After the JCPS Showcase of Schools closes at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the free options run all afternoon and into the evening. The Louisville Book Festival runs until 5 p.m. downtown, six library programs run between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Via Colori runs until 6 p.m. on the waterfront, and New Breed Church holds a trunk or treat from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The pumpkin farms, the drive in trunk or treat and Boo at the Zoo cost money, and they are labeled that way below.
JCPS Insider rechecked organizer pages on October 22, 2026. Plans can change for weather, so confirm times on the organizer page Saturday morning before you leave. Times are Eastern.
What is free this afternoon?
The Louisville Book Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. 4th St. The festival FAQ says it is free and open to the public. The FAQ also says the best public entrance is at the corner of 4th and Market. The FAQ also says a few sessions may need registration if attendance runs high, and the festival will announce those through its newsletter. The about page says the goal is for every child who attends to leave "with at least one free age appropriate book." The festival has no parking deal. Its FAQ points to the garage across Market Street from the center and to street parking.
Louisville Free Public Library branches have Halloween and family programs this afternoon, and none of the listings shows a fee. Only the St. Matthews program lists registration. The Shively, Portland, Western, Northeast and Bookmobile listings show no registration, so you can just show up.
Shively's Ghoul's Gala runs 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 3920 Dixie Highway for ages 0 to 12, and the library asks an adult to stay and take part. The LFPL listing promises trick or treat bag making, crafts, games, potion play and a costume contest. The Shively branch number is 502 574 1730.
Portland, 3305 Northwestern Parkway, has face painting and stories that are only a little spooky from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for ages 0 to 5, per the LFPL listing. The branch number is 502 574 1744.
Western, 604 South Tenth Street, runs a Halloween teen escape room from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for middle and high school students, per the LFPL listing. The branch number is 502 574 1779.
Northeast Regional, 15 Bellevoir Circle, holds an Arabic and English family story time from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., with books, songs, movement, and play in both languages, per the LFPL listing. It's aimed at ages 0 to 8, and the library asks adults to stay and take part. The branch number is 502 394 0379.
St. Matthews, 3940 Grandview Avenue, hosts Kentucky Shakespeare's Living History: We the People from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for school age kids and teens, per the LFPL listing. The program uses primary source documents to bring key moments in United States history to life. Registration is required, and the listing says it closes at 2 p.m. Saturday. Confirm Saturday morning that seats are still open, then sign up on the listing or call 502 574 1771.
The LFPL Children's Bookmobile parks on 6th Street near the Central Park playground from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for a 45 minute music and movement session with UpBeat Louisville, per the LFPL listing. It's for ages 0 to 5, with egg shakers, rhythm instruments, singing, and dancing, and grownups are encouraged to join in.
What is free into the evening?
Via Colori runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday on the Big Four Bridge Lawn at Waterfront Park. The Via Colori FAQ says "no tickets, no fees." The festival homepage promises more than 140 street paintings along the Ohio River, bounce houses for kids, and a food court. Food costs money. The FAQ says to bring chairs if you want to sit for the live music, and it sends drivers to the festival's parking map, River Road, and nearby lots. Skip the lot right under the Big Four Bridge ramp, because the FAQ says it is reserved for festival staff, emergency crews and musicians. If it rains, the festival posts any cancellation on its Facebook page. Via Colori runs again Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Is there a free trunk or treat tonight?
New Breed Church, 2854 W. Market St., holds a Trunk or Treat from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The church's event page promises decorated cars and candy, invites kids to come in costume, and calls it a safe night of fun for the whole family. It lists no admission fee and no registration for families. The only sign up on the page is for church members decorating cars. It's in the same part of west Louisville as the Showcase, so it's an easy evening stop if you go home to rest first.
Where can you pick a pumpkin after the Showcase?
These two farms cost money, but both stay open late enough on Saturday, October 24, for a family leaving the Showcase at 2 p.m.
Gallrein Farms, 1029 Vigo Road in Shelbyville, runs its Fall Festival every Saturday and Sunday through October 31, and admission to the farm is free. The Gallrein Farms homepage lists Saturday activity hours in October of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The activities, including the hayride to the pumpkin patch, need a wristband. The farm's ticket page says wristband prices vary and can reach $22.19 on weekends, and children 2 and under get in free, per the Gallrein events page. The last hayride to the pumpkin patch leaves one hour before closing, so be in line by 5 p.m. and confirm Saturday morning in case weather changes the schedule. The farm says activities are always weather permitting and only service animals are welcome. The phone is 502 633 4849.
Huber's Orchard, Winery and Vineyards, 19816 Huber Road in Borden, Indiana, keeps its Family Farm Park open until 7 p.m. on Saturdays. The Family Farm Park page lists admission at $6 a person for adults and kids, $5 each for groups of six or more, and free for infants under 12 months. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, which makes it 6:30 p.m. The park includes a seasonal corn maze, a tile maze, pedal karts, mountain slides, a jump pad, and a wooden playground. The U Pick page lists pumpkins and Saturday U Pick hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the last U Pick wagon leaves one hour before closing, which makes it 6 p.m. Confirm that time Saturday morning. Strollers aren't allowed on the wagons or in the fields. Huber's asks families to call 812 923 9463 for availability and picking conditions before they drive over.
Gallrein is the cheaper choice if you only want to walk the farm and buy a pumpkin, since admission is free. Huber's is cheaper if your kids want rides, at a flat $6 each versus Gallrein's wristbands of up to $22.19.
Is there a trunk or treat with a movie tonight?
This one costs money. Sauerbeck Family Drive In, 3210 D.W. Griffith Lane in La Grange, holds a trunk or treat followed by Hotel Transylvania on Saturday, October 24. Admission is $28 per carload, according to the Oldham County Tourism listing.
Gates open at 5:45 p.m. Trunk or treating starts at 6 p.m. and runs until about 7 p.m. The listing says cars must arrive by 7 p.m., with no late entry, so confirm that cutoff Saturday morning and leave yourself time for the drive. Tickets are sold on the drive in's ticket page, which says tickets are for a specific date, are non refundable, and the drive in is open rain or shine. The same page says you need a $5 food permit per vehicle to bring your own snacks. The drive in's phone is 502 233 1149. For a family of five in one car, that's under $6 a person for candy and a movie.
What costs a little tonight?
Boo at the Zoo runs tonight at the Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way. The Zoo's event page lists entry from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with everyone out by 10 p.m. Tickets are $14.25 for non members and $8.50 for members, and children 2 and under are free. All tickets must be bought online in advance for a timed slot, the last slot is 8:30 p.m., and select Meijer stores sell $12.25 anytime tickets. Parking in the Zoo lot is included.
The Zoo says trick or treating is for kids 11 and under, and the one way route has 20 treat booths over about 1.3 miles. It calls 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. its most popular time, so a family coming off a long Showcase morning can arrive later and miss the crush. The event runs rain or shine with no refunds, and its last night is Friday, October 30. The Zoo's number is 502 459 2181.
If you're coming straight from the Showcase on Muhammad Ali Boulevard, the Book Festival downtown is the closer stop. Shively's Ghoul's Gala ends at 3 p.m., so go there first if you have a child under 12 in costume.