How We Summer

“I grew up Catholic, and there were a few church picnics we always went to, including, of course, St. Joe’s, the biggest and best one, always in early August. It was a back-to-school activity, paired with the Kentucky State Fair, but now both happen after the kids go back to school.”

“Church picnics. If every aspect of Catholicism was as smooth and enviable as the church festivals you see every weekend in Louisville during the summer, well, the headlines would be a lot kinder to the religion.” 

“Captain’s Quarters. Sundays.”

“Mike Linnig’s, outside under the tall trees, fish sandwich and a cool drink. The perfect place for friends to gather — no matter how large the group.” 

“So many classic ice cream shops to discover.” 

“I live near Dairy Del and Dairy Kastle. Love being able to walk there.”

“I love all of Louisville’s little neighborhood ice cream shops. Dairy Del is the one closest to me. Get the Elvis sundae.”

“Also, shout-out to Big Mike’s Shaved Ice on Bardstown Road!”

“A park. Any park.”

“The Dirt Bowl basketball tournament at Shawnee Park, which begins in early June. It’s like a family reunion every time.”

“Hike Jefferson Memorial Forest.”

“I am not into riding my bike when it is cold outside, but I love to ride my bike at the Parklands when it is warmer. So nice to cruise along with the sun on my face and a cool breeze blowing.” 

“We like to sit in a lazy, broad, shallow section of a creek and relax, usually a favorite spot in the Parklands. Some sun and some shade, waist-deep in Floyds Fork. You would probably be surprised at how many shells with living creatures you can find in our local streams.” 

“Veterans Memorial Park in J-town is a beautiful space to hang out, with a fairly new memorial space that honors veterans.”

“Listen to the outdoor concerts at Willow Park from our front porch.”

“The Waterfront Wednesday concert series is always a great time: the music, the people, the food trucks.”

“Tyler Park has live music, a splash pad for the kids, great courts for racquetball and tennis.”

“The splash pad scene is very strong around here.”

“My children and I have made it a goal to try out every park splash pad in Louisville. Waterfront Park’s is our favorite so far. And as my kids get older, I wish the city would reinvest in neighborhood pools.”

“The swimming pool at O’Bannon Woods State Park in Corydon, Indiana. I love to do all kinds of things in Louisville, and, within this timeframe, pools and splash pads stand out. But there are none in Louisville that my family attends. Because I choose not to pay for the private swimming clubs in Louisville, my family and I travel to Corydon, where I grew up, to camp and swim in their pool. It’s affordable and settled in nature.”

“Swimming laps is the best way to clear my head and exhaust my body, and being able to swim outside during the summer always feels like a real luxury. Lakeside is my favorite, to take a long swim and then dry in the sun with a good book is heaven on earth. Now that they have an Ehrler’s Ice Cream right around the corner, my summer is complete.”

“Lakeside is like something out of a child’s dream, a swimming pool unlike any other. I have countless memories swimming there as a child because I was there nearly every day of the summer. I fondly remember the water games I’d play with friends, learning to dive off the float, getting the courage to jump off the high dive, seeing how long I could hold my breath underwater, pretending to see a mermaid swimming in the deep end, rough play in the bullpen, getting whistled at for running, getting whistled at for touching the top bar of the railing divider — which, why is that a thing? — daydreaming about becoming a lifeguard one day, the smell of burgers and hot dogs from the concession stand. According to my husband, who didn’t experience Lakeside until he was in his 40s, Lakeside is like something out of an adult’s dream as well.” 

“The Awesome Lazy River in Shepherdsville. My friend took me a couple years ago, and I love it. Such a chill way to spend a summer day.” 

“Drive-in movie at Sauerbeck Family Drive-In, a great slice of Americana.” [June schedule includes “The Garfield Movie” followed by “If,” “Jurassic Park” followed by “The Lost World,” “American Graffiti” followed by “Bullitt,” “Inside Out 2” followed by “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” “Little Giants” followed by “The Blind Side” and “E.T.” followed by “Twister.”]

“Louisville Downtown Partnership’s Downtown Drive-In, which begins in late May and runs into October, takes place at the Brown-Forman Amphitheater at Waterfront Park.” [“The Sandlot” (June 14), “Monsters Inc.” (July 19), “Despicable Me” (Aug. 9), “Grease” (Aug. 30).]

“I’m a dyed-in-the-jersey Cincinnati Reds hoper but prefer the ballpark experience of a Louisville Bats game right here at Slugger Field. I like the second deck, above first or third, depending on the sunshine and shade. And mark me down for three hot dogs on $2 Menu Tuesdays. I generally glop on a little ketchup and relish, and always bring my own packets of Gulden’s mustard.”

“Louisville Slugger Museum. I try and take my grandchildren on fun educational outings during the summer.” 

“For the past few summers, my family and I have been participating in the library’s Cultural Pass program. Love it because it gives us the opportunity to explore different attractions in Louisville over summer break — for free. Last year, we went to several museums and took an art class and dance classes.” 

“Rent a pontoon boat on Taylorsville Lake. Worms in Styrofoam, sherbert push pops and staff that operate on boat time? That’s my jam. Gather a group of six to eight friends with a couple of coolers, drive an hour to Taylorsville Lake Marina and float until dinner at Fiesta Mexicana on the way home.” 

“All the neighborhood-specific music festivals are great to support, but ever since the Butchertown Jazz Festival stopped, the one I look forward to the most is the Germantown Schnitzelburg Blues Festival.” [This year’s fest is June 7 & 8.] “My mom loves the music, so it ends up being a great mother-daughter date, and we grab some great food and drinks in the area.” 

“Waterfront Park and the Big Four walking bridge, for the view over the Ohio and the people-watching. A lot of times, performers are doing different things along the bridge while you walk. On the Indiana side, we like to get ice cream, then walk back.”

“We ride bikes to the Big Four Bridge, to the Second Street Bridge, through NuLu. Or ride out River Road, across the East End Bridge, then come back across the Big Four.”

“Hurricane Bay at Kentucky Kingdom has had a rough run historically, but they have really turned things around. My kids are obsessed.”

“The Douglass Loop Farmers’ Market. The live music and the vendors — especially for cut flowers, live plants, knife-sharpening, Wiltshire Bakery, Rootbound Farm. And dogs are welcome!” 

“Gardening and growing food to eat: okra, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, squashes, herbs to dry for teas. And sharing these with neighbors and friends. Louisville has a big native-plant community that shares.”

“Kentucky Shakespeare’s free Shakespeare in the Park.” [This summer’s main three performances, in order: “Romeo & Juliet,” “The Comedy of Errors” and “The Tempest.”] “For me, Old Louisville is full of inherited nostalgia. My mom grew up at Sixth and Magnolia on the corner of Central Park. I grew up visiting my grandparents there, walking around the park with my mom, hearing about her childhood. In fact, Old Louisville Brewery right nearby is my grandpa’s old plumbing shop. To be able to go to a play and think about my mom sitting through the same play under the same trees when she was a girl makes me feel really connected to her and to the city.”