February 2023 events calendar: 35+ things to do in Louisville this month

Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal
·14 min read

Top February 2023 events around Louisville

Louisville Zoo, Kroger Wild Winter Days Dare to Care Food Drive. 1100 Trevilian Way. Guests who bring one can of food per person (through Feb. 28, 2023) to donate to Dare to Care may purchase tickets at the Louisville Zoo window for $9.75 per adult and $6.75 per child/senior ticket. Most-needed items: canned meats and fruits, beans, peanut butter, hearty soups, rice, rice, cereal, fruit juice, pasta and canned vegetables. No glass containers. The discount is available at the gate only, not valid for online purchases. louisvillezoo.org/wildwinterdays.

Dinos Under Louisville. Louisville Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., through April 30: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. On this adventure see 80 life-size moving dinosaurs including a 35-foot high Brachiosaur and a 40-foot long T-rex battle a Triceratops (the size of a mail truck) and enter a wormhole and be transported back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. $49.99 standard vehicle; $79.99 full-size van, limo, small school bus; $149.99 full-size school bus; $349.99 motor coach. louisvillemegacavern.com.

Legends Series: Bourbon Masters. Kentucky Derby Museum, 704 Central Ave., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday. Featuring Peerless Distilling Co., a five-generation owned distillery. The tasting will include: Double Oak Rye, Double Oak Bourbon, Rum Finished Bourbon and Double Oak Single Barrel. Host: Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, Fred Minnick. $75 per person. derbymuseum.org.

Chili & Brew Bonanza. St. Augustine Parish Hall, 316 E. Maple St., Jeffersonville, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday. Chili and beer tastings, music and a silent auction. Participants sample a variety of chilis and vote for their favorite. Those 21 and older receive 5 beer sample tickets. Tickets start at $20. jeffmainstreet.org.

Norton Commons' Food Truck Friday. 6301 Moonseed St., 6-8 p.m. Friday. Live music, food, drinks and shopping at the al fresco market. Bing a chair. Free. nortoncommons.com.

10th Annual University of Louisville raiseRED. Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom, Belknap Campus, 6 p.m. Friday until 10:30 a.m. Saturday. raiseRED is a dance marathon that benefits University of Louisville’s Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and the Norton Children’s Cancer Institute outpatient clinic. The total dollars raised will be revealed  10:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday. Participants raise a minimum of $200 per person to participate. For more information, raisered.org/2023.

To keep participants' spirits up and eyes open, several events-within-the-event are held. Among them are:

  • Buzz for the Cure: students pledge to shave their head, or do a major chop, during the dance marathon if they reach their fundraising goal.

  • Mail Call: letters of support from participants’ loved ones are read to cheer them on.

  • Neon Silent Disco: participants wear headphones to dance to music only they can hear.

  • The Hypnotic Experience. Hypnotist ‘TG’ Rivers will tap participants to be hypnotized to entertain the crowd.

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USA Gymnastics Winter Cup/Nastia Liukin Cup. Freedom Hall, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Friday-Sunday. Gymnasts from around the country compete. The Winter Cup is a qualifying event for the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Nastia Liukin Cup Competition provides a competitive opportunity for the country’s top Development Program Level 10 gymnasts. Admission is $110.94 premium reserved all sessions; $76.14 general admission all sessions; $42.84 youth general admission for all sessions; single-day admission is available. 502- 367-5000; kyexpo.org; ticketmaster.com.

Schedule (schedule is subject to change).

  • Friday: Winter Cup: Senior men, 1:30 p.m.; Nastia Liukin Cup: 7 p.m.

  • Saturday: Winter Cup: Senior women, 1 p.m.; Elite team cup, 6 p.m.

  • Sunday: Winter Cup: Junior women, noon; junior and senior men finals, 5:30-8 p.m.

Garden & Gun Club at Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville.
Garden & Gun Club at Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville.

Garden & Gun Club at Stitzel-Weller Block Party. Stitzel-Weller Distillery, 3860 Fitzgerald Road (Shively), 5-7 p.m. Friday. Get a first look at the May/June issue of Garden and Gun magazine. Enjoy creative cocktails, live music, vendor market and a local food truck. Admission is free. stitzelwellerdistillery.com/garden-and-gun-club

Cheer Derby. North Wing, East Hall, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Cheerleading and dance competitions. Admission starts at $20, free for ages 10 and younger. 502- 367-5000; kyexpo.org; ticketmaster.com.

