22 Louisville Events & Happenings: November 2026
Broadway at Whitney Hall, Brandi Carlile at the Palace, and holiday lights everywhere from Mega Cavern to the botanical gardens: Louisville’s November calendar is stacked! Image: Louisville Mega Cavern
The leaves are falling, and the Louisville November events calendar is filling up fast. Bernheim’s fall festival and the Churchill Downs Fall Meet bring us into autumn proper, while Lights Under Louisville, NuLu Jingle Festival, and the Festival of Trees & Lights start the seasonal festivities early. Here’s what’s worth your time ahead of the holidays in Derby City!
November 1 – 29, 2026: Fall Meet at Churchill Downs
Catch live racing during the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, where next spring’s Derby and Oaks contenders often make early appearances. Most races start at 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with themed days that include Military Appreciation Day and events on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday. General admission and reserved seating are available, with ticket prices varying per event. churchilldowns.com
November 1 & 2, 2026: Día de los Muertos
Honor pets and zoo animals who have passed at a special celebration inside the Louisville Zoo. It’s part of the zoo’s observance of the Mexican tradition of remembering loved ones, and it’s open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days with regular zoo admission. louisvillezoo.org
November 5, 2026: Collage Dance Collective
This evening at the Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater pairs three works with three soul legends: Flack, set to Roberta Flack, Quincy Jones, and Donny Hathaway; Only Light, Only Love, Nicolo Fonte’s response to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words on light and darkness; and Frankly Speaking, Darrell Grand Moultrie’s tribute to Aretha Franklin. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets begin at $44.15. kentuckyperformingarts.org
November 7 & 8, 2026: ColorFest at Bernheim Forest
Spend a day hanging out in the trees at Bernheim’s longest-running festival, now in its 30th year, as the forest shows off its gorgeous fall leaves. Giant slides, a mud pie kitchen, pumpkin rolling, live music, and local food and drink are available at the Visitor’s Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 per vehicle. bernheim.org
November 8, 2026: Louisville Black Chef Showcase
Taste your way through dishes from local chefs, caterers, and food entrepreneurs, then vote for your favorite at this fourth annual showcase at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center in West Louisville. Tickets are $71.21. eventbrite.com
November 11 – 13, 2026: Festival of Faiths
Join spiritual leaders, scholars, and artists at the Kentucky Center for the 30th annual Festival of Faiths, celebrating the theme of “Sacred Courage” this year. Over three days of talks, workshops, music, and art, the festival explores how to lead with love, stand for justice, and act with purpose. Passes and individual session tickets are available starting at $100. festivaloffaiths.org
November 12 – 14, 2026: North American Championship Rodeo
Watch bull riding, team roping, and women’s barrel racing at Freedom Hall during the rodeo that caps the North American International Livestock Exposition. Taking place at the Kentucky Exposition Center, performances start at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets begin at $8. livestockexpo.org
November 12 – 29, 2026: Disney’s The Lion King on PNC Broadway in Louisville
See the Serengeti come alive at Whitney Hall when this six-time Tony Award winner returns to the Kentucky Center for an extended three-week run. Julie Taymor’s puppetry, masks, and costumes carry Simba’s story from cub to king, with music by Elton John and Tim Rice. Tickets start at $59.95. louisville.broadway.com
November 13 – 15, 2026: Festival of Trees & Lights
Walk through hundreds of decorated trees, wreaths, and holiday decor inside Louisville Slugger Field — all for sale to benefit Norton Children’s Hospital. The 37th annual festival also includes photos with Santa, a ride-on train, children’s crafts, Elf Town fun, and Hanukkah activities, all with a $15 adult admission. nortonchildrens.com
November 13, 2026 – January 2, 2027: Lights Under Louisville
Drive through the world’s only underground holiday light show at Louisville Mega Cavern, where more than seven million points of light and over 900 displays fill a former limestone mine. The 30-minute tour runs daily, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tickets are sold online starting at $22.99 per person. lightsunderlouisville.com.
