I need to tell you about the most unexpectedly magical morning I’ve had in a really long time.

A few weeks ago, I loaded up my mom and drove 45 minutes outside of Louisville to Pleasureville, Kentucky — to visit a farm full of Highland cows. And I genuinely almost cried when I got there. Not in an embarrassing way. Okay, maybe a little embarrassing.

Here’s the thing: I am obsessed with Scotland. It’s been a dream destination of mine for years. So when we pulled up to TC Highlands Farm on an overcast Sunday morning, surrounded by these enormous, fluffy, completely unreal-looking cows — it felt like I’d been transported. Like, fully. The fog, the fields, the cows just peacefully existing. I could have stayed all day.

Check out my visit here:

What the visit actually looks like

TC Highlands Farm offers private visits to their herd, and the experience is thoughtfully designed — this is not a petting zoo. It’s an educational, intimate morning with people who genuinely love what they do.

Here’s what we got to do:

• Brush the cows (they lean in, it’s adorable)

• Feed them by hand

• Watch the mamas and babies together in the field

• See them hanging out near the pond

• Witness a calf nursing — and as a mom, I don’t know, that just hit different

Our host was Kristin, who owns the farm. She knew every single one of her cows by name and could tell you their personalities, their quirks, their history. These cows have also won championships, which makes complete sense once you see them up close. They are magnificent.

Fun facts I learned that I have to share

I walked away way more educated about Highland cows than I expected, and honestly it made the whole experience even better:

• Highland cows are actually both dairy and beef cows — I had no idea

• That iconic fluffy double-layered coat isn’t just cute — it keeps them perfectly insulated in freezing temperatures, which is why they look so unbothered by everything

• They are fiercely protective of their calves (mama energy: understood)

• They are total social butterflies with each other — licking, play fighting, hanging out in groups. There is a whole cow social scene happening and it is genuinely delightful to watch

How to book your visit

Fall bookings are open right now, and here’s what you need to know:

• Groups are capped at 5 people, so it stays intimate

• You get your own dedicated guide for the full visit

• You can also book a photographer to come out with you — and yes, you absolutely should

• The farm is in Pleasureville, KY, about 45 minutes from Louisville

One practical tip from me to you: leave the flip flops at home. You’re on a real farm. Dress accordingly and you’ll have a much better time.

Book your fall visit at TC Highland Farms →

Who this is perfect for

This is one of those experiences that works for almost everyone — it’s great for families with kids who are curious about animals and agriculture, it’s great for a special outing with your mom or a friend, and it’s genuinely great if you just need a slow, beautiful morning that feels nothing like your regular routine. My daughter is going next time. I’m already planning it.

Fall spots will go fast. Book before they’re gone.

xoxo, Shelby

P.S. If you go, tag me @kidfriendlylouisville — I want to see your cow photos so badly.

Hey friends —

August is somehow already here, and honestly? This might be the most packed month of the whole summer. We’ve got the Kentucky State Fair (obviously), the World Championship Horse Show, baby goats in NuLu on a Friday night, two different weekends at Bernheim, free trucks at the Science Center, a concert on the river, and an animal birthday party at the Zoo. There is truly something on every single weekend this month — and I narrowed it all down to 10 so you don’t have to do the work.

Save this, send it to your group chat, put the dates on your calendar. August goes fast.

The Top 10

1. ECO Kids Discovery Day at Bernheim

August is the perfect month to get kids outside before summer ends, and Bernheim makes it easy. ECO Kids Discovery Days — which stands for Every Child Outside — run every first and third Saturday of the month, and the August 1st edition is a great excuse to make the drive out to Clermont. Volunteer Naturalists run hands-on discovery stations from 1–4 PM, there are pop-up story circles near the Visitor Center, and a guided hike of the day starts at 2 PM. No agenda, no screens, just kids getting muddy and curious. It’s $15 per car for non-members — basically free for a full afternoon.

• DATE: Saturday, August 1

• TIMES: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Guided hike at 2:00 PM

• PRICING: $15/car recommended donation (free for Bernheim members)

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — especially great for 3–10

• 📍 LOCATION: Visitor Center, Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY

• Event details →

2. NuLu Nights

NuLu Nights is the neighborhood’s monthly evening series where East Market Street comes alive after hours — shops stay open late, there’s live music in the streets, local vendors pop up, and it genuinely feels like a party you stumbled into. The August 7th edition has DJ Beats By Pony Boy keeping the vibe going all night, live music from Rick Quisol (early blues, country, 50s and 60s pop), a free caricature artist on site, and — this is not a drill — Sunny Acres Farm is coming back with baby goats. If your kid spent Bock Fest obsessed with those goats, here’s your second chance. It’s free, it’s walkable, and shops will have special discounts all evening. One of those nights that feels effortless.

• DATE: Friday, August 7

• TIMES: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• PRICING: FREE | Shops open late with special discounts

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: NuLu Neighborhood, East Market Street, Louisville

• Event details →

3. Free Play Saturday at Bernheim

If the ECO Kids event earlier in the month got your kids hooked on Bernheim, come back for Free Play Saturday the following weekend. This one takes place at Playcosystem — Bernheim’s 17-acre nature playground — and the whole point is to let kids lead. Staff set out loose parts (sticks, logs, rocks, ropes, you name it) and kids figure out the rest. There’s no wrong way to play here, and there’s no registration, no schedule, no pressure. Just 45 minutes out of Louisville and a whole afternoon of open-ended outdoor time. Pack a cooler and make it a day.

• DATE: Saturday, August 8

• TIMES: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• PRICING: FREE — no registration required

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — especially great for 2–10

• 📍 LOCATION: Playcosystem, Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, Clermont, KY

• Event info →

4. CONNECT at Bernheim

This one is different from Bernheim’s usual daytime programming — and that’s exactly what makes it worth the trip. CONNECT is Bernheim’s signature annual evening event, timed around sunset so the whole forest glows. The event wraps around the scenic 1.3-acre Lake Nevin loop and features immersive art installations, light displays, live music, and hands-on art-making and science activities designed for both kids and adults. It’s the kind of night that doesn’t feel like a family outing so much as an actual experience. Ticketed — check the link below for pricing and to grab your spot before it sells out.

• DATE: Saturday, August 15

• TIMES: Evening 6:36-11:36pm

• PRICING: Ticketed — see site for details

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: Lake Nevin Loop, Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY

• Get tickets →

5. Kentucky State Fair

I don’t have to sell you on this one. The State Fair is the most Kentucky thing you can do all year — livestock shows, carnival rides, more fried food than should exist in one place, free entertainment stages, the butter sculpture, and the kind of chaotic, humid, totally Louisville energy that your kids will genuinely remember. This year runs August 20–30, so you have almost two weeks to find the right day and go. If you’ve never taken your kids, this is the year. If you go every year, you already know.

• DATES: August 20–30, 2026

• PRICING: Ticketed | Check kystatefair.org for daily admission pricing and deals

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Ln, Louisville

• Full details →

6. Friday at Floyds — The Parklands

This is the one you put on the calendar in January and protect at all costs. Friday at Floyds is the Parklands’ free summer evening series at Beckley Creek Park — food trucks, local vendors, live music starting at 5:30 PM, and kids’ games while the band takes a break. Bring a blanket, grab dinner from the trucks, and let the kids run on the lawn while you actually sit down for an hour. The Parklands also runs Ranger-Led Creekwalks at 5:30 and 7:30 PM for curious kids who want to know what lives in the water. Completely free, completely lovely.

• DATE: Friday, August 21

• TIMES: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Music at 5:30 PM

• PRICING: FREE

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: PNC Achievement Center, Beckley Creek Park, The Parklands of Floyds Fork

• Event details →

7. Touch-A-Truck at Kentucky Science Center

Every kid has a truck phase — and even the ones who are “over it” absolutely lose their minds when they can actually climb on one. Touch-A-Truck takes over the parking lot behind the Kentucky Science Center with a lineup of real vehicles — bucket trucks, city buses, emergency vehicles, and more — and lets kids (and adults, honestly) get hands-on with all of them and meet the community helpers who run them. It’s free and open to the public, no ticket needed. Note: no parking is available at the lot during the event, so plan to use street parking or the nearby Republic Bank Garage at 701 W Market Street.

• DATE: Saturday, August 22

• TIMES: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• PRICING: FREE and open to the public

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — truck-obsessed toddlers especially

• 📍 LOCATION: Parking lot behind Kentucky Science Center, corner of 8th and W. Washington Streets, Louisville

• Event info →

8. World’s Championship Horse Show

Running concurrently with the State Fair, the World’s Championship Horse Show is a genuinely spectacular event — and one that doesn’t get nearly enough credit as a family outing. Held annually at the Expo Center, it’s the premier Saddlebred show in the world, with horses competing in disciplines that look almost impossibly elegant. If your kids have any horse energy at all, this is the real deal. The show runs August 22–29, with multiple sessions per day. Check Ticketmaster for the full schedule and to find the session that works best for your family.

• DATES: August 22–29, 2026

• PRICING: Ticketed via Ticketmaster | Browse sessions

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — great for horse-loving kids 4+

• 📍 LOCATION: Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville

• Show info →

9. WFPK Waterfront Wednesday

Free outdoor concert. On the river. With food trucks. With kids running on grass. You already know. The August 26 show features Old 97s with Cait Justice — which is a genuinely great lineup for a free Wednesday night. Get there by 5 to grab your spot on the Big Four Lawn before it fills up, and bring chairs or a blanket. Music starts at 6:30. This is the Louisville summer tradition I tell every out-of-towner about, and it never disappoints.

• DATE: Wednesday, August 26

• TIMES: Lawn opens 5:00 PM | Music at 6:30 PM

• PRICING: FREE

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — stroller-and-blanket kind of night

• 📍 LOCATION: Big Four Lawn, Waterfront Park, 1101 River Road

• Concert info →

10. August Birthday Bash at the Louisville Zoo

The Zoo’s monthly Birthday Bash series is one of those things that sounds sweet and turns out to be genuinely memorable. On August 29, the Zoo celebrates the animals with August birthdays — keeper chats where you hear directly from the people who care for them every day, and special enrichment treats designed for each animal. The enrichment is the part kids can’t stop talking about: watching animals interact with puzzle feeders, novel textures, and treats made just for their species. It’s free with regular admission or a Zoo membership, and runs from 10 AM to 12:30 PM — a perfect Saturday morning before the rest of the day.

• DATE: Saturday, August 29

• TIMES: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

• PRICING: Free with Zoo admission or Louisville Zoo Membership

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way

• Event details →

Honorable Mentions

August is too good to stop at 10. One more thing worth your radar this month:

Louisville Bats at Louisville Slugger Field

The Bats have fireworks four times in August, and the rest of the month has plenty of family-friendly promotions to keep it interesting. A summer Bats game is one of those classic Louisville nights that never gets old — cheap tickets, great views, and a completely manageable stadium size for little kids.

• DATES: Various August home games

• PRICING: Ticketed | batsbaseball.com

• 📍 LOCATION: Louisville Slugger Field, 401 E Main Street, Downtown

• Promo schedule →

That’s the month, friends. If I missed something you’re excited about, reply and tell me — that’s how the best local stuff makes it onto next month’s list.

See you out there,

XOXO Shelby

Kid Friendly Louisville is a reader-supported newsletter. If this is useful, forward it to a parent friend.

Okay y’all — what a weekend. Wild Lights had its final night, the Street Food Festival took over Fourth Street Live, there were puppies at Playground Abode, cruises on the river, stroller workouts, soccer games, and somehow a farmer’s market AND a swim event thrown in there too. If you were out and about this weekend, you earned it. And if you missed it — that’s literally what we’re here for. Let’s catch you up. 👇

📰 This Week’s Newsletter: We’re Back — and August is Going to Be a Good One 🧡

If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been — I owe you a real explanation, and I sent it out today.