31st Annual Show of Shows. South Wing B, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Featuring 2,000 tables of antique arms and militaria. $18 for a weekend pass, $10 per day, free for ages 17 and younger when accompanied by an adult. 502- 367-5000; kyexpo.org; ticketmaster.com.

Spring Fling Flea Market. South Wing B, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. More than 500 booths with quality dealers selling antiques, jewelry, clothes, bath and body and more. Admission is free. 502- 367-5000; kyexpo.org; ticketmaster.com.

Catfish Conference. West Wing, Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find everything from tackle, rods and reels, vendors, boat manufacturers for catfishing, kid activities and more. Tickets start at $10 per day. 502- 367-5000; kyexpo.org; eventbrite.com.

100 Black Men of Louisville Night of Excellence Gala. The Seelbach Hilton Louisville, 500 S. 4th St., 6 p.m. Saturday. Featuring entertainment by Final Draft from America’s Got Talent, cocktails, dinner, a program, and an after-party with DJ Reggie Regg immediately after gala. Proceeds benefit 100 Black Men of Louisville and its community programs. $150 per person. 100bmol.org.

Cody & Friends: Wonder Women of Magic. All female magic and variety show features Kayla Drescher, Joanna Logsdon and Magic Amanda. Cody Clark, emcee. Saturday, 7 p.m., Highview Arts Center, 7406 Fegenbush Lane. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door or eventbrite.com.

Louisville Restaurant Week. Monday through March 5. Participating restaurants offer three-course meals at a discount for $26, $36 or $46, depending on the restaurant. Some have fixed menus and some have options. A portion of the proceeds benefit The Hope Bus. louisvillerestaurantweek.com.

A burger and fries at 80/20 at Kaelin's, one of the many restaurant participating in the 2021 Louisville Burger Week.
A burger and fries at 80/20 at Kaelin's, one of the many restaurant participating in the 2021 Louisville Burger Week.

Louisville Restaurant Week 2023 locations:

  • 80/20 Kaelin's, 1801 Newburg Road

  • Brasserie Provence, 150 North Hurstbourne Parkway

  • The Fat Lamb, 2011 Grinstead Drive

  • LouVino, 11400 Main St., 1606 Bardstown Road

  • Morton's The Steakhouse, 626 W. Main St.

  • The Melting Pot, 2045 S. Hurstbourne Parkway

  • Mesh, 3608 Brownsboro Road

  • Naive, 1001 E. Washington St.

  • Napa, 1211 Herr Lane

  • Sarino, 1030 Goss Ave.

  • Simply Mediterranean, 2900 Brownsboro Road

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Sports in Louisville in February 2023

U of L's women's basketball team embraced teammate Mykasa Robinson (5) as she set a new program record for most career games played at 145 ahead of their game against NC State at the Yum Center in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 22, 2023.
U of L's women's basketball team embraced teammate Mykasa Robinson (5) as she set a new program record for most career games played at 145 ahead of their game against NC State at the Yum Center in Louisville, Ky. on Jan. 22, 2023.

University of Louisville vs. Miami. KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza, 6 p.m. Thursday. Women’s basketball. Tickets start at $10. ticketmaster.com.

ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. Admission is free. nortonslc.com/events/detail/2023-acc-championships.

University of Louisville vs. Notre Dame. KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza, noon Sunday. Women’s basketball. Tickets start at $10. ticketmaster.com.

University of Louisville vs. Virginia Tech. KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza, 9 p.m. Tuesday. Men’s basketball. Tickets start at $15. ticketmaster.com.

Films in Louisville in February 2023

Oscar-Nominated Short Films. Speed Museum, 2035 S. Third St., Friday-Sunday. Friday, 1 p.m. (animated); 6 p.m. (documentary); Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (live-action), 3 p.m. (animated), 6 p.m. (documentary); Sunday, 12:30 p.m. (animated). $12, $8 Speed members. speedmuseum.org.

"Tidal." Speed Museum, 2035 S. Third St., 3 p.m. Sunday. filmmaker Katrina Lillian Sorrentino turns the camera on herself to disclose the intimate details of a psychologically and emotionally abusive relationship. Free. speedmuseum.org.