November 14, 2026: NuLu Jingle Fest
Kick off the holiday season on Shelby Street, where the NuLu Business Association closes the block between East Market and Jefferson Streets for an afternoon of performances and seasonal fun. The lineup includes the Louisville Chorus, Small Batch Brass, Terpsichore Dance Company, and storytelling from Monica Lake Beavers. You’ll also find a petting zoo, a vintage holiday photo op, snow globe cupcakes, and a donut luge. The free festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. nulu.org
November 15, 2026: STOMP
Hear matchboxes, brooms, hubcaps, and garbage cans turned into a full percussion section when this eight-member troupe brings its 30th-anniversary tour to the Brown Theatre. Performances are at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and ticket prices vary. kentuckyperformingarts.org
November 16, 2026: Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour
Sing along to the five-part harmonies that made Pentatonix the a cappella group of the holidays when the Christmas in the City Tour stops at the KFC Yum! Center. The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $38.60. kfcyumcenter.com
November 19, 2026: Beaujolais Nouveau Day Party
Celebrate the French wine holiday the Nouvelle Bar & Bottle way with pours from all 10 Beaujolais crus, paired with cassoulet. The party falls on the third Thursday of November, the traditional release day for the year’s new vintage, and there’s no cover for this party. nouvellewine.com
November 20, 2026: Leanne Morgan: The Time of Our Lives Tour
Laugh along with the Tennessee comedian whose material on marriage, kids, and midlife has filled arenas across the country. Leanne brings her tour to the KFC Yum! Center at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $45.75. kfcyumcenter.com
November 20 & 21, 2026: Brandi Carlile: Burn the Setlist (The All Request Tour)
Shout out your favorite song, and you might hear it. The 11-time Grammy winner plays two nights at the Louisville Palace with longtime bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth, building each setlist entirely from audience requests in the moment. Both shows start at 8 p.m., and phones are sealed in pouches at the door. Ticket prices vary. louisvillepalace.com
November 21, 2026: Christkindlmarkt
Shop local vendors and warm up with German food, beer, and glühwein when the German American Club opens its Lincoln Avenue clubhouse for a free German-style Christmas market. For additional details, visit the event’s official Facebook page.
November 21, 22 & 27 – 29, 2026: Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom
Stroll through more than 1.5 million lights and over 300 Christmas trees, then race down a 175-foot snow tubing hill (the largest in Kentucky) covered in real snow. Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom opens the weekend before Thanksgiving, and admission is included with a daily ticket or season pass. kentuckykingdom.com
November 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027: Fête de Noël Winter Holiday Festival
Lace up at Louisville’s only authentic outdoor ice-skating rink when Paristown’s six-week winter festival returns for its eighth year. The free-to-attend event also includes the Brent Street Holiday Market, photos with Santa, trackless train rides, and special events like Drag Queens on Ice. Skating sessions are ticketed separately. paristown.com
November 27 – December 30, 2026: Gardens Aglimmer
Wander illuminated pathways at Waterfront Botanical Gardens, where giant glowing flowers, snowflakes, and archways light the grounds on select nights. Kids can write letters to Santa and meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and adults can find beer, wine, and cocktails inside the Graeser Family Education Center. Entry is timed, so buy tickets in advance starting at $12. waterfrontgardens.org
November 28, 2026: Jim James (Solo Acoustic): Wowed Out Tour
Welcome the My Morning Jacket frontman home for a solo acoustic set at the Brown Theatre. You’ll hear songs from the Louisville native’s new album, Wowed Out, along with plenty of classic favorites. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are available beginning at $47.40. kentuckyperformingarts.org
November 28 – December 20, 2026: A Christmas Carol
Visit Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the three spirits at Actors Theatre of Louisville, where a new production of the Dickens classic opens Thanksgiving weekend. To see the complete schedule and purchase tickets, visit actorstheatre.org.
Happy November, Louisville!
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Brittany Vincent
Brittany has been writing for nearly two decades and is a Louisville native. She's obsessed with finding the city's best spots for shopping, a great date night, noodles, and bubble tea. When she isn't writing, you'll find her spending time with her miniature dachshund.
