Schnitzelburg Spring Walk, Germantown Spring Walk, Germantown Beer Walk – whichever name you choose to use, this community event is another classic example of the neighborhood’s unity.  During the annual walk, Hickory Street is shut down between Burnett Avenue and Goss Avenue while pedestrians visit all the bars in that stretch, listen to music, play games, and karaoke.  This year, a Louisville band called The Remedy will perform from 8pm, and The Knights of St. John charity will be conducting raffles and games.

The Germantown Beer Walk, as I have come to call it, traditionally takes place the weekend before derby, but due to weather reports of a weekend-long storm, it has been moved to Saturday, May 8th.  The date change doesn’t come without its own problems as many locals have already expressed outrage, especially at the short notice cancellation.  John Murrow of Check’s Café, one of the organizers of the walk, says that he is sorry that people are upset and “we don’t know how it’ll be on May 8th, but we know how it’ll be this weekend.”

Murrow also says that “the walk is a collaboration” so the rescheduling wasn’t the result of an individual opinion, but rather the outcome of a group decision.  Disappointment aside, the same event that the community has come to know and love will still take place this spring, just a couple of weeks later.  This weekend, however, isn’t a complete loss.  The bars involved with the walk will still have bands inside their bars and expect to have a busy Saturday night.  

To partake in the pre-Germantown Beer Walk celebration, visit: Flabby’s, Check’s Café, Zeppelin Café, Old Hickory Inn, 19th Hole, Germantown Café, Pauly’s Pub, Nach Bar, and Club 21

Photo: Flickr/defekto