintage items, and crafts. The concert lineup includes the immensely-popular Houndmouth, as well as San Fermin, Fly Golden Eagle, Discount Guns, The Pass, Daniel Martin Moore, Ranger, The Kernal & His New Strangers, and The River City Blues Band. Music begins at 1:30 p.m.
May 25, kickoff at 1 p.m.
Downtown
Market Street
New Albany, IN 47150
www.cityofnewalbany.com/home/279-boomtown-ball-a-festival
812-948-5333
Free
Beatersville Car Show at Phoenix Hill Tavern
Where can you find gearheads matched up with retro outfitted beauties? On Sunday, May 25, you’ll get to see that and everything in between at the annual Beatersville Car and Bike show at Phoenix Hill Tavern, 644 Baxter Avenue. Gates open at 10 a.m. Bands include the Art Adams Band, Jane Rose and the Dead End Boys, the Elixers, MG and the Gas City Three, Keith Jones and the Makeshifts, Whisky Bent Valley, Nulydeds, and 3GC. And then there’s the ever popular Miss Beatersville contest. Last year's winner ended up taking home $900 cash and also won a photo shoot with Ryan Armbrust’s Boudoir Louisville photo studio.
May 25, 10 a.m.
Phoenix Hill Tavern
644 Baxter Ave
Louisville, KY 40204
www.beatersville.com/
502-345-9396
$10
Mayor's Hike, Bike & Paddle at Waterfront Park
Hike, Bike and Paddle takes place at the top of Waterfront Park's Great Lawn at E. Witherspoon Street near the dancing fountain.
Paddlers will have the option of a 3 or 6-mile paddling course from Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park to Cox Park and back.
For cyclists, a 15-mile route will roll through Old Louisville, down Southern Parkway and into Iroquois Park, one of Louisville’s signature Olmsted-designed Metro Parks.
The hiking route, which is wheelchair-accessible, will allow walkers to explore downtown along Third St. before turning at York St. in front of the main branch of the Louisville Free Public Library. Walkers may bring dogs to participate in the hike.
A healthy marketplace with nutritional snacks, free children’s activities, and informational booths will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Waterfront Park. There will also be free tours on the river in the large “Voyager Canoe.”
Yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba, Nia and Pickleball demonstrations will be offered along with group participation. 3,000 free T-shirts will be available for those arriving early and completing a brief survey.
The Brain Injury Association will distribute 500 helmets to riders who don’t have one. Coca-Cola will distribute 2,500 pedometers to the hikers.
As an added bonus, all participants in the Hike, Bike & Paddle will get free admission to the Kentucky Reggae Festival happening Memorial Day at the Water Tower. The free passes will be available at the Reggae Festival booth at the Hike, Bike & Paddle.
May 26, 8 – 10 p.m.
The Great Lawn at Waterfront Park
230 E Witherspoon St.
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
www.louisvilleky.gov/healthyhometown/HikeandBikeMHHM/
(502) 574-3428
Free!
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.com/dwphotos
