The fountain at St. James Court.
By Simon Isham–
St. James Court Art Show: Oct. 5 through 7
From exhibitions by the best of the DuPont Manual High School’s Visual Art students to 60-year veterans, the St. James Court Art Show welcomes all ages to participate, all united by their talent and passion for art. More than 750 North American craftspeople gather annually to share, sell and judge each other’s artistic creations. The show is five decades old and held in the historic Old Louisville neighborhood, the largest contiguous collection of Victorian homes in the country. The show has been consistently rated the best art show in the country by professional panelists for the trade journal Sunshine Artist and is an excellent way to start to see a variety of art from all over the continent in a beautiful and secure setting. The art show’s profits have in the past benefitted the preservation of the neighborhood—notably the court’s iconic fountain—to the great pride and honor of many of the court’s residents.
Oktoberfest: Ongoing
Celebrate your German heritage—or just the influence of a global culture—with Louisville’s Oktoberfest. The German community in Louisville takes it very seriously; however, the festivities are somewhat piecemeal. Despite this, there are quite a few Oktoberfest activities that can give this month a taste of the Old Country. The Original Butchertown Oktoberfest is one of the most cherished Oktoberfest traditions in Louisville, despite vanishing completely for almost a decade before making a surprise comeback in 2010. This year, it will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Church parking lot on Oct. 6. Over 10,000 attendees are expected. The festival happens rain or shine, but outside alcohol is prohibited, as are pets. On Oct. 13, the Belle of Louisville will be offering a special three-hour Oktoberfest cruise complete with German music and a buffet. It ends at 3 p.m., which should give you just enough time to head over to the German-American Club for Dave Van Tassel’s performance at 4 p.m. Schnitzelbank is the official caterer of Louisville’s Oktoberfest-ivities, so any time during the week you find yourself craving German food, they are always available. Finally, the Bluegrass Brewing Company created a beer some years back, which bears the label “Oktoberfest”. It is quite highly rated among local connoisseurs, so for those old enough to drink, it might be worth a try. The German-American Club is located at 1840 Lincoln Ave. and Schnitzelbank is located at 393 3rd Ave. in Jasper, IN.
“Historic Houseparties”: Oct. 14, 27 and 28
Ever wish you could experience the early 1800s in all the wealth of a grand estate? This October, you have two opportunities to do just that! The first occurs on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Farmington, the historic mansion in the Highlands where the influential Speed family made their home. Today, their legacy survives on U of L’s Belknap campus in the dedications of J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the Speed Art Museum. Farmington’s annual Harvest Festival includes such activities as shopping for traditional crafts, listening to local music, participating in an archaeology program, dining on local food and, of course, touring the house and grounds. Admission is $5, and the event lasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Farmington is located at 3033 Bardstown Road. The second opportunity is at Locust Grove, the home of Major William Croghan, on the Oct. 27-28 weekend. The Market Fair takes place every year as well and allows visitors to watch popular entertainment of the period, observe mock-skirmishes, shop for replica military and household items, eat traditional cuisine and converse with early-American reenactors. The house is also open for tours. Admission is $6, and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. over both days. Locust Grove is located at 561 Blankenbaker Ln.
Joe Huber’s farm brings pumpkins to the barnyard for those that don’t want to pick their own.
Joe Huber Family Farm & Restaurant: Ongoing
Joe Huber’s Family Farm is a place that all native Louisvillians find themselves at some point, whether for a family reunion picnic or a solo trip to get away from it all. Each October, if you’re in need of a jack-o’-lantern for your home, dorm or Halloween party, Huber’s lets you pick your own pumpkin from the vine and purchase it in their general store. Be advised that the biggest pumpkins go the quickest, so it is in your best interest to get up to the farm ASAP. If you start feeling peckish after tromping around in the field, Joe Huber’s Restaurant is a good place to enjoy farm-fresh, country-style lunches and dinners. Once again, though, October is one of their busiest times of year, so making a reservation is recommended. Those of you who are 21 and over can pay a visit to Huber’s Vineyard and Winery, which stocks several Starlight, Indiana exclusives, for a tasting. Those of you who are not yet of age can purchase homemade ice cream, go through a corn maze, shop for rustic and seasonal home decor, hitch a hayride, pick your own produce, or just sit back and enjoy the open space. Huber’s will be open every day this October. Joe Huber’s Family Farm is located across the river at 19816 Huber Rd. in Starlight, IN.
The actors at the 7th Street Haunt strike a pose.
7th Street Haunt: Every wknd. through Oct. 28
The 7th Street Haunt is a brand new haunt in Louisville; the owners gained access to the warehouse space just this June and have been spending all of their free time building the attraction, auditioning actors and getting the necessary safety checks. According to Ryan Coomer, a junior theatre arts major at U of L who is also a makeup artist and actor with the 7th Street Haunt, it is rife with fresh new ideas and scares. Ryan shared the haunt’s backstory with the Cardinal. Sometime in the 1960s, “Dr. Harmon, a scientist in Transylvania, has created a machine that makes people hallucinate and see their greatest fears. Each room in the (13,000+ square foot) haunt makes the hallucinations stronger and stronger.” But that’s not the only thing the haunt has to offer. There is also a photo booth, an indoor line–which is to say, ‘a course that is open rain or shine’, a concession stand and a casket ride that lets you experience your own funeral and burial. How creepy is that? General admission is $20, but you can get a five-dollar discount if you bring a 7th Street Haunt Flyer. There are also student discounts if you bring your student ID. It also holds the distinction of being the only Louisville haunt that is fully handicap accessible. It is located, obviously, on 7th Street, right next to the Expo 5 Center.