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Tours in Louisville in February 2023

Locust Grove. 561 Blankenbaker Lane, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Ground tours are offered at 11 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. Self-guided tours of the Historic House will be offered at 30-minute intervals between noon-3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. For more information: locustgrove.org.

Old Louisville Walking Tours. Leaves from the Old Louisville Visitor Center, Central Park, 1340 S. Fourth St., 11 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. These popular architectural and historical guided tours are operated by the Old Louisville Neighborhood. For more information go to oldlouisville.org/guided-tours.

Louisville Ghost Walk Tour. Meet at the statue of Mr. Brown, on the 4th Street side of the Brown Hotel, at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Join Mr. Ghost Walker for a 90-minute walking tour of downtown Louisville's most famous addresses. Hear stories told by author Robert Parker, of the Haunted Louisville series of books, telling the stories of ghosts from murder, mystery, death, restless spirits, and intrigue. Reservations are requested. $18 per person. Information and reservations: 502-689-5117; louisvilleghostwalkingtour.com.

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Comedy in Louisville February 2023

Craig Robinson. Actor and comedian. Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 and 10:15 p.m.; Saturday, 7 and 9:45 p.m., Louisville Comedy Club, 110 W Main St. Tickets start at $40. louisvillecomedy.com.

Comedy Night. Featuring Bernie Lubbers, John Ramsey, Jeff Ramsey, Sean Smith and Rich Ragains (all with a Ballard High connection). Saturday, 7 p.m., Sandy Allen Performing Arts Center, Ballard High School, 6000 Brownsboro Road. Proceeds to help renovate the Sandy Allen Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $20. events.ticketspicket.com.

Jeff Dunham: Still Not Canceled. Comedian. Wednesday, 7 p.m., KFC Yum! Center, One Arena Plaza. Tickets start at $49. ticketmaster.com.

Concerts in Louisville February 2023

Al Olender. Thursday, 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $12. zanzabarlouisville.com.

Drew Parker. Thursday, 7 p.m., PBR Louisville, Fourth Street Live!, 432 S. Fourth St. Tickets start at $10. 4thstlive.com.

That Arena Rock Show. Friday, 9 p.m., Mercury Ballroom, 611 S. 4th St. Tickets start at $15. mercuryballroom.com.

Brenda Corner is the stage director of Kentucky Opera's "Cinderella."
Brenda Corner is the stage director of Kentucky Opera's "Cinderella."

"Cinderella." Kentucky Opera show is the classic rags-to-riches tale of Cinderella's journey from servant's quarter to happily ever after is fraught with confusion and chaos as she defies her conniving stepfather and mean-girl stepsisters to win the heart of her prince. Friday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m., Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway. Sung in Italian with English captions. Tickets start at $39.28. kentuckyperformingarts.org; kyopera.org.

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Tyler Lance Walker Gill, Grayson Jenkins, Kristina Murray. Friday, 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $10. zanzabarlouisville.com.

Scott Wendholt, trumpet. Part of the University of Louisville Jazz Festival. Friday, 8 p.m., Comstock Concert Hall, University of Louisville School of Music, First Street and Brandeis Ave. $20, $5 students. 502-852-6907.

Louisville Orchestra. “Aretha: A Tribute.” Bob Bernhardt, conductor; Capathia Jenkins, vocals; Darryl Jovan Williams, vocals. The tribute to the Queen of Soul features Ryan Shaw performing iconic hits as ‘Respect,’ ‘Think,’ ‘A Natural Woman,’ ‘Chain of Fools,’ ‘Amazing Grace,’ and many more. Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St. Tickets start at $32. louisvilleorchestra.org/concerts.

Bobby Weir & Wolf Brothers featuring the Wolfpack. Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th St. Tickets start at $69. louisvillepalace.com.

Adam Melchor, Savannah Conley. Saturday, 8 p.m., Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road. Tickets are $18 advance, $20 day of show; $68 VIP and includes meet and greet, acoustic performance before show, souvenir VIP laminate, VIP merchandise item, early entry, early access to merchandise shopping before doors open to the public. headlinerslouisville.com.

Jim Snidero Jazz Quartet. Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Carnegie Center for Art & History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany. Free, registration is requested. carnegiecenter.org.

