Louisville Area Derby Alternatives are Plentiful
Looking to get away from Kentucky Derby madness? Plenty of Louisville Derby alternatives are open on the first Saturday in May for those longing to escape Kentucky Derby madness. Following are a few alternatives to the frenzy of festivities leading up to the Run for the Roses.
“The Greatest” can be found at the Muhammad Ali Center, which, like many downtown attractions, will be open Derby day from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cultural attraction and international educational center is intended for a broad audience, not just sports lovers and boxing fans. Children and adults alike will find the interactive exhibits fun and inspiring.
Another alternative is spending Derby Eve at Derby Dinner Playhouse. Located across the Ohio River in Clarksville, Indiana, the dinner theater offers a homestyle American buffet featuring a salad bar, fish, beef, turkey, vegetables and side dishes, hot rolls and beverages. Along with dinner, the theater will present “The Drowsy Chaperone” on May 6. The $40 ticket price includes the cost of the buffet. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the main show starts at 7:45 p.m.
African-American jockeys won half of the first 30 Kentucky Derbys. Learn more about African Americans in horseracing history at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, a new museum and cultural center located in the historic Russell District. The exhibit “And They’re Off: African Americans in Horseracing” is on display now through the end of May.
Go wild at the Lousville Zoo and check out the Glacier Run exhibit. The new exhibit, featuring polar and grizzly bears, is scheduled to open April 26 and will be open Derby day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During training demonstrations, guests will be able to get close enough to a polar bear to smell his breath.
If getting out of town and going shopping sounds like a good plan, head for Radcliff, Kentucky—the site of Every Woman’s Arts & Crafts Spring Festival. Held every year on the first Saturday in May, the festival features hundreds of fine art and handcrafted items made by local and regional artisans. The event takes place at the Colvin Community Center, located 40 miles south of Louisville.
Escape to another world at the Louisville Science Center, now featuring “Star Trek: The Exhibition." The exhibit includes sets from the TV show, costumes, and props used in the TV series as well as each Star Trek movie—including Captain Kirk’s legendary chair. Tickets are $14 for children, $18 for adults.
Posted on Apr 1, 2011 by Bobbi Buchanan
