5 things to do in the Louisville area the weekend of Sept. 19 to 21

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

Here is a selection of events, markets, concerts and more happening from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 21.

Viva La Fiesta at the Louisville Zoo

A new event celebrating the rich cultures of Latin America will take place Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Louisville Zoo.

The festival was created in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. It'll honor the "animals, traditions, cuisine, rhythms and stories of Latin America."

There will be local artistry, festive music, dance, vibrant art and more. Guests can also participate in a virtual scavenger hunt through the Zoo to learn about the animals native to Latin America.

The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For a full schedule, click here.

Louder Than Life

Louisville is ready to rock, once again, as Louder Than Life begins Thursday at the Kentucky Exposition Center a week after Bourbon & Beyond.

The festival runs from Thursday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 21 and has two of the largest stages in the country as 240,000 fans are expected to attend.

Gates open at 10 a.m. daily, however, this is subject to change.

Check the stage schedules here.
See band lineups here.

On-site lockers

Lockers will be available in the General Admission, Park Community VIP, and Top Shelf VIP areas. You can reserve a locker in advance HERE or on-site at the festival, subject to availability.

Lost and found

Lost and found is located at the Info Booth near the entrance. In addition to visiting the Info Booth, there will be a link available on the Louder Than Life website and festival mobile app during show days. Post-show Lost & Found location will be shared the Louder Than Life social media during the show weekend.

What's allowed inside Louder Than Life

Cell phones and small portable chargers
Sunscreen (non-aerosol)
One factory-sealed bottle of water (20 oz max size) or one empty plastic refillable water bottle (no Hydroflasks or Yetis)
Binoculars
Towels and light blankets – Note: Blankets will not be permitted in certain areas of the festival grounds for safety reasons.
Small, point-and-shoot digital cameras
Hats and sunglasses
Earplugs
Sealed packs of cigarettes and cigars
Vape pens and e-cigarettes

What's not allowed

No chains, chain wallets or spikes
No metal containers (ex. Yetis or hydroflasks)
No umbrellas
No large bags, backpacks, or duffle bags – see bag policy in allowed items
No Camelbaks or other refillable hydration packs
No chairs of any kind - including inflatable lounger air sofas
No aerosol cans
No coolers or picnic baskets
No outside food or beverages - exception: one factory-sealed bottle of water (20 oz. Max size)
No glass containers
No strollers
No video cameras or GoPros
No audio recording devices
No laptops or tablets
No professional cameras or cameras with removable lenses
No selfie sticks
No lasers or laser pointers
No drones
No hula hoops or totems
No balloons or beach balls
No confetti or glow sticks
No whistles or air horns
No fireworks or explosives
No musical instruments of any kind
No weapons of any kind
No drugs or drug paraphernalia
No pets (with exception of service animals)
No colors or patches
No unauthorized vending or advertising
No walkie talkies/two way radios

Louder Than Life is a cashless festival

Credit/Debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Android Pay, Tap to Pay, and registered RFID wristband are all forms of accepted 'Cashless' payment types.

For parking or more information, click here.

Paristown Flea

The Paristown Flea returns this weekend. Discover a treasure trove of vintage finds, funky junk, and one-of-a-kind curiosities.

Shop an eclectic mix of vendors offering vinyl records, antique furniture to art deco pieces, houseplants, repurposed goods, books and more.

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just browsing for something unexpected, Paristown Flea is your destination for all things unique, nostalgic and delightfully offbeat.

For more information, click here.

Bugfest at Bernheim Forest

Bernheim Forest will be buzzing Saturday, Sept. 20 for its annual bugfest.

Several activities, games, arts and crafts will be offered throughout the day to celebrate bugs.

The activities include insect safaris, insect zoo, a bug concert and a bug parade among others. There will also be food trucks and craft vendors.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to attend. There's a $15 per car recommended donation to non-members.

For more information, click here.

'Purple Takeover' at Churchill Downs

The Churchill Downs Racetrack will host Family Adventure Day: Purple Takeover on Sunday, Sept. 21.

This is to celebrate Louisville's sports legacy with live racing and appearances by players for Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC.

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with the first race at 12:45 p.m. There'll also be more than 15 kid-friendly activities including face painting, inflatables, arts and crafts.

Children may attend for free with a paid adult age 18 or older with a valid ID.

General Admission tickets are $10 and Reserved Seating starts at $14. For more information, 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.