July knocked me sideways. As a solo person running every single piece of this — the writing, the newsletters, the reels, the research — sometimes life just wins. This month, it won. I’m a mom first, creator second, and I think most of you reading this already get that.

But I’m not going anywhere. August has a full calendar, I have a plan, and I am genuinely excited to be back in your inbox.

Here’s what’s coming:

• July 30 — Things to Do in August 📅

• August 6 — Local Business Spotlight: TC Highland Farm 🐄

• August 13 — New Kid-Friendly Guide: Best Places to Eat with Kids in Louisville 🍕 (reply to this email with your nominations!)

• August 20 — KFL Q&A Newsletter

• August 27 — Things to Do in September 🍂

ATTENTION ⬇️

1️⃣ I also sent out a call for a paid content contributor — someone who wants to help build this thing with me. If that’s you, the application is HERE.

2️⃣ And the Courier Journal is accepting nominations for Louisville’s Top Content Creators 2026 — if KFL has ever helped your family, I’d love your vote. VOTE HERE🩷

🦁 Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo — Last Weekend, and It Was a 10/10

If you made it to Wild Lights before it wrapped up last night — you were in the right place. I took my toddler and honestly? I’m not sure who was more in awe. Four immersive themed worlds — Magical Forest, Magical Ocean, Pre-Historic Animals, and Wondrous Asia — all lit up with handcrafted Chinese lantern displays, oversized sculptures, and the kind of colors that make you feel like you’re in a dream. The Louisville Zoo knocked this one completely out of the park.

I really, really hope they bring it back next year. As someone who basically lives at the zoo, this felt extra special — and watching my daughter’s face light up in the glow of those lanterns is the kind of memory I’m going to hold onto. I shared some moments from our visit on Instagram if you want a peek at what the magic looked like.

If it comes back in 2027 — do not wait. Buy the tickets early and go.

🏇 Kentucky Derby Museum — Free on Tuesdays with Your Cultural Pass

This one is a hidden gem hiding in plain sight, and I had to spotlight it this week. The Kentucky Derby Museum is included in the Cultural Pass — meaning kids ages 0–21 get in FREE on Tuesdays. If you haven’t been, now is your sign. It’s genuinely one of the coolest spots in Louisville for little ones who are curious about horses, racing, and local history — and the immersive theater experience alone is worth the trip.

Cultural Pass only runs through August 9, so you have two Tuesdays left to catch this one for free. I posted all about it on Instagram — go give it a look and then put Tuesday on your calendar. ✅

More info → https://culturalpass.app/

🦘 Nova Adventure Park — 41,000 Square Feet of Pure Energy Out

If you have a kid who cannot sit still — this is your place. Nova Adventure Park at Moore Park is an indoor trampoline and adventure park with 41,000 square feet of space for kids (and parents, honestly) to get every last drop of energy out. It’s perfect for all ages, works rain or shine, and it is the kind of place where you walk in with a wild child and leave with a tired one. That’s a win in my book.

I checked it out this week and shared everything you need to know on Instagram. If you’ve been looking for a go-to rainy day spot or just need to burn off some summer steam — bookmark this one.

💬 What Did YOU Do This Weekend?

This past weekend had SO much going on — stroller workouts, farm days, swim events, the Street Food Festival, soccer games, river cruises, puppy playdates at Playground Abode, and the final night of Wild Lights at the zoo. Louisville really showed OUT.

I want to hear about it! Drop your weekend highlights in the comments on Instagram or just reply to this email — what did you do? Where did you go? Did you find something new? The best part of this community is hearing from y’all. 🧡

📅 What’s Happening This Week

A few things on the radar before the weekend gets here:

Monday, July 28 & Tuesday, July 29 — Louisville Zoo FREE Days 🦒 Louisville Zoo | FREE with Cultural Pass | All ages Cultural Pass holders get free general admission to the zoo on Mondays AND Tuesdays through August 4. If you haven’t gone yet this summer or want to go one more time before the pass ends, this week is your shot. Don’t forget to use the app to check in. culturalpass.app

Tuesday, July 29 — Kentucky Derby Museum: Free with Cultural Pass 🏇 Kentucky Derby Museum | FREE for ages 0–21 | All ages Tuesdays are your free-entry day at the Derby Museum on Cultural Pass. Two Tuesdays left before August 9 — don’t sleep on it. kentuckyderbymuseum.org

Wednesday, July 30 — Waterfront Wednesday 🎶 Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park | FREE | All ages | Starts 5pm, music at dusk Louisville’s beloved free concert series returns for July’s installment. Bring your lawn chairs, your snacks, your kids, and your good vibes. Food vendors will be on site, and the lawn is one of the best spots in the city on a summer night. Bonus: bring a nonperishable food item to donate. lpm.org/waterfront-wednesday

Tuesday–Sunday — Louisville Bats vs. Indianapolis Indians ⚾ Louisville Slugger Field | Tickets from ~$10 | All ages The Bats are home all week! Minor league baseball is one of the most underrated family nights out in Louisville — affordable tickets, a great stadium, and kids love it. Check the schedule and scoop up tickets for a weeknight game. batsbaseball.com

Through August 9 — Kentucky Shakespeare Festival 🎭 Central Park | FREE | All ages | Nightly 8pm (food trucks from 6pm) This is free outdoor Shakespeare in the park — one of Louisville’s best summer traditions. Pre-show kid-friendly activities start at 6pm alongside food trucks. Even if your little ones don’t follow every word, the energy and the setting make it a special summer memory. kyshakespeare.com

🌞 This Weekend’s Picks (August 1–2)

Last full weekend of Cultural Pass season — make it count!

Saturday, August 1 — Racing Louisville FC vs. Chicago Stars FC ⚽ Lynn Family Stadium | 5pm | All ages. Racing Lou is back home Saturday day and the energy at Lynn Family Stadium is always worth the trip. Grab some food, sit on the lawn, and let the kids run. It’s genuinely one of the best family outings in Louisville in the summer. plus, this Saturday is youth sports day. Any kid wearing a jersey or team shirt can claim a free ticket. https://www.racingloufc.com/

Saturday, August 1 — ECO Kids Discovery Day at Bernheim Forest 🌿 Bernheim Forest | 1–4pm | $15/car (non-members) | All ages E-C-O stands for Every Child Outside — and this recurring program is one of the best ways to get kids connected with nature in a real, hands-on way. Every first and third Saturday, Bernheim runs activities, hikes, and discovery experiences that are genuinely great for all ages. Pack snacks, wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty, and go. bernheim.org

Saturday & Sunday — Louisville Bats Home Games ⚾ Louisville Slugger Field | Check schedule for times | Tickets from ~$10 Sunday is typically Kids Day at the Bats — keep an eye on promotions. There’s nothing more summer than a baseball game with your family. batsbaseball.com

🎟️ As always — don’t forget your Cultural Pass! We are in the final stretch — Cultural Pass ends August 9. It’s free for kids 0–21 and gets you into 150+ venues including the Louisville Zoo (Mon & Tue), Kentucky Derby Museum (Tuesdays), Speed Art Museum, Belle of Louisville, and so many more. Download the app and check the calendar this week before you head out — you might be surprised what’s still covered. culturalpass.app/calendar

Coming Up This Week

July 30 is the first drop of the new KFL content calendar — Things to Do in August lands in your inbox on Thursday, and I’m so excited to be back with a fresh guide. After that, look out for the TC Highland Farm spotlight on August 6 (I’m headed out there yesterday and I can’t wait to share it with y’all 🐄), and put in your nominations for Best Places to Eat with Kids in Louisville — that guide goes out August 13 and I want it to be the most useful one in the city. Reply to this email with your picks!

More coming your way this week — let’s do this. 💛

That’s a wrap on this week’s ICYMI! Save this, share it with a Louisville mom who needs it, and I’ll see you July 30. 💛

xoxo Shelby

Kid Friendly Louisville | kidfriendlylouisville.substack.com

July has been a lot. As a solo person running Kid Friendly Louisville entirely by myself — the writing, the research, the newsletters, the reels, all of it — sometimes life just wins. This month, life won. I got overwhelmed, I pulled back, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise.

I’m a mom first. Creator second. That’s just the order of things, and I think most of you reading this get it.

So — thank you for sticking around. Genuinely.

That being said, scroll down for a paid content contributor application if you’re interested in helping Kid-Friendly Lou grow 🩷

Here’s what’s coming in August (and I’m excited about it)

I’m not disappearing. I’m coming back with a plan, and I want you to know exactly what to expect so you can hold me to it. 😄

Here’s your August content calendar:

July 30 — Things to Do in August Your go-to round-up of kid-friendly activities to kick off the month. Get your calendar ready.

August 6 — Local Business Spotlight: TC Highland Farm I’m actually heading out there today and I cannot wait to share this one with you. If you’ve been looking for a fun, out-of-the-ordinary experience with your kids, stay tuned.

August 13 — New Kid-Friendly Guide: Best Places to Eat with Kids in Louisville This one’s for the families who need a restaurant that won’t end in a meltdown (yours or theirs). I want this guide to be the best one out there — which means I need YOUR help. Got a spot you love taking your kids? Reply to this email and tell me. I want to hear the real recommendations from real Louisville parents.

August 20 — Local Business Q&A Newsletter - The local business is to be determined, and if you want to be featured or a business that should be featured, please respond to this newsletter and let me know.

August 27 — Things to Do in September Fall is coming, school is starting (or already started), and there’s still so much to do in Louisville. I’ll have your September round-up ready to go.

⏰ Only 2 weeks left for the Cultural Pass

Just a quick reminder — time is running out on the Cultural Pass! If you haven’t used it yet, get on that. Don’t let it go to waste. It ends on August 9th and there’s still so much fun free stuff to do around Louisville!

➡️ check it out here: Cultural Pass

I need your help — and I want to pay you for it

Here’s the real talk: I love Kid Friendly Louisville. It means a lot to me and I don’t want to let it go. But I also can’t keep running it completely alone and doing it justice.

So I’m looking for someone who wants to help me build this thing.

I want to be honest: the pay is small. We’re talking $20 per article and $15 per piece of social content. This is a startup, not a media company. I’m one person who built something she’s proud of, and I’m looking for someone who sees the potential in it the same way I do — someone who wants to grow alongside it, not just get a check.

If you’re a Louisville mom who’s already out here doing things with your kids, knows this city, and wants to be part of something that matters to local families — I would genuinely love to talk to you.

This project matters to me. I just need a little help keeping it going.

Interested? Fill out this form: Apply here

One more thing — a nomination that would mean the world to me

The Courier Journal is accepting nominations for Louisville’s Top Content Creators for 2026, and I’d be so honored to be considered for Kid Friendly Louisville.

If this newsletter, these guides, these reels have ever helped you find something fun to do with your family — would you take two minutes and nominate us? Kid Friendly Louisville really does stand apart in this space for Louisville families, and recognition like this helps more families find us.

Nominate here → Louisville Top Content Creators 2026 (scroll for the submission form)

Just scroll down to the nomination form. That’s it. I appreciate it more than you know.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for being patient with me. I’m coming back strong, and I can’t wait to share what’s ahead.

See you July 30. 🧡 And if you have a free moment, stick around for the poll at the bottom of this page!

— Shelby

Kid Friendly Louisville

Hey y’all — here’s your complete holiday weekend cheat sheet. America is turning 250 this year and Louisville is going ALL OUT. Whether you want a massive downtown blowout, a low-key neighborhood festival, or something in the woods — there’s something for every family this weekend.

Pick your vibe and I’ll see you out there. 🇺🇸

📅 FRIDAY, JULY 3

🎡 Kentucky Kingdom: Bluegrass & Booms

Runs July 3 & 4

Kentucky Kingdom goes full patriot mode for America’s 250th — two nights of live bluegrass, fireworks, and late-night rides.

