5 things to do in the Louisville area the weekend of Feb. 20-22

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The weekend is upon us, and there are plenty of things to do and see across Kentuckiana.

Here are a selection of events, markets, concerts and more happening the weekend of Friday, Feb. 20 to Sunday, Feb. 22.

Lunar New Year Celebration

Louisville's Buddha Blessed Temple will host its Lunar New Year celebration this weekend.

It's inviting the community to "celebrate our differences and diversities by developing unconditional love and cherishing each other for exactly who we are so that we can come together to overcome intolerance, discrimination, and violence to make a strong, beautiful and global community."

The celebration includes a prayer and blessing for the new year, as well as Asian Buddhist spiritual and cultural activities.

Organizers said there will also be exciting performances such as the Lion Dance, Dragon Dance and Flower Dance, free authentic Eastern cuisine and fireworks.

The celebration starts at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22.

To learn more, click here.

Louisville Polar Plunge

You have a chance to take the plunge this weekend as part of the Louisville Polar Plunge.

The event is free, but you have to fundraise at least $100 to jump.

The Polar Plunge supports 11,000 Special Olympics Kentucky athletes, funding year-round sports and health programs for those with intellectual disabilities.

It's scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Main Event on Sycamore Station Place in Louisville.

To learn more about how to participate, click here. You can register as an individual or put together a team. You can also donate directly to the cause on the Polar Plunge website.

African American history film series at Parkland Library

The Louisville Office for Health Equity is collaborating with the Louisville Free Public Library for an African American history film series at the Parkland Library during Black History Month.

The free film series is held on Saturdays through February, with a panel discussion after the film led by UofL faculty.

This Saturday's film is "Critical Condition: Health in Black America." The episode provides an in-depth look at the causes of racial health disparities after centuries of pseudoscience.

The showing is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Parkland Library on Virginia Avenue.

To register, click here.

The Simon & Garfunkel Story

"The Simon & Garfunkel Story" is making a stop in Louisville this weekend, giving fans a chance to take in a live band performing all of the band's hits. That includes "Mrs. Robinson," "Cecilia," "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and more.

The event uses projected photos and original film footage with a full live band.

It's billed as an "immersive concert-style theater show" that chronicles the journey of the folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.

"The Simon & Garfunkel Story" tells the story from their "humble beginnings" to their success as one of the best-selling music groups of the 60s, and their 1970 split. The show culminates with "The Concert in Central Park" reunion in 1981, in which more than half a million fans attended.

The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Brown Theatre in downtown Louisville.

To learn more or purchase tickets, click here.

Llama Llama Preschool Pajama Party

The South Central Regional Library is hosting a special preschool pajama party this weekend featuring Llama Llama.

Families are invited to wear their pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animal to the library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.

The event provides hands-on activity stations, a Slumber Party Room, a "Build Your Breakfast" play kitchen and stuffed animal adoption center.

There will also be a Bubble House inflatable, scavenger hunt and several meet-and-greet opportunities with Llama Llama, who will be in his signature red pajamas.

Kids in attendance get a free book to take home. Early childhood resources will also be on hand, with various information tables.

The South Central Regional Library is located at 7300 Jefferson Blvd. The event is free and open to preschoolers and their families. The library said overflow parking for the event will be available in the Target parking lot.

To learn more, click here.

These are just a handful of events scheduled for this weekend. Click here to look at what else is happening across Kentuckiana this weekend.

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