Louisville's fall calendar has filled in fast. New confirmed additions include La Villa Lou, PickleY'all, Louisville Maker Faire, HalLOUween, Pumpkinfest and multiple trunk or treats, while two different pumpkin trails now share the October spotlight. Here are the dates, prices and details families actually need.
If you bookmarked this guide when JCPS Insider first published it in August, open it again.
Louisville's fall calendar has changed enough that families could now miss several free events, special Halloween nights or even end up at the wrong pumpkin trail.
That last one is not an exaggeration.
The original Jack O'Lantern Spectacular has moved to Kentucky Kingdom for 2026. Iroquois Park is also hosting a pumpkin trail this year, but it is a separate event called Jack's Lantern Trail.
Both run in October. Both involve thousands of glowing pumpkins. They are at different locations, use different tickets and operate differently.
Middletown Family Fun Fest is happening September 11 and 12
The 54th annual Middletown Family Fun Fest runs Friday, September 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Wetherby Park, 11803 Old Shelbyville Road.
Admission is free. The Kids Zone includes obstacle courses, giant slides, a petting zoo, train rides, balloon art, face painting, games and free caricatures. Saturday also brings the dog show, parade and pie eating contest.
Big Four Arts Festival is September 12 and 13
The Big Four Arts Festival returns to the Big Four Bridge Lawn Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $5 per adult, with children 12 and younger free. Tickets are sold at the festival entrance. The festival's current visitor page says families can expect more than 150 juried artists, international food, children's activities, entertainment and hands on art.
NuLu Fest returns September 19
NuLu Fest runs Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along the 600 through 900 blocks of East Market Street.
Admission is free. The festival includes live music, food, art, shopping and activities for all ages.
Asian Night Market adds a free September event
Fourth Street Live will host the Asian Night Market Saturday, September 26 from 5 to 10 p.m.
The free, all ages event is presented by the Asia Institute Crane House and includes street food, local vendors and live performances.
JCPS fall break lines up with the start of October events
JCPS fall break runs Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 2.
Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, Jack's Lantern Trail and Boo at the Zoo all begin October 1. The Louisville Bats Fall Festival and St. James Court Art Show begin October 2.
Families planning a local fall break may be able to visit some of these before the heavier weekend crowds arrive.
JCPS Insider keeps school breaks, application windows and other important dates together on the Dates and Deadlines page.
There are two different major pumpkin experiences this year
This is the change parents are most likely to get confused about.
The original Jack O'Lantern Spectacular is now at Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is the new home of the original Jack O'Lantern Spectacular.
It is now part of Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom, which runs Wednesdays through Sundays from October 1 through November 1.
The pumpkin trail opens at 6 p.m. and is included with regular Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom admission. The park also offers more than 30 rides, trick or treating, a hay maze and live entertainment.
Operating hours depend on the day.
Wednesdays and Thursdays run from 5 to 9 p.m.
Fridays run from 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturdays run from 2 to 10 p.m.
Sundays run from 4 to 9 p.m.
Day tickets start as low as $19.99 and include both Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom and the Jack O'Lantern Spectacular trail. There is no separate ticket or timed entry for the trail.
Parking is separate. Kentucky Kingdom lists parking at $15 per car at the gate with same day reentry. Advance online parking is $13 for a single entry and does not include reentry. Season passholders park free, and the park also lists select free parking days.
Guests 15 and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult who is at least 21. Each adult may supervise up to six minors and must remain inside the park during the visit.
Iroquois Park has Jack's Lantern Trail
Jack's Lantern Trail runs nightly from October 1 through November 1 at Iroquois Park, with guests entering through Iroquois Amphitheater.
Unlike Kentucky Kingdom, this event uses timed admission. The trail itself opens at dusk. The first ticketed entry is 7 p.m. from October 1 through October 8 and moves to 6:30 p.m. beginning October 9.
Sunday through Thursday hours are 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors and $12 for children ages 3 through 12.
Friday and Saturday hours are 6:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $17 for seniors and $15 for children ages 3 through 12.
Children 2 and younger are free. Taxes and service fees are not included in the listed ticket prices.
So if someone tells you the pumpkin trail is at Kentucky Kingdom and someone else says Iroquois Park, both may be talking about a real 2026 event.
They are simply not the same one.