• 🎵 Live music: Mountain Highway Band (bluegrass/country/gospel) + Tooth & Nail String Band (progressive bluegrass/folk)

• 🎆 Nightly fireworks

• 🌊 Hurricane Bay water park open until dusk

• 🎢 Rides open until 10PM both nights

• 📸 Patriot-themed photo ops throughout the park

💡 Season passholder? No extra charge — just show up.

📍 937 Phillips Lane | July 3 & 4 | Regular park admission | Get tickets

🎉 St. Matthews Freedom Fest

FREE block party — one night only!

The perfect way to kick off the weekend a day early before the July 4th crowds hit.

• 🎶 Live music

• 🛍️ Local vendors + local restaurants

• 👧 Kids zone

• ❤️ Benefits the St. Matthews Fire Department Benevolence Fund

📍 Independence Bank area, Westport Rd (Chenoweth Ln to St. Matthews Ave) |

July 3, 4–9PM | FREE

🇺🇸 SATURDAY, JULY 4

🌊 Waterfront Park Fourth of July

Read more

Hey Louisville families! 👋

Apologies for the late newsletter. I went on vacation and I’m having a hard time catching up. Great past week over here — wrote a newsletter about an experience I really enjoyed, took Saylor somewhere earlier this week that I’m already planning to go back to, and the 4th of July is this weekend so I’ve got a full roundup below. Let’s get into it. 👇

🎁 GIVEAWAY — Closes This Friday, July 3

We partnered with TC Highlands Farm for one of my favorite giveaways we’ve done. One winner gets a private one-hour session with Highland cows — for up to 5 people. Yes, real cows. Yes, it’s exactly as good as it sounds.

If you haven’t seen the Highland cows on their Instagram yet, go look immediately. I’ll wait.

The giveaway closes this Friday, July 3 and we’ll announce the winner the same day. To enter, head to the Kid Friendly Louisville Instagram and follow the instructions on the giveaway post.

👉 Enter the giveaway here

📰 This Past Week’s Newsletter: Happy Hands Creativity Studio 🎨

Last week’s Local Business Spotlight was Happy Hands Creativity Studio, and I’ll be honest — I didn’t know what to expect going in. She set up two activities for Saylor: an ice cream-themed slime and a paper mache letter S she covered in pom poms and feathers. She did most of it herself, which was the whole point.

What Happy Hands does is process art — the focus is on making, not on the finished product. No right answer, no pressure to make something look a certain way. Just your kid deciding what goes where and how much of it. And it sounds simple, but watching Saylor work through it without looking to me for approval every five seconds was genuinely cool to see.

It’s locally owned, woman-owned, and BIPOC-owned, and they’re in the Deer Park neighborhood. I also dug into the research on why this approach to art matters for kids developmentally — it surprised me, and I linked to it in the full post.

• Classes for kids ages 3–12

• Follow them at @happyhandscreativitystudio

• Book at happyhandscreate.com

👉 READ IT HERE

🌻 LAST WEEKEND Roundup

Last week I put together a roundup of what was worth doing last weekend, and while the list was a little lighter than usual, there were still things worth knowing about. Farmers’ markets are running all over the city right now — here is a full resource guide breaking them down by neighborhood, because there are more options than most people realize: Farmers Markets 2026

The event I was actually excited about heading into last weekend: The Greatest Day of Play at the Northeast Regional Library on Saturday, June 27, 10am–2pm. Free, the library went all out for it, and it’s the kind of morning where your kid is done by noon in the best way. I went! Had a great time and a recap will be happening on IG today :)

Keep an eye on my IG for the fun: Kid Friendly IG

💬 What Did YOU Do This Past Weekend?

I want to hear what you all got into — events, new spots, or just a low-key morning at the park. Drop it in the comments on Instagram or reply to this email. The best part of this community is hearing from you. 🧡

📅 What’s Happening This Week

A few things on the radar before the 4th gets here:

July 2-3 — Kentucky Shakespeare: The Two Gentlemen of Verona 🎭 Central Park (Ramey Amphitheater) | Food trucks at 6pm, show at 8pm | FREE | All ages

Free outdoor Shakespeare shows running through August 9 — 5 productions this season. Food trucks at 6, kids’ programming at 7, show at 8. A good excuse to get outside on a weeknight. More info →

Thursday, July 2 — Louisville Orchestra “Play America” 🎵 America Place
101 Logistics Avenue | FREE | All ages | 6-10pm

Join us for The Louisville Orchestra’s FREE Community Concert, “Play America.” This family-friendly event promises an evening filled with music, community, food, and fun. More info →

Thursday, July 2 — Silent Disco Kids Cruise 🛳️ Belle of Louisville Riverboats | 1:00–2:30pm | $14.99 per person

A river cruise where the kids pick their own music from pre-selected channels. It’s a little silly and genuinely fun — different from anything else going on this week. More info →

Friday, July 3 — New Albany Independence Day Celebration 🎆 New Albany, IN | FREE | 7-10 p.m. at Rose Run Park

Across the river — live music, fireworks, food. A solid option if you want to do a drone show on the 3rd and skip some of the 4th crowds. More info →

🌞 This Weekend’s Picks (July 3-5) — America’s 250th

Big weekend. Here’s what’s worth your time — and if you want the full breakdown with set times, kids zone details, and logistics for every event, I put together a complete holiday guide for paid subscribers. Upgrade here to get it.

Friday–Saturday, July 3–4 — Kentucky Kingdom: Bluegrass & Booms 🎡 Kentucky Kingdom | Regular park admission | Get tickets Two nights of live bluegrass, fireworks, and late-night rides for America’s 250th. Season passholders get in free — just show up. More info →

Saturday, July 4 — Waterfront Park Fourth of July 🎇 TurfMutt Great Lawn | 5pm–10pm | FREE Louisville’s big A250 celebration — live music all evening, family activities, and the city’s fireworks show over the Ohio River at 10pm. Get there early for a good spot. More info →

Saturday, July 4 — Crescent Hill 4th of July Festival 🎪 Peterson-Dumesnil House | 10am–10pm | FREE Louisville’s longest-running Independence Day celebration — art fair, food trucks, live music all day, kids’ inflatable Fun Zone, pet contest, and fireworks at 10pm. You can genuinely make a whole day of this one. More info →

Saturday, July 4 — Bernheim: America 250 Celebration 🌿 Bernheim Forest | 11am–3pm | FREE (suggested $15/car for non-members) Nature activities, live entertainment, and trails. Wraps at 3pm so you still have time to catch fireworks later that night. More info →

Sunday, July 5 — Thunder in the Hills ⛰️ 501 Gatehouse Ln, Blue Ridge Manor | 5pm–10pm | FREE The City of Douglass Hills is calling this their biggest event ever — 12 food trucks, live music, and fireworks at 9pm. A solid way to close out the long weekend. More info →

Thu–Sun, through July 26 — Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo 🦁✨ Louisville Zoo | 7–10pm | Tickets from $16 Four themed lantern realms. If you haven’t gone yet, this weekend is a good excuse. More info →

🎟️ Don’t forget your Cultural Pass! Free for kids 0–21, access to 150+ venues through August 9. culturalpass.app/calendar

Coming Up This Week

More in your inbox soon — and if you’re not a paid subscriber yet, this is a good week to become one. The full holiday weekend cheat sheet (with complete set times, logistics, and kids zone details for every event) is up TODAY for paid subscribers. Check it out here. 💛

That’s a wrap on this week’s ICYMI! As always — save this, share it with a Louisville mom who needs it, and I’ll see you next week. 💛

xoxo Shelby

We teamed up with TC Highlands Farm for one of our favorite giveaways yet. One winner gets a private one hour session with the Highland cows for up to 5 people. Yes, real cows. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

Check out the farm on Instagram @tchighlandsfarm to see the cows for yourself.

The giveaway starts today and runs through Friday, July 3, when we’ll announce the winner.

To enter, head to the Kid Friendly Louisville Instagram and follow the instructions on the giveaway post. ENTER HERE⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaGcRfrqGs_/?igsh=MmZ1YmxnenQ0Y3d1

Good luck, Louisville.

If you’ve been following along, you know I try to be intentional about the places I share here — and this week’s spotlight is one I genuinely can’t stop thinking about.

Last week, Saylor and I got invited to Happy Hands Creativity Studio in Deer Park for a private art session with Tiffany Hughes, the owner. And it might honestly be one of my favorite things we’ve done in Louisville so far.

Meet Tiffany & the Studio

Happy Hands is a locally owned, woman-owned, BIPOC-owned children’s art studio tucked into a cozy spot at 1603 Jaeger Avenue (Rear) in Louisville’s Deer Park neighborhood. It was founded by Tiffany Hughes, whose vision for the studio is as clear as it is beautiful.

In her own words: “I believe in the importance of an inclusive and safe place that encourages, inspires, and empowers each child to use their inner creativity freely and to be their best creative selves.”

That’s not just a tagline. You feel it the second you walk in.

Tiffany built Happy Hands as a creative haven — a place where children and adults alike can unlock their creativity through hands-on experiences, discover new passions, and feel celebrated exactly as they are. Her vision is to make art accessible to all individuals, regardless of background, and to make creativity a cherished part of Louisville community life.

I think she’s doing exactly that.

What Saylor made (and why it matters)

Tiffany set up two activities for us. The first was a fake slime situation — think Play-Doh vibes, but ice cream themed, complete with sprinkles and a little chocolate topper. The second was a paper mache letter S, where Saylor painted on glue and pressed pom poms and feathers pretty much entirely by herself.

And that’s the thing about Happy Hands I keep coming back to: they focus on process art, not the finished product. There’s no wrong way to do it. No failing. No “wait, that’s not how you’re supposed to do it.” Just a kid, her materials, and total creative freedom.

That might sound simple. I promise it’s bigger than it sounds.

Why art actually matters (and I mean this)

We sign our kids up for soccer and swimming and gymnastics because we understand that physical movement builds their bodies. But we dramatically underestimate what art builds in their brains — and the research backs this up.

The National Endowment for the Arts released a major study in 2025 finding that preschool-age children who consistently participated in any type of arts activity had higher scores on academic assessments in reading, math, and language than kids not engaged in those activities. Kindergarteners who did arts activities at home showed more pro-social behavior. And by high school, students who completed fine arts credits had higher GPAs, higher graduation rates, and stronger college performance across the board.

The Miami Children’s Museum cites a Crayola study where 92% of kids ages 6–12 said being creative boosts their confidence, and over half reported a sense of pride and accomplishment from completing creative projects. Art also supports emotional and social development — giving kids who struggle to verbalize their feelings an alternative outlet to process and communicate them.

And the benefits go beyond academics and emotions. Process-based art — the kind Tiffany practices at Happy Hands, where how they make it matters more than what it looks like — teaches kids to:

🧠 Problem solve — What happens if I put the glue there? What if I mix these colors?

⏳ Build patience — Art takes time. You can’t rush glue that needs to dry.

✋ Develop fine motor skills — Pinching pom poms, pressing feathers, rolling slime. These are the same muscles that will help them write someday.

💪 Gain confidence — Art is one of the only spaces where kids get to make every decision themselves. And when there’s no wrong answer, they learn to trust themselves. That’s a skill they’ll carry into every classroom, every friendship, every hard thing they face.

🔬 Think like innovators — Art is the A in STEAM. Happy Hands knows this. When kids design, build, and create, they’re learning to approach problems holistically — not just follow instructions.

These aren’t arts-and-crafts skills. These are life skills. And Happy Hands is building them, one messy, joyful session at a time.

What they offer

Happy Hands is built for ages 3–12, but Tiffany made it work beautifully for Saylor at two and a half. Here’s what you can book:

🎨 A.C.E. Classes — Weekly art classes where young artists develop skills and imagination in a structured but joyful setting. This is their signature ongoing program.

