LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A beloved Louisville tradition is back on track.
After a six-year hiatus, the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop — better known as F.A.T. Friday — returned to Crescent Hill Friday night. It began in 2004 as a free, monthly event celebrating local businesses with a family-friendly trolley ride along Frankfort Avenue and Brownsboro Road.
The return on Friday drew large crowds, including plenty of young riders who weren’t even born the last time the trolley rolled through the neighborhood.
One child, Zora, said, “We did not plan to go on the trolley — we just saw it, my family was here, so we just hopped on.”
F.A.T. Friday became a community staple after it launched nearly two decades ago, but in 2019, the event came to a halt due to city budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We really missed it,” Ingrid Gentry, a Crescent Hill resident, said.
Now, the ride is officially back on track thanks to the support from local sponsors and Louisville Metro Council’s 9th District.
Each stop on the trolley route rolls past shops, restaurants and cafes. For many riders, the plan was simple: hop on and enjoy the night.
The return of the trolley is also a welcome boost for business owners along the route.
Brittany Bennett opened her store, Posh Home, shortly after the event was paused in 2019.
“We’re really excited because perhaps people who don't know about us, or our hours, we are extended so they can come and check us out," Bennett said.
Even the trolley driver, Matt Witmer, enjoyed the experience.
“I smile the entire route,” he said.
The next F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop is scheduled for October 24 on Frankfort Avenue from 4-9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.
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