Boo at the Zoo has its full October schedule
Boo at the Zoo runs October 1 through 4, 8 through 11, 15 through 18, 22 through 25 and 29 through 30.
Regular event hours are 5 to 9 p.m., with guests required to exit by 10 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Louisville Zoo members pay $8.50. Nonmembers pay $14.25. Children 2 and younger are free. Participating Meijer stores begin selling $12.25 anytime tickets September 12.
Parking is included with admission, along with several event attractions.
Two special nights have shorter hours.
The sensory friendly night is Wednesday, October 7. Entry is from 5 to 7 p.m. and guests exit by 8 p.m. The Zoo says this night uses fewer lights, lower music and smaller crowds.
The allergy friendly night is Wednesday, October 28. Entry is also from 5 to 7 p.m. with exit by 8 p.m. It includes peanut free treat booths and additional nonfood treats.
Trick or treating is reserved for children 11 and younger.
October 2 through 4 starts fast
The Louisville Bats Fall Festival takes over Louisville Slugger Field Friday, October 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tickets are $7.50 for adults and children ages 3 and older. Children 2 and younger are free. The event includes trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, carnival games, face painting, a costume contest and a showing of Casper on the video board. Parking is free in the main Louisville Slugger Field lot.
The St. James Court Art Show runs October 2 through 4 in Old Louisville. Admission is free. The show is held rain or shine, pets are not allowed, and more than 600 artists are expected for its 70th year.
BowmanFest follows October 3 and 4 at Bowman Field. Saturday runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with historic aircraft, military displays, air shows and family activities. Some experiences, including aircraft rides, cost extra.
Across the river, Harvest Homecoming begins with its parade October 3. Downtown booth days run October 8 through 11, with children's events and other activities spread throughout the festival.
October 10 may be Louisville's biggest family festival day
Choosing where to go on Saturday, October 10 may be harder than finding something to do.
Belknap Fall Festival
Belknap Fall Festival runs Friday, October 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Douglass Loop, 2223 Dundee Road.
Admission is free. Family activities include pumpkin painting, face painting and a petting zoo, along with live music, food and local vendors.
HalLOUween Parade and Fest
HalLOUween takes over East Jefferson Street in NuLu Saturday, October 10.
The current organizer page lists the festival beginning at 11 a.m. and the Halloween parade kicking off at 7 p.m. General admission and parade viewing are free.
The Urban Farm, which includes a pumpkin patch, corn pit, petting zoo and hayrides, requires a separate ticket. The Cider Festival is also ticketed and restricted to adults 21 and older.
Pumpkins at PlayPort
Waterfront Park is hosting Pumpkins at PlayPort from 4 to 7 p.m. October 10 at 1105 Rowan Street.
The event is free and includes trick or treating, pumpkins and family activities throughout PlayPort.
Southwest Community Festival
The Southwest Community Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 10 at Sun Valley Park.
The Jefferson County PVA's current 2026 event calendar lists the festival location as Sun Valley Park, 6616 Ashby Lane.
Parents may see another address online for the Sun Valley Community Center. Louisville Metro lists the community center at 6505 Bethany Lane, while the current festival listing uses the Ashby Lane park address.
Highview Fall Festival and Parade
Louisville Metro Council records confirm the Highview Fall Festival and Parade for October 10.
A complete current public schedule with exact hours, route and parent facing location information was not available in the sources JCPS Insider reviewed, so we are not filling those details in from an older year.
October 11 has two new reasons to get out
Chunkin' Pumpkins Pumpkinfest
The 12th annual Chunkin' Pumpkins Pumpkinfest runs Sunday, October 11 from noon to 6 p.m. at Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille in Prospect.
Admission is free.
The main attraction is difficult to confuse with anything else on this list: three trebuchets launch pumpkins more than 100 yards toward floating targets in the Ohio River.
The event also includes face painting, children's games, vendors, live music and fireworks while raising money for Twisted Pink and Hope Scarves.
If your child has ever wondered what happens when a pumpkin meets a giant catapult, Louisville has apparently decided to answer the question.
La Villa Lou Festival
Louisville Metro's first La Villa Lou Festival is scheduled Sunday, October 11 from noon to 9 p.m. at Preston Plaza, 4132 Outer Loop.
Admission is free. The all ages festival celebrates Hispanic cultures through music, dance, food, art and community activities.