🏕️ Workshops & Camps — Deeper-dive experiences for all skill levels. Great for school breaks or when your kid wants to go all in on creativity.

🎉 Creative Birthday Parties — Tiffany handles everything. Your child gets a celebration filled with hands-on art activities, and you get to actually enjoy the party instead of coordinating chaos. Honestly iconic.

🖌️ Open Studio — Drop in and create, no class required. This is the perfect low-commitment way to try it out.

Current Open Studio Hours:

• 📅 Tuesdays- Fridays: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• 📅 Saturdays: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Go support this one

Tiffany put so much care into our session. She thought about Saylor specifically — her age, what she’d love, what would hold her attention. That kind of intentionality is rare, and it’s exactly what makes small businesses like this worth protecting.

Louisville is lucky to have Happy Hands. And honestly? Your kid deserves a place where being creative is the whole point — not a side activity, not a rainy day backup. The whole point.

👉 Book a class or open studio session here 📍 1603 Jaeger Avenue (Rear), Louisville, KY 40205

Go give them some love. 🎨

xoxo Shelby

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You’ve probably seen my video from last week at Purrfect Day Cafe. If you haven’t, go watch it — it was such a good time. But after I left, I kept thinking about the place. The mission, the story behind it, how it all started. So I reached out to the owners, Chuck and Tricia Patton, and asked them everything I wanted to know.

The Video ⬇️⬇️⬇️

READ THE Q+A HERE ⬇️

It All Started on a Vacation

Chuck and Tricia had just sold their business and were stepping away from the corporate world when they stumbled into a cat cafe in Charleston called Pounce. The owner there took time to explain how it worked — and more importantly, how much of an impact the model had on getting cats adopted.

Something clicked for Chuck. He came home with an idea and eight months later, they were opening Kentucky’s very first cat cafe. Tricia was still wrapping up obligations with the company that had acquired their business, but she told Chuck: “You have to do this. You could make this work.” She promised to join him once it was up and running — and she did.

Purrfect Day Cafe opened in August 2018. What started as one couple with a big idea is now the highest-adopting cat cafe organization in the country. Not bad.

The Mission Is Real — And It Goes Deep

One of the things I love most about this place is that the mission isn’t just a tagline. Chuck talked about reaching a point in his career where he stopped thinking about what he was doing and started thinking about what he was leaving behind. He wanted his next chapter to mean something.

And it has. The Louisville community has rallied around Purrfect Day from the start — even through Covid, which was actually their busiest year ever. They pull cats from over 60 counties across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. They’ve donated over $110,000 to shelter partners. And they’ve helped 13,000 cats find forever homes.

Here’s the Part That Really Got Me

I didn’t know this before I reached out, but Chuck has an early childhood development degree from WKU and spent years mentoring and coaching kids. So when families bring their children to Purrfect Day, he’s not just thinking about whether the visit is fun — he’s thinking about what it does for them.

His take: the kids who visit today are the future shelter workers, foster parents, and animal advocates. Teaching a child to be gentle with a cat, to care for something that can’t care for itself — that’s not a small thing. That shapes who they become.

“This is way more than just petting a cat,” he said. And honestly? After being there myself, I believe him.

What a Visit Actually Looks Like

A few things I learned that are worth knowing before you go:

Staff checks you in when you arrive, and they recommend coming a few minutes early. That buffer time matters — especially for kids, who need a minute to come down from the excitement before they’re ready to be calm around the cats. Chuck described the vibe as “chill library storytime” energy, not playground energy. That’s a good way to think about it.

Sessions are 50 minutes. About 5 minutes before you go in, staff does a quick rundown of the rules — kid-friendly style. If your little one hits a wall before the session ends, just leave early. Quality over quantity. Almost every kid walks out with a smile and a sticker regardless.

If things get overwhelming, you can step outside, watch through the window, and come back in when the energy settles. No pressure.

The Practical Stuff

Age: Chuck recommends any age, as long as parents are engaged. The only time it goes wrong is when a parent isn’t paying attention. For the kitten experience specifically, there’s a 6-and-up age requirement — kittens play rougher.

When to book: At least 3 days out for weekends and summer, more during kitten season (April–May). If you’re hoping to adopt, book one of the first three sessions. If you just want to hang with cats and aren’t in a rush, go after 3pm — fewer people, better cuddle ratio. Friday nights are adults only.

The menu: Cake pops, cat-shaped sugar cookies, brownies, oatmeal cream pies — it’s very much a sugar situation, which your kids will absolutely love. Chuck’s personal favorite is the German sourdough pretzel from Tuba Baking Company, a Kentucky-made product. Also: the drinks are all cat-pun named and very fun.

Nervous kids: The cats are behavior tested. Chuck recommends watching their kid video on the website before you come — says it’ll prepare you for almost everything.

Why the Play Session Matters So Much

This one really stuck with me. Purrfect Day isn’t just a place to hang out with cats — it’s designed to help families find the right cat. Chuck was clear that adoption isn’t about picking the prettiest one. It’s about making a bond. That bond is what leads to a successful, lasting match — and it’s something you genuinely cannot get from a photo or a quick shelter visit.

When a kid says “Mom, this was better than Disney” — and apparently that happens a lot — Chuck knows the experience did exactly what it was supposed to do.

📍 Find Purrfect Day Cafe

Louisville Location:
1741 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205 (in the Highlands)

Hours: Tues–Thurs 10am–8pm | Fri–Sat 10am–9pm | Sun 10am–8pm | Closed Monday

Book your session: purrfectdaycafe.com

Instagram: @purrfectdaycafelou

Note: Friday nights are adults only.

Louisville is lucky to have Chuck and Tricia doing this. Go support them.

— XOXO Shelby 🐾

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okay y’all, this weekend might be the most packed one we’ve had all year — and I mean that in the best possible way.

Juneteenth. Pride. The summer solstice. Father’s Day. Wild Lights. A Renaissance festival. Free Shakespeare in the park. It’s genuinely a lot, and I am here for all of it. Whether you’re looking for something free to do with the kids on Saturday or need to celebrate the dads in your life on Sunday, Louisville has you covered.

Here’s everything you need to know 👇

🗓️ This Weekend in Louisville — What’s Coming Up for Families

Thursday, June 19 🌟

🌟 Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo The Zoo transforms after dark with thousands of lights, live music, and food vendors. It runs Thursday through Sunday all summer, and it is very much worth the trip — especially now that it’s warm enough to actually enjoy being outside at night. Grab your tickets in advance; it gets busy on weekends. 📍 Louisville Zoo | Thu–Sun, 7–11:30pm | Starts at $20

🎭 Shakespeare: Antony & Cleopatra — Central Park Amphitheatre Free Shakespeare under the stars. This runs Thursday through Sunday — no tickets required, just bring a blanket and snacks. It’s one of my favorite Louisville traditions and honestly a great way to introduce kids to live theatre in a low-pressure way. 📍 Central Park Amphitheatre | Thu–Sun, 8pm | FREE

🎵 Music in the Park — Alberta O. Jones Park A free lunchtime concert series — perfect if you’ve got little ones who are better in the morning and need something to do before nap time. 📍 Alberta O. Jones Park | 11am–1pm | FREE

Friday, June 19 ✊🏾

✊🏾 Juneteenth Celebration — Muhammad Ali Center The Muhammad Ali Center is hosting a full Juneteenth celebration — this one is meaningful and worth making time for. Celebrate the holiday, learn, and be in community. Free and open to all ages. 📍 Muhammad Ali Center | 8:30am–5pm | FREE

🏊 Juneteenth Family Swim — Goldfish Swim School, St. Matthews A free family swim session in honor of Juneteenth — what a beautiful way to celebrate with your little ones. Space may be limited so check ahead. 📍 Goldfish Swim School – St. Matthews | 12:30–2pm | FREE

🎶 Lyndon Summer Festival — Robsion Park This is a two-day festival (Fri + Sat) with live music, food vendors, and family activities. Friday evening is a great time to check it out before the crowds really hit on Saturday. 📍 Robsion Park | 6–10pm | FREE

⚾ Cosmic Baseball — Louisville Slugger Field The Bats play under the lights with a fun cosmic theme — this is one of their most popular nights of the season. Lottery tickets available. 📍 Louisville Slugger Field | 8pm | Lottery tickets

🌟 Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo (see Thursday)

🎬 Downtown Drive-In Movie Night — Waterfront Park A free outdoor movie night at the waterfront — perfect for older kids who can stay up late. Bring blankets and snacks. 📍 Waterfront Park | 8–11pm | FREE

🌿 Firefly Friday — Bernheim Forest (Parking Lot D) Stay up late for this one — firefly season is magic and Bernheim is one of the best places to catch it. This is a guided experience after dark and a genuinely special thing to do with your kids this time of year. 📍 Bernheim Forest, Parking Lot D | 9–11:30pm | Members $15 / Non-members $20

Saturday, June 20 🏳️‍🌈🌿

🏳️‍🌈 Kentuckiana Pride Festival — Waterfront Park (Big Four Lawn) Louisville’s Pride festival is here! This is a full day of music, vendors, community, and love. It’s a great environment for families — bring the kids and celebrate together. 📍 Waterfront Park, Big Four Lawn | 12–10pm | $10 GA

🌞 Eco Kids Discovery Day — Bernheim Forest Bernheim is doing a special hands-on discovery day for kids — perfect for your little nature lover. $15/car gets the whole family in. 📍 Bernheim Forest | 1–4pm | $15/car

🌿 Solstice at the Farms — Ashbourne Farms, La Grange Celebrate the summer solstice with farm activities, local vendors, and that beautiful La Grange scenery. It’s a short drive out of Louisville and worth every minute. 📍 Ashbourne Farms, La Grange | 10am–3pm | FREE

🎪 KY Highland Renaissance Festival — Eminence, KY Knights, costumes, jousting, and a turkey leg the size of your head — the Renaissance Festival is a yearly tradition for a reason. Heads up: this one is Sat & Sun only, and it’s about 45 min from Louisville. 📍 Eminence, KY | 10am–7pm | $18–25

🎶 Lyndon Summer Festival — Robsion Park (continues from Friday) 📍 Robsion Park | 2–10pm | FREE

⚾ Cosmic Baseball — Louisville Slugger Field (continues from Friday) 📍 Louisville Slugger Field | 8pm | Lottery tickets

🌟 Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo (see Thursday)

🎵 Music by the Water — Norton Commons Amphitheater Free outdoor concert at Norton Commons — a beautiful Saturday night option if you’re in the east end. Great for families who want something low-key but festive. 📍 Norton Commons Amphitheater | 7–10pm | FREE

🎭 Shakespeare: Antony & Cleopatra — Central Park Amphitheatre (see Thursday)

🦘 Breakfast with the Beasts: Australia — Louisville Zoo Wake up with the animals! This ticketed morning program includes a hot breakfast (waffle bar, sausage, coffee, OJ), a keeper talk, and the chance to make enrichment for one of the Zoo’s animals. Tickets include parking and full-day admission. Ages 4–18, and it sells out — grab tickets now. 📍 Louisville Zoo | 9–11am | $40 | Ages 4–18

🌱 Sacred Earth Community Market — Heart Thread Collective (1217 Logan St) A free community market on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays through October — local vendors, free entry, good vibes. A great low-key morning option. 📍 1217 Logan St, Louisville | 9am–12pm | FREE

🌷 Children in the Dell — Yew Dell Botanical Gardens A lovely outdoor program for kids at one of Louisville’s most beautiful gardens. Perfect for your little nature lover. 📍 Yew Dell Botanical Gardens | 10:30am–12pm | $8–12

🐄 Saturday Morning Farm Animal Feeding — Blackacre State Nature Preserve Get up close with farm animals on a Saturday morning — this is such a sweet, simple thing to do with little ones and a total hidden gem. 📍 Blackacre State Nature Preserve | 9:30am | $10/carload

