1 Worldfest [4] brings African, Celtic, Latin, Arabic and other styles of entertainment plus more than 30 food vendors to the Belvedere (Sept. 1-4).
2 Kentucky Bourbon & Bluegrass Experience [5] at Water Tower Park (Sept. 2 & 3).
3 Southern Fried Nuptials [6] at Derby Dinner Playhouse (Sept. 3-Oct. 1).
4 Hike Bike and Paddle [7] at Waterfront Park.
5 Pick apples at Joe Huber’s [8].
6 See photo essays about grandmother activists from around the world in “Grandmother Power” [9] at the Ali Center (Sept.1-Jan. 8).
7 Craft Beer Throwdown [10] at Bowman Field.
8 Local artists pay tribute to Freddie Mercury with a night of Queen songs at Freddie Fest [11], benefitting Kentuckiana AIDS Alliance, at Zanzabar. Pete Fest [12] brings together dozens of local and regional bands including Curio Key Club, Dr. Dundiff and Delta Saints, to benefit the Pete Foundation, which prevents suicide and fights depression, at Jones Field (Sept. 8-10).
9 B3 Fest: The festival of bacon, bourbon and beer [13] benefits Kosair Charities, at Bowman Field. Dog swim [14] at Calypso Cove Waterpark. Free Louisville Orchestra [15] concert at Iroquois Amphitheater.
10 Big Four Bridge Arts Festival [16] features more than 100 juried and emerging artists (Sept. 8-10).
11 Raise your glasses: Kentucky Bourbon Festival [17] in Bardstown (Sept. 11-17).
12 May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers [18] directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, at the Speed.
13 Indie rockers Company of Thieves [19] at Zanzabar.
14 Last year 600 nonprofits raised $4.3 million in a day, thanks to Give for Good Louisville [20], happening again today through the Community Foundation of Louisville.
15 Kentucky Opera presents Ariadne Auf Naxos [21] at the Brown Theatre. Kentucky Kickdown Motorcycle Fest [22] at Barret Bar (Sept. 15-17).
16 Get ready: Pride Festival [23] on Bardstown Road. Bryson Tiller [24] at the Yum! Center. Homebrew Fair [25] competition at the Waterfront Botanical Gardens site. Louisville Orchestra pops concert [26]: Sgt. Pepper at the Pops, at the Kentucky Center. U of L football vs. Clemson [27] at Papa John’s Stadium. Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton headlines this year’s Jug Band Jubilee [28] at the Brown-Forman Amphitheater at Waterfront Park. Nap.
17 ReGeneration Fair [29], with food trucks, live music and environmental displays, at Waterfront Botanical Gardens. Louisville Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival [30] at Waterfront Park.
18 Vintage skateboarding videos and free pizza at Haymarket Whiskey Bar [31] every Monday.
19 Bruno Mars [32] at the Yum! Center.
20 Louisville City FC vs. Rochester Rhinos [33] at Slugger Field.
21 Rye Back Porch Sessions [34] with Beacons, benefiting the Kentucky Opera.
22 Pandora Productions presents the black comedy Sordid Lives [35] at the Henry Clay (Sept. 14-16, 21-23).
23 Bet some races at Downs After Dark [36]. Old Louisville Live [37]: Quiet Hollers and Frederick the Younger, at Central Park. Big Boi [38] at Mercury Ballroom.
24 Bourbon and Beyond [39] features Steve Miller Band, Stevie Nicks, Eddie Vedder, Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr. and more at Champions Park (Sept. 23 & 24).
25 Clifton Roots Jazz and Heritage Festival [40] at the Clifton Center (Sept. 21-Oct. 1).
26 The Moth StorySLAM [41], Topic: Schooled, at Headliners. IdeaFestival [42] at the Kentucky Center (Sept. 26-28).
27 WFPK Waterfront Wednesday [43] with Anderson East, the Secret Sisters and Brooks Ritter, at the Big Four Lawn.
28 Synth pop duo Sylvan Esso [44] at Mercury Ballroom. The Head and the Heart [45] at Iroquois Amphitheater.
29 Chocolate Fest [46] at Mellwood Arts Center benefits the Louisville AIDS Walk.
30 Louder Than Life Festival [47] is back, featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Incubus and Rob Zombie, plus all kinds of hearty grub and drinks, at Champions Park (Sept. 30 & Oct. 1).
This originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Louisville Magazine. To subscribe to Louisville Magazine, click here. [48] To find your very own copy of Louisville Magazine, click here. [49]
Cover Image: Pexels.com [50]