October 16 and 17 added even more to the calendar
PickleY'all brings a new free festival downtown
Louisville's first PickleY'all festival runs October 16 and 17 downtown alongside the 2026 Humana APP Louisville Open.
The city describes PickleY'all as a free, all ages experience built around pickleball, food, local organizations and entertainment.
Friday, October 16 is the kickoff side of the event, with a downtown beautification effort, community happy hour and a professional exhibition featuring pickleball players and local personalities.
Saturday, October 17 expands into the street fair, with food trucks, local organizations, a kids zone, wellness activities and a free concert.
African Heritage Festival returns October 16 and 17
Bridge Kids International lists its African Heritage Festival for October 16 and 17 at Our Place at Ben Washer Park and the Lynn Family Sports Vision and Training Center.
A youth soccer clinic is also scheduled October 17.
Louisville Maker Faire is October 17
Louisville Maker Faire takes place Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Louisville Engineering Student Success and Research Building, 216 Eastern Parkway.
Admission is completely free and no ticket or RSVP is required.
The event combines robots, rockets, art, inventions, engineering, crafts and other projects created by local makers.
If the robotics or technology side catches your child's attention, JCPS Insider's Activities and Sports directory includes robotics, STLP, Science Olympiad, Academic Team, chess and other school activities parents can investigate next.
October 24 has books, art and trunk or treating
The Louisville Book Festival is Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
General festival admission is free, although some popular presentations may require separate tickets. Organizers say their goal is for every child attending to choose at least one free age appropriate book to take home.
Via Colori runs the same weekend at the Big Four Bridge Lawn.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 24 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 25.
Admission is free. More than 150 artists are expected to create large chalk works directly on the pavement, along with live music, food, bounce houses, cosplay and other family activities.
Berrytown Recreation Center also holds a free Trunk or Treat Dance Saturday, October 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
More trunk or treats are now confirmed
LMPD's First Division will hold a trunk or treat Wednesday, October 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Family Dollar, 1419 West Jefferson Street.
Christ Church United Methodist and Christ Church School will hold their annual Trunk or Treat and Community Fun Night Friday, October 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 4614 Brownsboro Road. The event includes games, food and trunk or treating.
More school, church and neighborhood trunk or treats are likely to appear as October gets closer.
ColorFest stretches fall into November
Bernheim's ColorFest takes place Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Activities include giant slides, a mud pie kitchen, pumpkin rolling, live music and hands on nature activities.
Admission is $12 for Bernheim members and $15 for nonmembers. Children ages 10 and younger are free.
Pumpkin patches near Louisville
Gallrein Farms in Shelbyville says its fall season runs from mid September through October 31.
Fall activities include pumpkins you can pick yourself, hayrides, a corn maze and other farm activities. The farm says growing conditions can affect availability, so families should check current crop information before making the drive.
Mulberry Orchard in Shelbyville lists fall admission at $10 per person for ages 3 and older. Its current site says apple picking is expected to begin around September 19, but weather can change that date.
Sunny Acres Farm is one place where JCPS Insider is still refusing to recycle an old date.
Its public Pumpkin Festival page still lists October 18 and 19, 2025. Until a 2026 schedule appears, we are not treating those dates as current.
Looking specifically for free fall events?
Families trying to keep the weekend budget down already have plenty of confirmed choices.
• Middletown Family Fun Fest on September 11 and 12
• NuLu Fest on September 19
• Asian Night Market on September 26
• St. James Court Art Show from October 2 through 4
• Belknap Fall Festival on October 9 and 10
• HalLOUween street festival and parade on October 10
• Pumpkins at PlayPort on October 10
• Chunkin' Pumpkins Pumpkinfest on October 11
• La Villa Lou Festival on October 11
• PickleY'all on October 16 and 17
• Louisville Maker Faire on October 17
• Louisville Book Festival on October 24
• Berrytown Trunk or Treat Dance on October 24
• Via Colori on October 24 and 25
Free admission does not necessarily mean food, optional activities or upgrades inside an event are free.
Know another Louisville fall event we should add?
School festivals, PTA events, neighborhood carnivals and church trunk or treats are exactly the events most likely to be missing from the big tourism calendars.
If you know of one, send JCPS Insider the event name, date, time, location, cost and an official flyer or event page through the JCPS Insider contact page.
We will verify it before adding it.
This guide will continue changing as Louisville gets deeper into fall.