🎸 Punk Rock Flea Market — 1512 Portland Ave Okay this one’s a little different but I love it — an all-day flea market with a punk rock vibe. Kids 12 and under get in free. Great if you want to do something fun and a little eclectic with older kids. 📍 1512 Portland Ave | 11:30am–10:30pm | $10 / Kids 12 & under FREE

Sunday, June 21 — Father’s Day 🦁

🦁 Father’s Day at the Zoo — Louisville Zoo Dads get in FREE on Father’s Day — what a gift. Take the whole crew and make a morning of it. Pair it with Wild Lights that night if you want to make it a full day. 📍 Louisville Zoo | 10am–5pm | Dads FREE

🌟 Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo (see Thursday)

🎭 Shakespeare: Antony & Cleopatra — Central Park Amphitheatre (see Thursday)

🎢 Father’s Day at Kentucky Kingdom — Kentucky Kingdom Take dad to the theme park! The first 300 dads get a free Flying Fox Koozie with soft drink + a voucher for free popcorn. There’s also a card-making table in King Louie’s Playland and free small popcorn from Pop’s for dads. A full day out for the whole family. 📍 Kentucky Kingdom | 10am–8pm | Ticketed

⛵ Sunday Funday — Belle of Louisville Riverboats A ticketed afternoon cruise on the Belle — a classic Louisville experience and a nice way to celebrate the dads in your life on the water. 📍 Belle of Louisville Riverboats | 1–3pm | Ticketed

📅 Coming Up Next Week

• ⚾ Louisville Bats vs. St. Paul Saints — Jun 23–28 at Louisville Slugger Field

• 🚢 Kids Cruise on the Belle — Jun 23, 1–2:30pm | $14.99

• 🎶 WFPK Waterfront Wednesday — Jun 24, 5–10pm | FREE

• 🏊 World’s Largest Swim Lesson — Jun 25 at Goldfish Swim School | FREE

• 🧘 Mommy + Me Pilates in Garden — Jun 26 in Crestwood | $45

• 🎉 Greatest Day of Play — Jun 27 at Northeast Regional Library | FREE

have the best weekend, Louisville — it’s a good one 🙌

reply and tell me where you’re taking your crew — I genuinely want to know.

xoxo Shelby

kidfriendlylouisville.substack.com

Hey Louisville families! 👋

A lot happened this week — a newsletter I’m really proud of, a few places I love getting some well-deserved attention, and a weekend that honestly had me running around in the best way. Let’s catch you up. 👇

📰 This Week’s Newsletter: Burn Boot Camp 🔥

This week’s Local Business Spotlight was personal for me. Burn Boot Camp is where I went after having my daughter, when I needed to move my body again but wasn’t ready to leave my newborn anywhere. Childwatch is on-site and free with your membership — and that changed everything.

What I didn’t expect was that those babies in Childwatch together? They’re now 2, 3, 4 years old and best friends. My daughter has a whole community there. I do too.

Some things to know if you’re curious:

• Childwatch is available for babies 6 weeks and up

• Teens 13+ can work out with a guardian; 16+ can come solo

• There are 4 locally owned Louisville-area locations (Louisville, Crestwood, Prospect — and Jeffersonville, IN opening this August! 🎉)

• The Louisville location is moving to a bigger space by early 2027

• $29 gets you your first two weeks — worth it just to try

If you use my name Shelby Forman as your referral, that helps me too. 🤍

👉 Read the full spotlight here

🏇 Family Day at Churchill Downs

We headed to Family Day at Churchill Downs this past weekend and I have thoughts. It was such a cool experience — there’s something about bringing kids to a Louisville landmark and watching their faces that doesn’t get old. I shared all about it on Instagram — go check it out if you’re thinking about doing it with your family!

🐟 Goldfish Swim School — and Why Swim Lessons Matter

I’ve been sharing about Goldfish Swim School and I genuinely love this place. If you’ve been on the fence about enrolling, here’s your nudge:

Use code SHELBY for 2 FREE classes. 🎉

I want to use this as a moment to talk about something I care about deeply: water safety. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and swim lessons are one of the most important things we can give our kids — not just for fun, but for safety. Summer is here, pools are open, and Louisville families have incredible resources like Goldfish to make lessons accessible and fun. If your kids aren’t in lessons yet, this is the week to look into it. 💙

🐾 Purrfect Day Cat Cafe + Bluey & Bingo Playdate at Playground Abode

This weekend was packed — in the best way.

We made it to the Bluey and Bingo Playdate at Playground Abode and it was absolutely adorable. If you have a Bluey fan at home (and honestly, who doesn’t?), keep an eye out — I’ll be sharing a full feature soon.

We also visited Purrfect Day Cafe for the first time. No spoilers, but a full review and feature is coming this week. 🐱

💬 What Did YOU Do This Weekend?

Louisville had so much going on — I want to hear about it! Drop it in the comments or reply to this email. Whether you hit up an event, found a new spot, or just had a low-key Saturday at the park — I want to know. The best part of this community is hearing from you. 🧡

📅 What’s Happening This Week

A few things on the radar before the weekend gets here:

Tonight — Hannah Montana: Best of Both Worlds (Free Movie) 🎬 Iroquois Amphitheater | Free | All ages Yes, really. Free Hannah Montana movie night presented by Monticello Bank. If you have a little (or a big) fan in your house, this is the move tonight. More info →

Thursday, June 18 — Kentucky Shakespeare: Antony & Cleopatra kicks off 🎭 Central Park (Ramey Amphitheater) | Free | All ages Free outdoor Shakespeare runs through June 28 and again in July. Food trucks start at 6pm, kids’ programming at 7pm, show at 8pm. A perfect summer evening out. More info →

Friday, June 19 — Juneteenth Family Swim Event 🏊 Goldfish Swim School – St. Matthews | 12:30–2pm | Free A free family swim event to celebrate Juneteenth. Open to all! More info →

Friday, June 19 — Firefly Friday ✨ Bernheim Forest | 9–11:30pm | Members $15 / Non-members $20 If your kids have never experienced fireflies lighting up the forest at night, put this on your list. It’s one of those quintessential summer moments. More info →

🌞 This Weekend’s Picks (June 20–21)

A big one for Louisville families — and it also happens to be Father’s Day weekend! 🎉

Saturday, June 20 — Solstice at the Farms 🌿 Ashbourne Farms, La Grange | 10am–3pm | FREE The longest day of the year, celebrated on a working farm. Food, land, community — this one sounds absolutely beautiful. More info →

Saturday, June 20 — Kentuckiana Pride Festival 🌈 Waterfront Park (Big Four Lawn) | 12–10pm | Free | All ages A big, free, all-ages celebration on the waterfront. More info →

Saturday, June 20 — Music By the Water 🎶 Norton Commons Amphitheater | 7–10pm | Free Free live music to close out the weekend. Easy, breezy summer night vibes. More info →

Saturday, June 20 — Eco Kids Discovery Day 🌲 Bernheim Forest | 1–4pm | $15/car recommended Hands-on nature stations, story circles, and a guided hike — great for curious kids. More info →

Sunday, June 21 — Father’s Day at the Louisville Zoo 🦁 Louisville Zoo | 10am–5pm | FREE admission for dads All dads get in FREE on Father’s Day. Grab the family and make a whole day of it. More info →

🎟️ As always — don't forget your Cultural Pass! It's free for kids 0–21 and gives you access to 150+ venues all summer long through August 9. Download the app and check the calendar before you head out this weekend — you might be surprised what's covered. culturalpass.app/calendar

Coming Up This Week

A Purrfect Day Cafe feature, a Playground Abode / Bluey playdate recap, and a special edition newsletter surprise is still on its way (it’s coming, I promise 😄). Stay tuned!

That’s a wrap on this week’s ICYMI! As always — save this, share it with a Louisville mom who needs it, and I’ll see you next week. 💛

xoxo Shelby

I‘m going to be honest with you. I was 175 pounds when I had my daughter. I didn’t work out my entire pregnancy because I was in too much pain, and I was so ready to move my body again after she arrived. When we moved to Louisville, finding a gym felt urgent — but finding one where I actually felt okay leaving my newborn? That took longer.

Burn Boot Camp was the first place where I didn’t feel like I had to choose.

Childwatch is on-site, and it’s free — included with your membership. They come get you if your baby needs you. They have stuff back there for all different ages, from infants up through elementary and middle school kids. If they’re not old enough to stay home alone, they’re welcome. The whole point is that you get your workout in and feel completely at ease knowing your kid is taken care of. I never felt far from my daughter. That mattered more than I can explain, especially in those early months.

What I didn’t expect was what happened over time. I started at a point when, apparently, a lot of other moms were also postpartum with babies around the same age as my daughter. Those babies have been in Childwatch together since they were infants. They’re now two, three, four years old — and best friends. Having that flexibility and consistency allowed me to build real friendships here, and not just for myself. My daughter has a community too, one that started before she could even walk.

The Workout, The Community, All of It 💪

Burn is functional fitness — the kind that actually translates to real life, and real life with a kid is physical. Carrying a toddler, chasing them at the park, keeping up. I’m doing 5+ pull-ups now. And beyond the physical, the confidence that comes from consistently showing up for yourself? That’s hard to put a price on.

The community at Burn is something I talk about constantly. There are member groups — like a bunco crew — and the kind of friendships that form when you’re sweating next to the same people a few times a week. The trainers know your name. People check in on each other. It’s welcoming to everyone, and while I’ve found it especially meaningful as a mom, I see dads in there all the time getting the same thing out of it — the workout, the consistency, the people. Each location has its own tight-knit group, but all four communities come together for bigger events throughout the year.

We’re talking Easter egg hunts, Trick-or-treating, kid camps (about once a month), seasonal events, and the kind of stuff that makes it feel like you joined something, not just signed up for a membership. Year round, there is always something going on. It’s the kind of place you look forward to going to, and that shift — from dreading the gym to actually wanting to be there — is a big deal.

Here’s an example of what a week of camps looks like - no two workouts look the same:

Big News: Burn Is Growing 📍

Right now there are three Burn Boot Camp locations in the Louisville area — Louisville, Crestwood, and Prospect. A Jeffersonville location is opening this summer (goal: August 2026), making four in the region. 🎉

And the Louisville location itself is moving to a bigger, better building by early 2027. Same community, more space. It’s an exciting time to get in before the glow-up.

What to Know Before You Go 📋

Child watch is available for babies as young as six weeks, up through kids who aren’t quite old enough to stay home alone. During the summer, spots fill up — sign up ahead of time to make sure your kids are covered. There’s also a noon Childwatch option added during summer break, which is a lifesaver when school’s out and schedules shift.

Teens are welcome to work out too. Kids 13+ can participate with a guardian present; 16+ can come on their own.

Four Locally Owned Locations 📍

There are currently four Burn Boot Camp locations in and around Louisville — all locally owned:

• Louisville, KY 230 North Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40222 📞 502-753-9090

• Crestwood, KY 6408 Kentucky 146, Crestwood, KY 40014 📞 606-315-5832

• Prospect, KY 13206 West U.S. Highway 42, Prospect, KY 40059 📞 502-777-8607

• Jeffersonville, IN — Coming Soon 🎉 2903 East 10th Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 📞 812-542-7999 (Goal opening: August 2026)

Louisville Location Info (my home gym)📌

230 North Hurstbourne Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40222

📞 502-753-9090

✉️ louisville@burnbootcamp.com

⭐ 4.8 stars | 142 Google Reviews

Camp times (Mon–Thur): 5:00 AM through 6:30 PM — early bird to after-work, there’s a time that fits your schedule. Fridays: 5:00 AM through 5:30 PM. Saturdays: Three morning camps available.

And right now, $29 unlocks your first two weeks. Worth every penny to just try it.

Want to Check It Out?

