Immerse yourself in the sounds of Louisville with live music performances throughout the evening. From jazz and blues to indie and folk, our city’s musical talents are sure to delight.

Louisville’s Top 20 Art Festivals

These festivals showcase the vibrant and diverse art scene in Louisville, offering opportunities to experience and purchase works from talented local and national artists.

1. St. James Court Art Show

• Month: October
• Description: A premier arts and crafts show in historic Old Louisville, featuring over 700 artists.
• Link: St. James Court Art Show

2. Mellwood Art Fair

• Month: September
• Description: Held at the Mellwood Art Center, showcasing hundreds of artists in various mediums.
• Link: Mellwood Art Fair

3. Cherokee Triangle Art Fair

• Month: April
• Description: A springtime event in the Cherokee Triangle neighborhood with over 200 artists.
• Link: Cherokee Triangle Art Fair

4. Kentucky Crafted Market

• Month: March
• Description: A juried show featuring the best of Kentucky’s artists and artisans.
• Link: Kentucky Crafted Market

5. Nulu Festival

• Month: September
• Description: A street festival celebrating the East Market District with art, food, and music.
• Link: Nulu Festival

6. Big Four Arts Festival

• Month: September
• Description: Held in Waterfront Park, featuring a wide range of artists and live entertainment.
• Link: Big Four Arts Festival

7. Butchertown Art Fair

• Month: June
• Description: A community event in Butchertown with local artists, live music, and food.
• Link: Butchertown Art Fair

8. Highlands Festival

• Month: October
• Description: A neighborhood festival in the Highlands featuring local art, music, and food.
• Link: Highlands Festival

9. Kentucky Derby Festival: Waterfront Jam

• Month: April-May
• Description: Part of the Derby Festival, featuring concerts and an art fair.
• Link: Waterfront Jam

10. Forecastle Festival

• Month: July
• Description: A major music and arts festival with local and national artists.
• Link: Forecastle Festival

11. Old Louisville Springfest

• Month: May
• Description: A neighborhood festival with local art, food, and music.
• Link: Old Louisville Springfest

12. Portland Art & Heritage Fair

• Month: October
• Description: Celebrating Portland’s history and art scene with local artists and activities.
• Link: Portland Art & Heritage Fair

13. Garvin Gate Blues Festival

• Month: October
• Description: A blues music festival with an arts and crafts market.
• Link: Garvin Gate Blues Festival

14. Belknap Fall Festival

• Month: October
• Description: Held in the Douglass Loop area, featuring local artists, crafts, and music.
• Link: Belknap Fall Festival

15. Shakespeare in the Park

• Month: Summer (June-August)
• Description: Part of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, with art vendors and live performances.
• Link: Shakespeare in the Park

16. Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour

• Month: June
• Description: Local artists display their works in the gardens of historic Old Louisville homes.
• Link: Hidden Treasures Garden Tour

17. Locust Grove Art Fair

• Month: September
• Description: Held at the historic Locust Grove, featuring juried artists and craftspeople.
• Link: Locust Grove Art Fair

18. Festival of Faiths

• Month: April
• Description: An interfaith event with a marketplace of global art and crafts.
• Link: Festival of Faiths

19. Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea

• Month: Various (throughout the year)
• Description: Featuring many Louisville artists, with handmade crafts and fine art.
• Link: Kentucky Artisan Center

20. Louisville Waterfront Independence Festival

• Month: July
• Description: A 4th of July celebration with an arts and crafts fair, live music, and fireworks.
• Link: Louisville Waterfront Independence Festival

These festivals highlight Louisville’s rich artistic culture and provide numerous opportunities to explore and purchase works from talented local and national artists throughout the year.

Louisville’s Top 20 Music Festivals

1. Forecastle Festival

• Month: July
• Description: A major music and arts festival featuring a diverse lineup of national and local acts, along with environmental activism.
• Link: Forecastle Festival

2. Bourbon & Beyond

• Month: September
• Description: A celebration of bourbon, food, and music, featuring top musical acts and celebrity chefs.
• Link: Bourbon & Beyond

3. Louder Than Life

• Month: September
• Description: A hard rock and heavy metal festival featuring some of the biggest names in the genre.
• Link: Louder Than Life

4. Kentucky Derby Festival: Waterfront Jam

• Month: April-May
• Description: A series of free concerts leading up to the Kentucky Derby, featuring a variety of musical genres.
• Link: Waterfront Jam

5. Abbey Road on the River

• Month: May
• Description: The world’s largest Beatles-inspired music festival, held over Memorial Day weekend.
• Link: Abbey Road on the River

6. Forecastle Festival

• Month: July
• Description: An annual three-day music festival that takes place at Waterfront Park.
• Link: Forecastle Festival

7. Big Four Arts Festival

• Month: September
• Description: A mix of art and music with live performances across multiple genres.
• Link: Big Four Arts Festival

8. Kentucky Reggae Festival

• Month: May
• Description: A celebration of Caribbean culture with reggae music, food, and crafts.
• Link: Kentucky Reggae Festival

9. Garvin Gate Blues Festival

• Month: October
• Description: A free blues music festival featuring local and national blues musicians.
• Link: Garvin Gate Blues Festival

10. Louisville Jazz Festival

• Month: August
• Description: A festival celebrating jazz music with performances by local and national jazz artists.
• Link: Louisville Jazz Festival

11. Poorcastle Festival

• Month: July
• Description: An affordable music festival showcasing local Louisville talent across multiple genres.
• Link: Poorcastle Festival

12. Old Louisville Springfest

• Month: May
• Description: A neighborhood festival featuring live music, local food, and arts and crafts.
• Link: Old Louisville Springfest

13. Highlands Festival

• Month: October
• Description: A neighborhood festival with live music, food, and local vendors in the Highlands area.
• Link: Highlands Festival

14. Lebowski Fest

• Month: July
• Description: A quirky festival celebrating “The Big Lebowski” with live music, bowling, and movie screenings.
• Link: Lebowski Fest

15. GonzoFest

• Month: April
• Description: A festival honoring Hunter S. Thompson with live music, spoken word, and art.
• Link: GonzoFest

16. Funk Fest

• Month: August
• Description: A celebration of funk music with performances by legendary and contemporary funk artists.
• Link: Funk Fest

17. Kentuckiana Pride Festival

• Month: June
• Description: A celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with live music, a parade, and various events.
• Link: Kentuckiana Pride Festival

18. WorldFest

• Month: September
• Description: One of the region’s largest international festivals, featuring music, food, and crafts from around the world.
• Link: WorldFest

19. Cropped Out Festival

• Month: September
• Description: An independent music festival showcasing underrepresented and emerging artists.
• Link: Cropped Out Festival

20. Kentucky Bluegrass & Bourbon Experience

• Month: September
• Description: A festival celebrating bluegrass music and Kentucky bourbon, featuring live music, bourbon tastings, and local food vendors.
• Link: Kentucky Bluegrass & Bourbon Experience

These festivals highlight the rich musical diversity and vibrant cultural scene in Louisville, offering something for every music lover throughout the year.