Spirit Ball October 25 at Conrad-Caldwell House

Old Louisville's haunted streets will set the scene for boarding the steamboat usually referred to as the Conrad-Caldwell House for the 9th Annual Spirit Ball. The masquerade and dance is held the Saturday before Halloween, this year on the night of October 25.

Celebrating the Spirits of the Belle

Calliope and ragtime tunes will fill the space that is said to be inhabited by five spirits according to local legends. On the night of the ball, themed "Celebrating the Spirits of the Belle", the house will be overrun with masked revelers in addition to the resident spirits.

 The Spirit Ball's haunted steamboat theme honors the 100th anniversary of the Belle of Louisville. All three floors of the house at 1402 St. James Court will be transformed and open for this fun event celebrating the Halloween season in steamboat style.

Spirit Ball Entertainment and Costumes

The evening's entertainment includes a palm reader, dancing, bourbon tastings, blackjack, fortune teller, live music and auctions. Gourmet cuisine and specialty cocktails will be served. The costume contest is a highlight of the evening. With the haunted steamboat theme, creativity in costuming will be abundant. Steampunk style is sure to appear as is a steamboat captain or two. Organizers advise attendees to dress as they like: in black tie, formal or cocktail dress, as Mark Twain, Marie Antoinette, Frankenstein, Grace Caldwell or Fred Flintstone. The only guideline is to be whimsical and have fun. A decorated mask may be all the whimsy you need for the Spirit Ball.

Benefit for the Maintenance of Conrad-Caldwell House

The $150 ticket price includes entrance to the Spirit Ball and the speakeasy style After Party with entertainment by Sheryl Rouse Crawford. Tickets for just the After Party are available at a reduced price. Proceeds from the ticket sales are directed to the upkeep and maintenance of the Conrad-Caldwell House.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Walk With the Ghosts October 17 – 19

Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, there’s nothing like a nighttime stroll through Old Louisville. The annual Victorian ghost walk may not include paranormal entities, but you will get a good look at some of the most beautiful architecture and gardens you’ll find anywhere in the city.

Walking With Ghosts

The walk is a pleasant two-hour stroll that’s scheduled for 7 pm to 9 pm every night on October 17, 18 and 19. You’ll see more than architecture while you’re walking through Old Louisville. Many actors also participate to put on an amazing show during the event. The outdoor play shows you some of the history that’s unique to this community. Every 15 minutes, a new group will be guided through the neighborhood to hear storytellers in full costume. They’ll tell you some of the ghostly tales of the community, and you’ll heart about Old Louisville’s past. The tour takes about 90 minutes.

 Alfred Victor Dupont, Jennie Bowman, the Stick Witch and Annie Whipple will come back to life for the event. The gas lighting creates the perfect atmosphere, and it allows you to view the beautiful Victorian architecture the way it was meant to be seen. Tickets cost $25 per person.

The walk begins at 1340 South Fourth Street, right in the heart of beautiful Old Louisville at Central Park. This area is known for foot traffic. You’ll see students on their way to class, dog walkers out enjoying the scenery, and professionals hurrying toward downtown.

The ghost tour is all about the history of Old Louisville, but this is a popular community even in today’s modern times. Today, this Louisville neighborhood is one of the city’s most diverse. It’s filled with beautiful trees and gardens, and yet it’s within walking distance of some of downtown Louisville’s best attractions. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Get Louder Than Life October 4 -5

Like live music? Feel like getting out of the house? Did you ever rock out during the 1990s or 2000s? If this sounds like you, the Louder Than Life festival is exactly where you want to be. The Louder Than Life festival offers two days, 30 bands and lots of stuff to do.

Get Loud

The acts coming to the stage for the festival include Judas Priest, Korn, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington, Papa Roach and lots more. With so many big names on the ticket, you need an entire weekend to enjoy it all. The lineup includes many of the biggest names from the 1990s and 2000s. If you were listening to the radio in these decades and you like rock n’ roll, then you’re probably familiar with most of the bands.

Don’t worry about getting hungry while you’re there. A wide selection of affordable gourmet food will be available. An entire display of “gourmet man food” will be offered, in fact, so you can try something unique but still familiar. Look out for the celebrity chefs while you’re shopping for food. Some of Louisville’s kitchen leaders will be at the event. And if you get thirsty, wash it all down with local craft beers. Stop by the bourbon exhibition before you go. It’s just not Kentucky without bourbon, right?

If you don’t want to leave the party, camping is available onsite. This event takes place in Champions Park, on Louisville’s beautiful waterfront, so it’s not a bad campsite at all. Find it all at 2050 River Road. For one day, the festival costs $64.50. For both days, general admission tickets cost $109.50.

Along the Water

Champions Park is close to the sprawling Mockingbird Valley neighborhood. It's very close to downtown Louisville, but it feels like a whole different world. This neighborhood has an isolated feeling to it, though you'll be close to all the excitement of the city.

Hills, large lots and plenty of leafy trees give the Mockingbird Valley neighborhood the feeling of being out in the country, instead of close to the city. The houses are set back from the road to create privacy. Natural rock outcroppings have been left undisturbed to preserve the natural beauty of this community. The first home in the neighborhood was built back in 1840, and the community has improved and expanded ever since. The Louisville Country Club is conveniently close by.

Go visit Louisville’s waterfront this fall, and you’ll see that there’s a lot of stuff to discover out there.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Shop in the Garden at Nunnlea October 3 – 4

If you’ve never been to the beautiful Nunnlea historic home, now’s your chance. The Nunnlea Craft Fair gives you the opportunity to browse handmade arts and crafts in a beautiful garden that will make you feel like you’ve just stepped back in time.

Nunnlea, and Other Beautiful Homes

The Nunnlea historic home was built in 1860. You’ll find this pretty piece of the past at 1940 S. Hurstbourne Parkway, near the Hurstbourne Acres community.

 Hurstbourne Acres is its own city with a dedicated police department. More than 1,500 people live here in more than 1,000 different types of housing. Many beautiful Louisville homes are in this neighborhood, which has its own large park where community events and gatherings take place. It’s a city within the city, and it’s in the East End of Louisville where you’ll find theaters, shopping and lots of other attractions.

Shopping for Art

Local artists and crafters of all types will set up their booths inside the house and on the front porch of the Nunnlea property. You’ll shop among needlework, glasswork, wooden items, pottery, even art made with gourds. There is parking on site and plenty of space for you to walk around and get a look at the place.

If you get hungry while you shop, go to the on-site Calico Café. The café offers homemade soups, gourmet sandwiches and desserts made with seasonal ingredients.

The craft fair is open from 11 am to 7 pm on October 3 and on October 4 from 9 am to 5 pm. Visit both days to enjoy the Nunnlea property and all the beautiful Louisville homes nearby.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!