Follow along on Instagram: @burnbootcamplouisville

And if you decide to sign up, use Shelby Forman as your referral. 🤍

Sign up here: https://locations.burnbootcamp.com/locations/louisville-ky/

Burn is locally owned, and it’s one of those places I recommend without hesitation — to new moms, to parents who need an hour to themselves, to anyone who wants a gym that actually gets what this season of life looks like. Go check them out.

xoxo Shelby

Hi friends,

I’m writing this from inside, watching it rain. Again. The forecast says we’re in for it most of the week, which means we’re all about to become experts at indoor activities, library calendars, and “let’s see what’s at the science center.” More on that below.

A couple of big things to lead with:

The paid tier officially launched this week. More on that — and a question for you — at the bottom of this email.

Cultural Pass is BACK as of May 30. If you’ve never used it, this is the move for summer. Free admission to 150+ activities across 50+ Louisville venues for kids 0–21 (yes, with adults included). I’ll explain below — but if you’re already a believer, the new app is at culturalpass.app.

Okay. Let’s get into it.

Here’s what you may have missed last week 💌

🎮 Activate Louisville’s grand reopening — date night AND family fun night. I got invited as a VIP to the exclusive preview night and y’all. It did not disappoint. 55+ different games across multiple rooms, plus two brand-new additions. My favorites: Grid (basically floor is lava) and Hide (total Squid Game vibes). It’s interactive light-up game rooms that respond to you in real time — adrenaline + sweat + a lot of laughing.

A few things to know before you go:

• Minimum age is 6. Games are designed for adults and can be challenging for kids under 10.

• Ages 6–13 need an adult present at the facility for the entire experience.

• It runs Mon–Thurs and Sun 10am–10pm, Fri–Sat 10am–11pm.

• 📍 2510 Hurstbourne Gem Ln, 40220. Book at playactivate.com/louisville.

🚂 We went to Day Out With Thomas at the Kentucky Railway Museum. My daughter recently got really into Thomas and the Thomas books, so when I found out the event was less than an hour from Louisville, we had to go. Worth every minute of the drive. It’s jam-packed: train ride (with AC), arts and crafts, games, bubbles, a mini train ride, food trucks, photo op with Sir Topham Hatt, and a model train layout that is unreal.

⚠️ ONE WEEKEND LEFT — June 13 & 14. Grab tickets at kyrail.org before they’re gone. They recommend getting there an hour early and I’d second that.

🧘 Glow Worm launched Social Motion: a parent-friendly workout + play session. This is the move I've been waiting for. Wednesdays 10–11:30am through the end of July, in partnership with Social Motion Fitness and their lead instructor Becca. You work out in the play café while your kid plays in the Play Lounge — somewhere between "Mommy & Me" and drop-off gym care. Mats, resistance bands, music all provided. Built-in breaks so you can tend to your kid (or keep going if they're independent). Recommended for kids 0–6 but bigger kids welcome. Book a class here.

☔ This week: Operation Indoor Survival

The forecast is rain through the weekend. Three plays to keep in your back pocket:

1. Activate your Cultural Pass. This is the move.

The Cultural Pass is back from May 30 through August 9. Free admission to 150+ arts, culture, science, history, heritage, and nature activities at over 50 venues for ages 0–21. Each kid pass holder gets one free admission per participating venue, AND kids under 18 can bring up to TWO adults free. Translation: if it’s pouring on Sunday, you could take your family to the Kentucky Science Center for free.

Participating spots include the KY Derby Museum, Kentucky Science Center, 21c Museum Hotel, KMAC Museum, Conrad-Caldwell House, Frazier Museum, and dozens more.

Get the pass at culturalpass.app or register at any LFPL branch.

2. My favorite indoor play spots

If you’ve been following on Instagram, you’ve seen my favorites list there — pulling the highlights you’d want for rainy-week emergencies:

3. The library. Always the library.

The Louisville Free Public Library is FREE, air-conditioned, has multiple locations around the area and has TONS of kid friendly events: events.lfpl.org/events/list. Story times most mornings. Craft programs. Music. The Greatest Day of Play. And Summer Reading is live at lfpl.org/summerreading —register your reader.

Branches with Sunday hours (so you have somewhere to go after Sunday Funday gets rained out): Bon Air, Highlands-Shelby Park, Iroquois, Northeast Regional, Portland, Saint Matthews, Shawnee, South Central Regional, Southwest Regional.

📅 This week, day by day

🧘 Tues 6/9 + Thurs 6/11 — Every Parent Support Group @ Glow Worm Cafe & Play The one I keep telling you about. Tues 10–11:30am or Thurs 2–3:30pm. $10/adult, kids free. Drop-in.

🧘 Wed 6/10, 10–11:30am — Social Motion Workout + Play Session @ Glow Worm NEW weekly class with Social Motion Fitness instructor Becca. Workout for you, Play Lounge for your kid (ages 0–6, bigger kids welcome). Runs through end of July. Book here.

📚 ALL WEEK — LFPL kids events Story times happening at multiple branches all morning. Free. Check the calendar for your closest one.

🌿 Wed 6/10 — Wednesday Wonders @ The Parklands $5/child, free for members. 10:30am Turkey Run (ages 5–9), 2:30pm Wee Wednesday Wonders at Beckley Creek (ages 2–5). Book ahead — they fill.

🎬 Fri 6/12, 8pm — Downtown Drive-in: Family Movie Night Free family movie at Waterfront Park. Weather-dependent — check before you load the car.

🚂 Sat–Sun 6/13–14 — Day Out With Thomas — LAST WEEKEND Kentucky Railway Museum, New Haven. Tickets going fast. Arrive 1 hr early.

✨ Thurs–Sun — Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo Running through July 26, 7–10pm. Online tickets cheaper than gate.

⚾ Louisville Bats Homestand — Slugger Field has games this week.

💌 Big news: the paid tier just launched

This newsletter has been free since day one. It’s going to stay that way for ICYMI, Small Business Spotlights, and Q&As — that’s a promise.

The paid tier launched this week, and the first paid guide is already live:

🌞 Your Complete Guide to Summer Camps in Louisville — dropped June 5

If you haven’t locked down a camp yet, don’t panic. I did the digging for you. The full breakdown is organized by category so you can find the right fit — starting with Little Ones (ages 3–6) and going up from there. Specialty camps, day camps, faith-based, art, science, sports, the whole map. It’s the kind of resource you save to your phone and pull out every time someone asks “where is your kid this week?”

This is exactly what the paid tier is for. Subscribing is what keeps this whole thing alive — the hours of research, the events I drive across town to, the relationships I’m building with local small businesses. If you’ve ever forwarded an ICYMI or texted a friend a link, paid is the next step if you can swing it.

Paid subscribers get:

• 📓 Monthly Kid-Friendly Louisville Guides — in-depth designed PDFs on topics like camps (just dropped!), parks, splash pads, indoor play spaces, and more.

• 🎉 Best Events of the Month roundup

• 🌙 Parent Night Out Guides (coming soon) — for the nights that have nothing to do with a kids’ menu

What stays free forever: ICYMI Louisville, Small Business Spotlights, Q&As. Always.

🗳️ A poll — I actually need your input on this

Substack lets me set a fixed price OR I can create a “pay what you can” model where readers choose what they pay. I’m wrestling with which makes this most accessible to the most families.

🎉 Coming in July: an interactive calendar + a real website

Saving the best for last because I am genuinely so excited about this one.

By July, Kid Friendly Louisville is launching its own website with an interactive event calendar — searchable, filterable, all in one place. AND there will be a section where YOU can submit local events to be featured.

That second part is the part that gets me. Right now, the way I find events is a tangled mess of saved Instagram posts, scrolling municipal sites, asking around in DMs, and the occasional very generous mom in a Facebook group. The calendar turns this into a real community resource. If you run a story time, a kids’ class, a small-business pop-up, a free family event — you’ll be able to submit it directly. I’ll review and feature.

This is the version of Kid Friendly Louisville I’ve been picturing in my head for a year. More details + a launch date next month — but mark July on your calendar and start thinking about what you’d love to see featured.

Coming up in the inbox

📓 Live now (paid): Your Complete Guide to Summer Camps in Louisville.

🎯 Soon (paid): Best Events of June roundup.

This Week: Small Business Spotlight (SURPRISE)

🗓️ July: Interactive calendar + website launch (see above).

💌 Next Monday: Regular ICYMI, back on schedule.

On Instagram + TikTok this week

Daily finds, indoor-play recs, and whatever I’m running my kid to in the rain:

• Instagram

• TikTok

If you read all the way down here, thank you. Truly. Pour yourself something, get the Cultural Pass set up, and I’ll see you out there!

xoxo, Shelby 🐣

Kid Friendly Louisville is a weekly newsletter for Louisville-area parents who want to actually leave the house — even when it’s pouring. If a friend forwarded you this and you want it in your inbox every Monday, hit subscribe. Free forever for ICYMI, Q&As, and Small Business Spotlights.

🐛 Little Ones (Ages 3–6)

Read more

Friday, June 5

• Portland Festival — N. 33rd St & Northwestern Pkwy | 5-11pm | Free The Portland neighborhood’s annual block party has been going for over 50 years. Food, music, and community in one of Louisville’s most historic neighborhoods.

• Kentucky Shakespeare Festival — Central Park | 6-11pm | Free This season they’re performing As You Like It. Food trucks start at 6, the show starts at 8. Bring a blanket, grab dinner, and stay for the performance — it’s a genuinely great summer night.

• Firefly Friday — Bernheim Forest | 9-11:30pm | $20 If your kids have never seen fireflies light up the forest at night, this is the experience. Bernheim guides you through it — it’s late, but it’s worth it.

• Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo | 7-11:30pm | Starts at $35 Brand new this year: handcrafted Chinese lantern displays across four themed realms — Magical Forest, Magical Ocean, Pre-Historic Animals, and Wondrous Asia. Nearly every display is new for 2026. Advance tickets start at $20.

Saturday, June 6

• Farm Animal Feeding — Blackacre Farm | 9:30-10:30am | Free on Cultural Pass Start the morning with goats, chickens, and whatever else is roaming the farm. A calm, easy way to kick off a busy day — and free if you have the Cultural Pass app.

• Early Childhood Pop-Up — Louisville Zoo | 10-11:30am | Free w/ admission | Ages 2-7 Free play in the Cub House, story time, animal activity stations, and a Litter Critter quest. Great for the littles who aren’t quite ready for a full zoo day.

• Super Summer Saturday — Louisville Zoo | 10am-2pm | Free w/ admission Superhero meets animal superpowers. Kids can meet characters and learn about what makes zoo animals extraordinary. Runs right after the Early Childhood Pop-Up so you can do both in one visit.

• Makerplace Workshop: Stained Glass Garden — KY Science Center | 10am-12pm or 1-3pm | $35 | Ages 8+ Hands-on making at the Science Center. This one is stained glass — adults are welcome too, not just kids.

• Wings for Kids Airshow — Bill Fluke Airfield | 11am-5pm | $5/person or $10/car RC aircraft show with flight simulators, an airplane candy drop, inflatables, and food. All proceeds go to Norton Children’s Hospital. Genuinely fun for kids who are into anything that flies.

• Portland Festival — N. 33rd St & Northwestern Pkwy | 12-11pm | Free Continues from Friday with a full day of food, vendors, and live music. One of the most community-rooted festivals in the city.

• Zoeller Pump Paradefest — 3649 Cane Run Rd | 12-4pm | Free Bounce houses, obstacle courses, face painting, balloon art, food vendors, and an appearance from Gus the Pegasus. Free and family-friendly.

• Day Out with Thomas — Kentucky Railway Museum | 9am-4pm | $24 Thomas is here and he brought rock and roll with him. Actual train ride with Thomas, photo ops, lawn games, and a Music Corner with rock and roll themed activities. Thomas fans will lose their minds.