Joel Frahm, saxophone. Part of the University of Louisville Jazz Festival. Saturday, 8 p.m., Comstock Concert Hall, University of Louisville School of Music, First Street and Brandeis Ave. $20, $5 students. 502-852-6907.

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The Journey of the Drum. Presented by the River City Drum Corp Cultural Arts Institute Inc. and Actor Theatre of Louisville. Sunday, 4 p.m., Bomhard Theater, 501 W. Main St. Tickets start at $14.63. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

The Collection, Mom Rock. Wednesday, 8 p.m., Zanzabar, 2100 S. Preston St. Tickets start at $12. zanzabarlouisville.com.

Theater in Louisville February 2023

“13: The Musical.” CenterStage presents the story of Evan, who moves with his mom from big-city New York to podunk Appleton, Ind. Thursday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Trager Family JCC, 3600 Dutchmans Lane. Ends on March 5. $25, $32 VIP. jewishlouisville.org/the-j/j-arts-ideas/centerstage.

“Charlotte’s Web.” Derby Dinner Playhouse Children’s Musical Theatre presents the show based on E.B. White’s classic book, that tells the story of Fern, her beloved pig Wilbur, and his best friend Charlotte. Saturday, at the playhouse, 525 Marriott Dr., Clarksville. Breakfast, 9 a.m.; show 10 a.m. Lunch noon; show 1:15 p.m. Ends March 25. Breakfast $17; lunch $22. 812-288-8281; derbydinner.com.

“Murder By the Sea: The Dark Veil Mystery.” Who, or what, is stalking Miss Melinda Waring on the eve of her wedding? What is the legend of the Dark Veil that haunts her family, and how has it shaped the life of crime-solver Dr. Angus MacCrimmon? Presented by WhoDunnit Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. Saturday, 7 p.m., the Pepin Mansion, 1003 E. Main St., New Albany. $85 includes show, dinner and wine, tax and gratuity. 502-649-1829; whodunnitky.com/the-dark-veil-mystery.

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“Pipeline.” The story of a mother's hopes for her son clash with an educational system rigged against him. Presented by Redline Performing Arts. Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m., Martin Experimental Theater, 501 W. Main St. Recommended for ages 13 and older. Ends Feb. 26. Tickets start at 29, $17 for students. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

“Young Frankenstein.” Derby Dinner Playhouse presents the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ monstrously funny film of the same name. Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday-next Saturday, 7:45 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 and 7:45 p.m.; Wednesday, 1 and 7:45 p.m., at the playhouse, 525 Marriott Dr., Clarksville. Contains adult humor and adult language. Ends on March 26. $42-$51. 812-288-8281; derbydinner.com.

More events this week in Louisville

Kentucky Science Center. 727 W. Main St., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Do Science at Kentucky Science Center’s 50,000 square feet of fun on Main Street. Get hands-on with fun exhibits, see a movie or tinker in MakerPlace. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged; visit kysciencecenter.org to purchase.

Speed Art Museum: Speed Online. Features art activities; view films from the Speed Cinema; coloring page; Make Your Own Story, inspired by the exhibition Loose Nuts: Burt Hurley’s West End Story. Participants become the author, illustrator, and creators of their own book and more. For more information, visit speedmueum.org.

Louisville Parks and Recreation Golf Courses: Golf courses are open from daylight to dark seven days a week. In the clubhouses, food service will be limited to take-out only.

  • Bobby Nichols Golf Course, 4301 E. Pages Lane. 9 holes. 502-937-9051

  • Charlie Vettiner Golf Course, 10207 Mary Dell Lane. 18 holes. 502-267-9958

  • Crescent Hill Golf Course, 3110 Brownsboro Road. 9 holes. 502-896-9193

  • Iroquois Golf Course, 1501 Rundill Road. 18 holes. 502-363-9520

  • Long Run Golf Course, 1605 Flat Rock Road. 18 holes. 502-245-9015

  • Seneca Golf Course, 2300 Pee Wee Reese Blvd. 18 holes. 502-458-9298

  • Shawnee Golf Course, 460 Northwestern Parkway. 18 holes. 502-776-9389

  • Sun Valley Golf Course, 6505 Bethany Lane. 18 holes. 502-937-9228

  • Quail Chase Golf Course, 7000 Cooper Chapel Road. 27 holes. 502-239-2110

Reach Features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: February 2023 events calendar: things to do Louisville this month