5 things to do this weekend in the Louisville area

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 Friday, Aug. 23 through Sunday, Aug. 25.

Kentucky State Fair

Take part in Kentucky's summer tradition this weekend and next weekend. This year's Kentucky State Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 25 at the Exposition Center in Louisville.

Friday is WDRB Day at the fair! Come hang out with some of the people you see on WDRB every day. Just stop by the South Wing A Lobby at 11 a.m. to meet the WDRB Mornings team! And you can see Marc Weinberg doing weather live from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Below is a schedule of appearances from team WDRB:

10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Candyce Clifft, Sterling Riggs and Jude Redfield

1-3 p.m. — Hayden Ristevski, Rick Bozich, Eric Crawford

3-7 p.m. — Scott Reynolds, Hayden Ristevski, short live weather hits by Marc Weinberg

There will also be appearances by the WDRB Bro Show: Dalton Godbey and Chris Sutter.

You can also check out the last performances of the Texas Roadhouse free concert series:

Friday, August 23: 38 Special with special guest Exile*
Saturday, August 24: Lauren Alaina with special guests Mackenzie Porter, Kelsey Hart*
Sunday, August 25: (7 p.m. show): Tauren Wells with special guest Consumed By Fire

*= Kentucky artist

Except August 25, the concert area opens daily at 6:30 p.m. and concerts begin at 8 p.m. On Aug. 25, the area opens at 5:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.

Music is also scheduled for the full 11-day run of the fair in both the Big Tent and the Budweiser Tent.

WDRB has you covered for all things Kentucky State Fair. For a complete guide of everything you need to know before heading to the fairgrounds, click here.

For more information, visit www.kystatefair.org or find the fair on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

The 121st World's Championship Horse Show

Also at the fair this weekend, the world’s most prestigious horse show continues Friday and Saturday at Freedom Hall.

The 121st event features more than 200 classes of Saddlebred horses and thousands of participants from around the country competing for over $1.5 million in prizes and World’s Champion titles.

To purchase tickets, click here.

2nd Annual Beerfest at the Kentucky State Fair

Beerfest is happening at the fair for a second year this Friday, Aug. 23 from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

The event features over 10 breweries and 20 beers, live music, lawn games and more. It's held at The Hitching Post tent in the L Lot at the Expo Center.

You must be 21 or older to take part. Tickets cost $40 and do not include state fair admission or parking. Tickets include 10 4-ounce pours of local craft beer, live music and access to food trucks.

Participating breweries include: Against the Grain, Atrium Brewing, Goodwood, Gravely Brewing, Monnik Beer, West Sixth, Hop Atomic, Last Stop Brewing, Country Boy Brewing, Braxton, and White Squirrel.

To purchase tickets, click here.

St. Jude Dream Home Open House

Take a tour of this year's St. Jude Dream Home this weekend! Open house weekends for the house start this Saturday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Raffle tickets for the Dream Home Giveaway went on sale in July, and are still available.

The open house weekends run every Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 22. The tours are free and no ticket is required. For more information about the tours, click here.

The 4-bedroom, 2,900 sq. ft. home, built by Fischer Homes, is valued at approximately $485,000, and is located at 2124 Quail Ridge Drive in LaGrange.

Other amenities include:

Foster Pacific Craftsman
Gourmet kitchen that opens to family room with fireplace
Private owner’s suite with luxury shower
Walk-in closets in all 4 bedrooms
Spacious upstairs loft
First-floor study

A total of 7,500 tickets sold out last year, but this year 8,000 tickets are available for $100 each. And 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The money helps support patients and their families, so don't have to worry about paying for treatment, travel, housing or food.

Fischer Homes has partnered with St. Jude for 19 years to bring together contractors, building professionals and volunteers to construct the home. This is the fifth year that WDRB has partnered with St. Jude for the giveaway that has raised $3.4 million so far.

Click here for more details about the St. Jude home and to purchase tickets online. Note: the giveaway is open to residents of Kentucky and Indiana, but Indiana residents cannot purchase tickets online. If you live in Indiana, call (800) 830-8193 for tickets, or download a printable mail-in form.

The winner of the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway will be chosen live on the air on WDRB Mornings on Oct. 3.

Art Near Speed Park 2024

An annual southern Indiana festival returns this weekend.

Art Near Speed Park in Sellersburg starts Friday, Aug. 23 from 4-8 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The festival promises a weekend of creativity and inspiration, showcasing local artists who will have their work on display and for sale.

There are also adult and kids craft classes throughout the weekend. Those include an heirloom pumpkin tote bag class, a sunflower wagon wheel canvas workshop, cookie decorating and a Boo Friend kids workshop.

The event is held at Speed Fellowship Hall, 328 U.S. 31 in Sellersburg.

Admission and parking are both free.

For more information, click here.

PopCon Louisville

The pop culture convention returns to Louisville for a second year starting Friday afternoon.

Daily attractions include celebrity panels, magic shows, live podcast recordings, cosplay showcases, engaging fan panels, trading card collectibles and more.

Meet some of your favorite stars from various genres, such as movies, TV shows, comics, gaming and more.

Pop culture fans can immerse themselves into their favorite fandoms.