• Eco Kids Discovery Day — Bernheim Forest | 1-4pm | $15/car suggested Hands-on discovery stations, pop-up story circles, and a guided hike at 2pm. E-C-O stands for Every Child Outside, which is the whole vibe here.

• Butchertown Art Fair — E. Washington St | 11am-6pm | Free 80+ juried artists set up along the tree-lined streets of one of Louisville’s oldest neighborhoods. Great for a slow browse with kids — it’s walkable and low-pressure.

• Highland Renaissance Festival — Eminence, KY | 10am-7pm | $18-25 (worth the drive) About 45 minutes outside the city but a full day event. Costumes, jousting, vendors, and the kind of thing kids talk about for weeks.

• Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo | 7-11:30pm | Starts at $35 See Friday’s description — runs Thursday through Sunday all summer.

Sunday, June 7

• Day Out with Thomas — Kentucky Railway Museum | 9am-4pm | $24 Last day of the weekend run. Same great experience — if you missed Saturday, Sunday’s your shot.

• Ali Fest Carnival — Ali Center | 12-5pm | Free Free admission to the Muhammad Ali Center plus food, games, music, and face painting. A good one to pair with a visit to the museum itself if you haven’t been.

• Family Adventure Day — Churchill Downs | 11:30am-5:30pm | Varies Live racing plus 15+ kid-friendly activities under the Twin Spires. A Louisville experience that doesn’t get old.

• Fairy Day — Yew Dell Botanical Gardens | 12-4pm | $12, free for kids under 5 New fairy houses, a fairy door scavenger hunt, and activities throughout the gardens. If you have a little one who is into fairies, this one will be a memory.

• Waggin’ Tails — Waterfront Park | 12-4pm | Free (bring the dog) The region’s largest celebration of animals, raising funds for the Kentucky Humane Society. Dogs welcome, obviously.

• Trolls Family-Friendly Silent Disco — Atrium Brewing, Norton Commons | 2-5pm | $7.50 kids / $13.50 adults Three channels of kid-appropriate music, one dedicated to Trolls hits. Glowy accessories, dancing, and the kind of chaotic fun kids genuinely love. One of their most popular events of the year — grab tickets in advance.

• Wild Lights — Louisville Zoo | 7-11:30pm | Starts at $35 Cap the weekend with lanterns and lights. Advance tickets start at $20 online.

All weekend: The Cultural Pass gets you free admission to spots like Blackacre all summer. Download the app if you haven’t already.

That's your weekend. Save this, share it with another parent who needs plans, and if you want the full list delivered to your inbox every week before the weekend hits, subscribe below. It's free and it takes about 10 seconds.

XO - Shelby

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🎨 Cultural Pass is LIVE — and it’s FREE

The 2026 Cultural Pass launched May 30 and runs through August 9. Kids ages 0–21 (plus their guardians) get FREE admission to 150+ arts, culture, science, history, and nature events all summer. We’re talking the Louisville Zoo, Kentucky Derby Museum, Kentucky Science Center, Speed Art Museum, Belle of Louisville, Bernheim, and so many more.

I went to the kickoff event at Waterfront Park — check out my reel to see what it was like! To get started, you just need a library card from Louisville Free Public Library (or Bullitt County, Jeffersonville Township, or several Southern Indiana libraries). Download the Cultural Pass app (Apple | Google Play) and you’re good to go.

➡️ Get all the details at fundforthearts.org/culturalpass

🗓️ 10 Things To Do in June in Louisville with Kids

I published the full June guide this week — a curated list of the best events this month so you actually have time to plan. The first three are happening THIS WEEKEND:

This weekend:

• Super Summer Saturday at the Louisville Zoo (June 6) — meet actual superheroes + learn about animals’ real-life superpowers. Free with zoo admission.

• Family Adventure Day at Churchill Downs (June 7) — 15+ activity stations, live racing, and kids under 12 get in FREE with a paying adult. A uniquely Louisville experience.

• Waggin’ Tail Festival at Waterfront Park (June 7) — the 32nd annual dog-friendly festival by the Kentucky Humane Society. Bring the pup!

Plus later in June: Bluey + Bingo playdates, free outdoor concerts, Cosmic Baseball with glow-in-the-dark UV baseballs, WFPK Waterfront Wednesday, and more.

➡️ Read the full June guide here

🛝 Louisville Play Passport Just Launched

Brand new this summer! The Louisville Play Passport runs June 1 through August 15 and gives your family discounted play sessions at four of the best indoor play spaces in Louisville — Glow Worm Cafe & Play, Rainbow Bins Playroom, Playground Abode, and Little Nuggets Softplay Adventures. Each spot offers 10% off for passport holders, and when you complete the full passport you’re entered to win an end-of-summer prize pack.

AND THE BEST PART: It’s FREE to sign up!

Perfect for those hot summer days when you need somewhere fun to take the kids.

➡️ Sign up at louisvilleplaypassport.com

🚂 Thomas Train GIVEAWAY — Ends TOMORROW at 5pm!

I’m giving away a family 4-pack of tickets to Thomas the Train at the Kentucky Railway Museum! Head to my Instagram post and follow the instructions in the caption to enter. Winner announced tomorrow at 5pm!

➡️ Enter the giveaway here

✨ A note from me — the paid tier is coming this month

This newsletter has grown into something I’m really proud of, and I wanted to be upfront about what’s changing and what’s not.

The weekly ICYMI, Small Business Spotlights, and Kid-Friendly Q&As are always free — no paywall, no catch. That’s not going anywhere.

This month I’m launching a paid tier for subscribers who want more. Paid subscribers will get access to the monthly Kid-Friendly Guides, the Best Events of the Month roundup, and the upcoming Parent Night Out Guides. It’s less than a coffee a month, and it goes directly toward keeping this resource going and growing.

What’s coming in June for paid subscribers: a Q&A with a local business, a Small Biz Spotlight, a special edition newsletter surprise, a new Kid-Friendly Louisville Guide, a Best of July Events Guide — and maybe one more surprise. It’s summer and there’s too much to share to hold back.

Whether you stay free or go paid — I’m genuinely grateful you’re here. Louisville deserves something like this, and so do you. ✨

That’s a wrap for this week! Save this, share it with a fellow Louisville mom, and I’ll catch you next week. 💛

— Shelby

Hey friends —

June is here and honestly? This month might be the one. Superheroes at the Zoo, a glow-in-the-dark baseball game, a dog festival on the waterfront, the biggest free outdoor concert of the summer, and a Bluey playdate that your kid will not stop talking about for weeks. There’s also a completely free nature playground at Bernheim, Family Adventure Day at Churchill Downs (kids get in free!), and the Cultural Pass is live — which means 50+ venues are free for your kids all month long.

I picked the 10 I’d genuinely prioritize, plus some honorable mentions at the bottom because June is too good to cap at 10. Save this, screenshot it, send it to your group chat. Let’s go.

The Top 10

1. Super Summer Saturday at the Louisville Zoo

The Zoo’s Meet Me at the Zoo series is one of the best things they do all year, and Super Summer Saturday is the kickoff. Your kids can meet actual superheroes, get photos, and learn about the real-life “superpowers” animals have — which sounds educational but is genuinely fun. Character meet-and-greets are free with regular admission, no extra ticket needed. Get there early before the lines build up.

• DATE: Saturday, June 6

• TIMES: 10 AM – 2 PM

• PRICING: Free with Zoo admission or Louisville Zoo Membership

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — especially great for 3–10

• 📍 LOCATION: Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way

• Event details →

2. Family Adventure Day at Churchill Downs

If you’ve been meaning to take your kids to the track, this is the day to do it. Family Adventure Day is Churchill Downs’ most family-focused race day of the year — 15+ kid-friendly activity stations, live thoroughbred racing, and the Twin Spires as your backdrop. Kids under 12 get in free with a paying adult on General Admission (limit 2 per adult). This is a uniquely Louisville experience that’s honestly more fun for kids than you’d expect.

• DATE: Sunday, June 7

• TIMES: Gates open 11:30 AM | First race 12:45 PM

• PRICING: Kids free with GA-purchasing adult (limit 2) | GA adults from Ticketmaster | Reserved Seating and Dining also available

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: Churchill Downs, 700 Central Ave

• Get tickets →

3. Waggin’ Tail on the Waterfront

This is the 32nd annual Waggin’ Tail Festival presented by the Kentucky Humane Society and it is exactly as fun as it sounds — a huge dog-friendly party at Waterfront Park with face painting, puppy cuddling, food trucks, craft brews, canine tattoos, and dog portraits. More than 1,000 people show up every year. Since 1998, the event has raised nearly $2 million for animal rescue in our community. Buy your ticket before the event and get a free swag bag at check-in. Make sure your pup is up to date on vaccines and on leash.

• DATE: Sunday, June 7

• TIMES: 12 PM – 4 PM

• PRICING: Ticketed; pre-purchase for free swag bag | Rain or shine

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — bring the dog

• 📍 LOCATION: Festival Plaza, 231 Witherspoon St, Waterfront Park

• Tickets & info →

4. Friday at Floyds — The Parklands

This is the kind of summer evening you’ll remember. Bring a blanket, grab dinner from one of the food trucks on site, and settle into the Beckley Creek Park lawn for live music from Louisville folk rock legends Plum Ridge starting at 5:30 PM. While the band takes a break, there are organized kids’ games by the stage. The Parklands also runs Ranger-Led Creekwalks at 5:30 and 7:30 PM — great for curious kids who want to know what lives in the water. Completely FREE.

• DATE: Friday, June 12

• TIMES: 5 PM – 9 PM | Music at 5:30 PM

• PRICING: FREE

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: PNC Achievement Center, Beckley Creek Park, The Parklands

• Event details →

5. Splash Day at the Kentucky Science Center

The Science Center turns into a full water celebration for one day — gallery activities, live demos, and two different shows that are genuinely cool. The H2O Show in the Tech Forum at 1:30 PM is the one to catch. Everything is included with regular admission so no extra fees on top of your ticket. Come ready for the possibility of some light splashing.

• DATE: Saturday, June 13

• TIMES: Gallery activities 10 AM – 2 PM | MakerPlace open 10 AM – 3 PM | Water Works Atrium Demo 12:30 PM | H2O Show 1:30 PM

• PRICING: Included with admission | Buy tickets

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — best for 3–12

• 📍 LOCATION: Kentucky Science Center, 727 W Main Street, Downtown

• Event info →

6. Free Play Saturday at Bernheim Forest

Every family needs a day with zero agenda and this is it. Head to Playcosystem — Bernheim’s 17-acre nature playground — and just let the kids go. Staff set out “loose parts” (sticks, logs, rocks, buckets, all manner of open-ended stuff) and kids figure out the rest. There’s no wrong way to play here. It’s completely FREE with no registration required. Bernheim is about 45 minutes from Louisville — pack snacks and make it a road trip.

• DATE: Saturday, June 13

• TIMES: 11 AM – 4 PM

• PRICING: FREE — no registration required

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — especially 2–10

• 📍 LOCATION: Playcosystem, Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, Clermont, KY

• Event info →

7. Bluey + Bingo Playdate at Playground Abode

If you have a Bluey-obsessed kid, put this on the calendar right now. Playground Abode is hosting a 90-minute Bluey + Bingo Playdate with character meet-and-greets, music, storytime, a dance party, arts and crafts, and open play in their indoor space. Pick a time slot. This will sell out.

• DATE: Saturday, June 13

• TIMES: Choose from 9 AM | 11 AM | 1 PM | 3 PM (90-minute sessions)

• PRICING: $45 — 1 child + 1 adult | $10 — additional adult | Infants 12 months and under free | No refunds; 24-hr cancellation gets you store credit

• AGES GOOD FOR: Toddlers – 7ish

• 📍 LOCATION: Playground Abode, 9904 Linn Station Rd

• Buy tickets →

8. Cosmic Baseball

Part baseball, part neon-fueled party. The Louisville Bats bring in the Chili Peppers vs. the Glow Mojis for a fully glow-in-the-dark game with black lights, UV-reactive baseballs, and neon uniforms. It’s been on the Today Show, ABC News, and Sports Illustrated — and the videos honestly look like nothing else. This one works for every age: toddlers who like flashing lights, kids who like baseball, tweens who want something actually cool to do.

