Things to do in Louisville this weekend, Nov. 12 to 15
Claiming Crown runs Saturday at Churchill Downs
By Lou P. and the Louisville Loop editors. Thursday, November 12, 2026
Churchill Downs hosts Claiming Crown on Saturday afternoon, and the zoo opens its gates to dogs that morning. On Sunday there's a free riverfront history lecture and a Jewish Celebration Day at the Festival of Trees & Lights. CenterStage opens Cabaret at the JCC on Thursday.
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING
Claiming Crown - General Admission
Claiming Crown is a one-day card at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon, with general admission available.
The 28th running of the Claiming Crown brings full fields of hardworking Thoroughbreds and contenders from coast to coast to Churchill Downs. Tickets are mobile only through the Churchill Downs App.
Saturday at 1 pm · Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave, Louisville, KY, 40208
FREE THIS WEEKENDcosts nothing
FREE History Lecture Series: Riverfront Reflections
Sunday at 2 pm
PlayPort Event Building, 1105 Rowan Street, Louisville, KY, 40203
Local historian Rick Bell kicks off a monthly history series at PlayPort, on the site of Fort-on-Shore. Expect a visual presentation and time for questions, plus free parking in the Aqua Parking Lot.
WITH KIDSbring them
The Wild Kratts Live!
Thursday at 6:30 pm
W. L. Lyons Brown Theatre, 315 West Broadway, Louisville, KY, 40202
Festival of Trees & Lights: Jewish Celebration Day
Sunday at 10 am
Louisville Slugger Field, 401 E Main St, Louisville, KY, 40202
A day of Jewish celebration at Louisville Slugger Field as part of the Festival of Trees & Lights, running from morning to late afternoon.
THE WEIRD ONE with Lou P.
Girl Scouts: OJ with Orangutans 2026
Girl Scouts meet orangutans at the zoo on Saturday morning, and the title promises orange juice.
Saturday at 9 am · Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY, 40213
OUTSIDEfresh air
Dog Days at the Zoo (2026)
Saturday at 8 am
Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY, 40213
New this fall, you can bring a well-behaved dog to the Zoo during special early morning hours. Dog and handler tickets are limited, and each dog needs pre-registration, a signed waiver and up-to-date vaccines.
Big Four Bridge Lighting Schedule
Through Nov. 30
Big Four Bridge, 1101 River Rd, Louisville, KY, 40202
The Big Four Bridge glows in special colors all month. Veterans Day brings red, white and blue, and Thanksgiving brings orange, red and yellow. Worth a walk or a look from the waterfront.
DATE NIGHTfor two
CenterStage presents: Cabaret
Thursday at 7:30 pm; also Sun 2 pm
Trager Family JCC Shapira Family Auditorium, 3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, KY, 40205
CenterStage stages the musical Cabaret at the Trager Family JCC's Shapira Family Auditorium. Tickets are $32 for this evening performance.
Bourbon Through Bluegrass
Thursday at 5 pm
Frazier Kentucky History Museum, 829 West Main Street, Louisville, KY, 40202, United States
Bourbon expert Bernie Lubbers and bluegrass musician Steve Cooley pair stories, live music and four Kentucky whiskeys. The $60 ticket also includes a self-guided tour of the Frazier museum.
BIG SHOWSyou've heard of these
- THU 7 PM; ALSO FRI 7 PM, SAT 2 PM, SAT 7:30 PM, SUN 1 PM, SUN 6:30 PMDisney Presents The Lion King (Touring), Whitney Hall
- SUN 5:30 PMLouisville Cardinals Womens Basketball vs. UConn Huskies Women's Basketball, KFC Yum! Center
- SAT 8 PMSawyer Brown "The Boys And Me Live" Tour, The Louisville Palace
PLAN AHEAD
WHAT DID WE MISS?
We do our best to read every calendar in Louisville, and we still miss good stuff. The church supper, the band at the corner bar, the block party your neighbor is throwing. If you know about something, tell us. Just write hello@loopcities.com. We read every note.
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