Here are 10 things to do in Louisville now that the weather is getting warmer
If you enjoy extra daylight and time spent outdoors, it's time to shout "Hallelujah!" Daylight Saving Time begins on March 10, which means it's time to take advantage of the longer daylight available during the spring and summer.
If you've forgotten all there is to do outdoors, we've put together 10 ideas to get you started. Some are free, a few are mouth-watering, a couple will get your heart pumping and all of these outdoor ideas include an element of fun.
Car Free Sundays in Cherokee Park
745 Cochran Hill Road; olmstedparks.org
On the last Sunday of each month, Cherokee Park is closed to traffic so that park users can enjoy the Scenic Loop car-free.
The Olmsted Park Conservancy shuts down the 2-mile Scenic Loop to vehicular traffic so the community can enjoy a car-free bike, run or walk free of motorized vehicles. The car-free walk period extends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following Sundays: March 31, May 26, June 30, July 28, Aug. 27, Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 24, and Dec. 29.
Instead of driving to the park, take Tarc route #29 with stops at the Daniel Boone monument, Barney St., Bonnycastle Ave, and Spring Drive. Learn more at ridetarc.org.
WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday
Big Four Lawn, 1001 River Road; lpm.org
Louisville’s favorite free annual outdoor concert series runs the last Wednesday of the month from April to September. The free concerts are held on the Big Four Lawn in Louisville’s Waterfront Park. Gates open at 5 p.m. and music begins at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and grab dinner and drinks from the local food trucks and vendors then sit back and enjoy the music as the sun sets over the Ohio River.
WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday will release its 2024 season lineup soon.
Olmsted Parks Beer Gardens
Tyler Park, 1501 Castlewood Ave., Cherokee Park, 745 Cochran Hill Road; olmstedparks.org
A fun way to gather outdoors with old friends or meet new ones is by heading to one of the Olmsted Parks Beer Gardens. The Tyler Park and Cherokee Park Beer Gardens are laid-back gatherings with beer from West Sixth Brewing and food from local food trucks.
The Cherokee Park event is on April 26 from 5-8 p.m. with the beer garden set up near the Stegner Pavilion, on the Scenic Loop just past Hogan’s Fountain. The Tyler Park beer garden takes place May 26, 5- 8 p.m.
Admission is free, but food and drinks are not.
Walking Wednesday at Louisville Water Company
Crescent Hill Reservoir; louisvillewater.com
Louisville Water’s Walking Wednesday season steps off on Wednesday, May 1. These free group walks will be held at the Crescent Hill Reservoir on the first Wednesday of each month through October. The times are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Mark your calendar for the free Wednesday walks on May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, and Oct. 2.
Kentucky Shakespeare in the Park
C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater, 1340 S. Fourth St., in Old Louisville's Central Park; kyshakespeare.com
Now in its 64th season, Kentucky Shakespeare's free "Shakespeare in the Park" series promises your summer will be filled with comedy, romance, and magic.
The 2024 season begins May 29 and runs through Aug. 11 at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater, 1340 S. Fourth St., in Old Louisville's Central Park. It includes the beloved "Romeo & Juliet," followed by the hilarious hijinks of the farce "The Comedy of Errors" and will conclude with the magical comedy "The Tempest."
The season will again feature two weeks of rotating repertory in July in which all three productions will rotate nightly. Shakespeare's beloved "Romeo & Juliet" is set in the Regency period.
Try a food tour in NuLu and the Highlands
Contact vendor for starting locations in the Nulu and Highlands neighborhood; lousivillefoodtours.com
TheHighlands Heritage Tastes and Tales Tour and The Nulu History and Food Tour wind through the streets of these popular Louisville neighborhoods for a taste of the local history one bite at a time. You'll taste and sip local specialties like biscuits and gravy, Derby chocolate chip cookies, beer cheese, bourbon balls, craft beer, and more.
Along the way, your tour guide weaves together the unique history of the neighborhood and explains how the history of the community contributed to some of these favorite foods.
Glamping at Progress Park
Progress Park, 4501 Progress Blvd.; progressparkky.com
Progress Park, an all-inclusive glamping resort hidden in the heart of Louisville, opened all seven Airstreams for the season on March 1. The 12-acre all-inclusive glamping resort and event venue is operated by two Louisville families who have created a place where guests can be immersed in nature while enjoying the modern conveniences of the city.
Cruise the Ohio River on the Belle of Louisville
Belle of Louisville, 401 West River Road; belleoflouisville.org
A riverboat ride onboard the iconic Belle of Louisville or Mary M. Miller is a unique way to experience spectacular views of downtown Louisville and explore the area’s rich history. Cruise the Ohio River for lunch or dinner or book a ride and enjoy a leisurely trip down the Ohio River on a historic steamboat.
Take a Whiskey Row Walking Tour
Tour begins at Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main St.; whiskeyrowwalkingtour.com
Whether you're interested in Kentucky’s bourbon industry boom, the rich history of the spirit, or simply quirky facts and off-the-wall information on the people who created this staple of the Bluegrass State, the Whiskey Row Walking Tour blends history with bourbon tasting. The two-hour tour, led by Drew Shyrock, takes guests on a guided walk along downtown Louisville's Whiskey Row with stops in local distilleries for a sample of the spirit that once made Main Street a hub for the whiskey trade.
Explore the Falls of the Ohio
201 W. Riverside Drive, Clarksville, Indiana; fallsoftheohio.org
The Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana is worth the short drive from Louisville. If you own a bicycle, you can pedal across the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge and ride the Ohio River Greenway to the park and Interpretive Center.
The Falls of the Ohio is near the site where Lewis and Clark began the Corps of Discovery and features the world's largest exposed Devonian fossil bed. The park is part of a 1,404-acre National Wildlife Conservation Area where the giant fossil beds tell a story 390 million years in the making.
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 10 things to do in Louisville now that the weather is getting warmer