You can meet some of the stars of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" right here in Louisville. Star Trek actors Anson Mount, Ethan Peck and Christina Chong will be at this year's PopCon. Mount plays Capt. Christopher Pike, Peck plays young Spock, and Chong plays La'an Noonien-Singh.

Other guests include: Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Evil), Jamie Marchi (Borderlands, My Hero Academia), Jason Douglas (The Walking Dead, Dragonball, Breaking Bad), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Stranger Things stars Grace Van Dien and Mason Dye, and more.

PopCon is happening Aug. 23-25 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

There will be meet-and-greets, celebrity panels, live performances, cosplay contests and tons of vendors.

Tickets range in price from $60 for 3-day admission, $30 for single-day admission, or $175 for 3-day VIP tickets.

To purchase tickets, click here. To learn more about the event and look at a full lineup of guests and events, click here.

Taste of South Louisville

Get a taste of all south Louisville has to offer at the Taste of South Louisville this Saturday.

More than 20 restaurants will show off their eats on Millionaires Row at Churchill Downs.

Food ranges from Vietnamese, BBQ, Italian, Mexican and more. There will also be a cash bar and a silent auction.

Proceeds raised support South Louisville Community Ministries, which provides emergency assistance and advocacy for neighbors in crisis, and addressing the immediate needs of hunger and stable housing in the community.

The event runs from 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are available starting at $60.

For more information or to buy tickets, click here.

Bonus Events

It's summertime, which means there are also multiple markets, concerts and more happening this weekend:

Live music, entertainment:

Iron & Wine

Friday, Aug. 23
Old Forester's Paristown Hall, 724 Brent Street in Louisville
Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
Tickets are still available starting at $42.50
For more information or to buy tickets, click here

Strangelove: The Depeche Mode Experience

Friday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.
Mercury Ballroom, 611 South 4th Street in downtown Louisville
Presented by 91.9 WFPK
Tickets are available from $27.50 for GA, or $41.75 for GA with Fast Lane
For more information or to buy tickets, click here

Jazz N Central Park 2024 featuring Ruben Studdard

Sunday, Aug. 25 from 5-8 p.m.
Central Park, 1340 South 4th Street in Old Louisville
Free and open to the public
Performances by Ruben Studdard, the Jerry Tolson Orchestra, Patrick Lamb, Carly Johnson, Jerry Tolson and the Urban Jazz Coalition
There will also be vendors on-site
For more information, click here

Ivan Cornejo

Sunday, Aug. 25
Gates open at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville
All ages, rain or shine
Tickets available starting at $45
For more information or to buy tickets, click here

Dave Barns with special guest Steve Moakler
- Sunday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
- Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts on Main Street in downtown Louisville
- Tickets available starting at $34.52
- For more information or to buy tickets, click here
King Buzzo & Trevor Dunn with JD Pinkus

Saturday, Aug. 24
Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
Headliners Music Hall on Lexington Road in Louisville
All ages event
Tickets available for $22 by clicking here

An evening with QUIET CONFIDENCE and Pennyroyal

Saturday, Aug. 24 from 7-10 p.m.
Gravely Brewing Co. on Baxter Avenue in Louisville
Doors at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m.
General Admission tickets available for $8
For more information or to buy tickets, click here

Youth Music Festival

Saturday, Aug. 24 from 3-11 p.m.
Marengo Post 84 American Legion, 1864 Indiana 66 in Marengo, Indiana
Free
Food trucks on site, playground available
All ages, family-friendly
For more information, click here

Afro Beats Brunch

Sunday, Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vernon Lanes, 1575 Story Avenue in Louisville
Brunch filled with Afro Beats music, food and good vibes
For more information or to buy tickets, click here

Little Shop of Horrors by Pandora Productions

Louisville's Pandora Productions presents its production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Henry Clay Theater on South 3rd Street in downtown Louisville
Friday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets available from $25
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here

Racing Louisville FC vs. Chicago Red Stars

Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Lynn Family Stadium
Youth Club Night - Drawstring bag giveaway
Tickets available starting at $19
For more information or to buy tickets, click here

Markets and More

Friends of the Library Book Sale

Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jeffersonville Township Public Library
211 East Court Avenue, Jeffersonville, Indiana
Located in the "book sale room" in the south end of the main library on the lower level
For more information, click here

Small Business Expo
- Sunday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Kentucky Exposition Center on Phillips Lane in Louisville
- Local entrepreneurs showcasing products and services
Floyds Knobs Farmers Market
- Sunday, Aug. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- 400 block of Lafollette Station — Lawrence Banet Road/Highway 150 in the parking area next to Landmark Dental Care, across from McDonalds (near Highlander Point)
- Local farmers and small businesses will offer seasonal produce, local meats, eggs, honey, microgreens, jams and jellies, macramé, arts and crafts, plants, a market grill and more
Riverside Farmers Market
- Sunday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Riverside, The Farnsley-Moremon Landing at 7410 Moorman Road in Louisville
- Fresh produce, eggs, honey, locally-raised pork, homemade preserves, salsas, candies, spice mixes, soaps, candles and more
Jeffersontown Farmers Market
- Saturday, Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Jeffersontown Farmers' Market Pavilion, 10434 Watterson Trail, Jeffersontown, Kentucky
- Local produce, flowers, and baked/artisanal goods and more