• DATE: Friday, June 19

• TIMES: Check site for game time

• PRICING: Ticketed | chilipeppersbaseball.com

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: Louisville Slugger Field, 401 E Main Street, Downtown

• Get tickets →

9. Kentuckiana Pride Festival

Kentuckiana Pride Festival on June 20 is one of the most welcoming, vibrant celebrations in Louisville all year — 100+ vendors, live entertainment, food, and a lot of community love. It’s a great opportunity to show your kids what it looks like when a city shows up for each other. All ages, all families welcome. Check the site as June approaches for the full entertainment lineup and vendor list.

• DATE: Saturday, June 20

• PRICING: Check kypride.com for details

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages

• 📍 LOCATION: Louisville — details at kypride.com

• Festival info →

10. WFPK Waterfront Wednesday

Free outdoor concert. On the river. With food trucks. With kids running on grass. With actually good music. This is the Louisville thing I send every visitor to and the one I personally never miss. The June 24 show is the 24th season of Waterfront Wednesday — bring your lawn chairs, get there at 5 to grab a good spot on the Big Four Lawn, and stay until the music winds down around 10. Keep an eye on @wfpk for the June lineup announcement.

• DATE: Wednesday, June 24

• TIMES: Lawn opens 5 PM | Music typically 6 PM – 10 PM

• PRICING: FREE

• AGES GOOD FOR: All ages — stroller-and-blanket kind of night

• 📍 LOCATION: Big Four Lawn, Waterfront Park, 1101 River Road

• Concert info →

Don’t Sleep On This: The Cultural Pass

If your family doesn’t have this yet, download it before June. The Cultural Pass is a completely FREE app that gives kids and teens ages 0–21 free general admission to 50+ arts and culture venues across Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana — museums, science centers, theatres, gardens, nature centers, and more. The 2026 Summer of Discovery edition is live now with a full summer event calendar.

• App Store →

• Google Play →

• View the summer calendar →

PRICING: FREE for ages 0–21

Honorable Mentions

June is too good to stop at 10. Here’s everything else worth your radar this month.

Downtown Drive-In at Waterfront Park — June 12 & 19

Free outdoor movies at Waterfront Park — bring chairs, blankets, and snacks. One of the best low-key summer nights you can pull off on a Friday.

• DATES: June 12 & June 19

• PRICING: FREE

• 📍 LOCATION: Waterfront Park

• Event info →

Firefly Fridays at Bernheim — Starts June 5

Evening hikes led by naturalists to spot fireflies in the forest. Truly magical for kids — and adults. Runs several Fridays throughout June and July. Check the Bernheim calendar for dates and registration.

• PRICING: Bernheim vehicle entry fee applies

• 📍 LOCATION: Bernheim Forest, Clermont, KY

• Bernheim events calendar →

Cuba Mia Fest — June 13

A celebration of Cuban culture and music in Louisville. Great food, live music, dancing, and a festive community atmosphere the whole family can enjoy.

• DATE: June 13

• 📍 LOCATION: Check event listings for location

• More info →

TC Highlands Farm — June Farm Visits

A local farm visit is one of those things that sounds simple and ends up being one of the best days of the summer. TC Highlands Farm is doing June Farm Visits — a ticketed, scheduled experience where kids can get up close with farm animals and actually experience where food comes from. Follow them on Instagram @tchighlandsfarm for updates on what to expect, and book your spot before it fills up.

One booking spot is for a group of 1 to 5 people will get hands on with a few of the tamer cows, be able to feed them treats, brush them, take your own pics with them and we will teach you about their breed. Children need to be at least 5 years old. We will answer any questions you may have about their breed or how we care for them. You will get to see the herd and how they interact with each other. We have several colors and different ages of Highlands to see.

• DATES: June (various dates available)

• PRICING: 5 people per group for $150

• AGES GOOD FOR: Ages 5+

• 📍 LOCATION: TC Highlands Farm — details on booking page

• Book a visit → | Follow on Instagram →

Father’s Day at the Louisville Zoo — June 21

Dads get in free on Father’s Day when accompanied by a paid admission. A solid excuse to make the Zoo your Father’s Day plan.

• DATE: Sunday, June 21

• PRICING: Dad’s admission free with paid family admission

• 📍 LOCATION: Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way

• Zoo info →

That’s the month, friends. If I missed something you’re excited about, reply and tell me — that’s how the best local stuff makes it onto next month’s list.

See you out there,

XOXO Shelby

Kid Friendly Louisville is a reader-supported newsletter. If this is useful, forward it to a parent friend.

Hi friends,

Two things up top, both of them big.

One: we hit 100 subscribers this week. One hundred. Real, actual Louisville parents who hit subscribe so this little thing I started in my home could land in your inbox every Sunday. I am not above telling you that I had a moment about it. If you forwarded this to a friend, dropped my name in a group chat, or just opened an email when you had every reason to delete it — thank you. Truly. We’re just getting started and I am so glad you’re here for it.

Two: this issue is two days late, and I’m owning it. Memorial Day weekend ate me alive (in a good way — full report below). Going forward, ICYMI is officially moving to Monday mornings instead of Sundays. This week’s just on a Tuesday because of the holiday. I think Monday’s going to serve y’all better — full week ahead, fresh inbox, less Sunday-scaries energy. Tell me if you hate it.

Okay. Let’s go.

🎁 ICYMI on the feed — new giveaway dropping TODAY

🚂 Family 4-pack to Day Out With Thomas at the Kentucky Railway Museum

Giveaway is LIVE on Instagram → enter here (and on TikTok). One family, four tickets, any day that works for you.

If you have a train kid in your house, you already know — Day Out With Thomas is THE event. Real Thomas the Tank Engine ride, meet-and-greets, kids’ activities, the whole production. It’s at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven (about an hour south of Louisville), and it runs select weekends in June.

📍 Kentucky Railway Museum, 136 South Main St., New Haven, KY

🗓️ Sat–Sun, June 6–7 and June 13–14 (more weekends possible — winner picks)

🎟️ One family 4-pack (any session, any of the available days)

⏰ Winner announced Tuesday, June 2 at 5pm

Check the feed today to enter — like, follow, tag a parent friend in the comments. Standard giveaway moves. You know the drill.

🎉 And speaking of giveaways — congrats to last week’s winners

The first two giveaways are officially in the books and y’all showed up for them.

🎸 Abbey Road on the River 4-pack → @crystalaines

🎪 Big Bounce America 4-pack → @paige61116

Paige messaged me to say her family had an absolute blast at Big Bounce. THAT is the whole reason I do these. Congrats, friends. More to come.

Here’s what you may have missed last week 💌

A lot happened in seven days. Catching you up:

🐣 The big Q&A dropped Thursday — Meet the Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Lil Nuggets Softplay Adventures. This one got me in my feelings. Tracy literally quit her corporate job last Monday to go all-in on Lil Nuggets, and her daughter Morgan (NICU nurse by day) runs the front desk. The interview goes into how the name came from the twins’ ultrasound, what’s coming up for the space (afternoon hours, summer camps, Parent’s Night Out drop-off for ages 3–7), and the line from Morgan that made me cry a little: “if you need a hug, we have hugs.” Read the whole thing — and then go visit them at Mellwood Art Center.

🏊 Goldfish Swim School St. Matthews — shared on Instagram this week. I always recommend them for swim lessons and it bears repeating with summer staring us down. They’re at the top of my list for water safety and they’re warm, kind, and good with little kids who are nervous. Use code SHELBY for your first 2 classes free — sign up here. Not sponsored, just a real recommendation.

🎪 Big Bounce America was a muddy, joyful disaster (in a good way). Went out Saturday — recap on Instagram here. It rained, the field was a swamp, my kid was filthy, and we had a great time. The inflatables were genuinely huge, the under-5 session was the move, and the staff was patient with chaos. If you’ve been on the fence about Bounce events in general — go anyway. Bring spare clothes.

✨ Wild Lights, Hurricane Bay, the Splash Park — all officially open for the season. The summer schedule has begun.

☔ This week’s main event: it’s going to rain. For a week. So here’s where to take your kids.

The forecast is brutal. We’re looking at rain through the weekend and into next week. Indoor recess for everybody.

I posted about indoor play spots here and here — pulling the highlights together for you in one place so you have somewhere to send your group chat when someone asks “okay what are we doing today” at 8am Wednesday.

🩷 Lil Nuggets Softplay Adventures — Mellwood Art Center

The softest landing in the city, especially for the under-7 crew. Ball pit, slide, café (The Nugget Nook — coffee, dirty sodas, snacks for the kids). $15/kid, adults free. 📍 1860 Mellwood Ave, Ste 191 | Ages 6mo–7yrs | Mon–Sat

🌿 Glow Worm Cafe & Play

Indoor play café with a real coffee menu and a vibe that doesn’t make you want to leave. Bonus: the Every Parent Support Group is still running twice weekly (Tues 10–11:30am, Thurs 2–3:30pm) — drop-in, kids play, you actually get to finish a sentence with another adult. $10/adult, kids free for the group; check site for open play rates.

🔬 Kentucky Science Center

Three floors of hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and the under-7 World of Wonder space which is perfect for the littles. The kind of place where two hours becomes four hours and you don’t notice. 📍 727 W Main St | Downtown

📚 Louisville Free Public Library — every branch

Don’t sleep on the library. Free, air-conditioned, story times most mornings, craft programs, and at the Main Branch downtown they have a whole kids’ wing. Check the calendar — there’s almost always something happening for free.

📅 The rest of this week, day by day

🧘 Tues 5/26 + Thurs 5/28 — Every Parent Support Group @ Glow Worm The recurring one I will keep telling you about because it’s that good. Tuesdays 10–11:30am or Thursdays 2–3:30pm. $10/adult, kids free. Drop-in for all parents.

📚 Wed 5/27, 10am — Story Time at Blackacre For the under-5 crowd. One of the prettiest free outings in the city, weather permitting. Check their calendar before you go — rain plan TBD.

🌿 Wed 5/27 — Wednesday Wonders @ The Parklands $5/child, free for members. 10:30am at Turkey Run (ages 5–9), 2:30pm at Beckley Creek (ages 2–5). Book ahead.

🎬 Fri 5/29, 8pm — Downtown Drive-in: Family Movie Night Free family movie at Waterfront Park. Free parking. Bring chairs and snacks. Weather permitting — check before you load the car.

⚽ Fri 5/29 — Racing Louisville FC vs Denver Summit FC Home game at Lynn Family Stadium. Open concourses, kid-friendly vibes, affordable tickets. The first women’s pro game your kid sees should be this one.

✨ Thurs–Sun — Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo Running through July 26, 7–10pm. Online tickets are way cheaper than gate. 📍 Louisville Zoo | $16–$35

🎢 Kentucky Kingdom + Hurricane Bay Officially open daily for the season. Floral Frenzy continues through the park.

⚾ Louisville Bats Homestand Slugger Field has games this week — check the schedule for the lineup and promo nights.

📍 In case you missed the guides

We’re sitting on two solid guides right now — bookmark both before you need them:

• 11 Louisville Playgrounds With Actual Shade — for when the rain finally stops and the heat moves in.

• Q&A: Meet the Mother-Daughter Duo Behind Lil Nuggets Softplay Adventures — the full story behind the indoor play spot I’m sending you to this week.

Coming up in the inbox

🚂 Thursday: The issue of 10 Things to do in June will be released

🩷 Next Monday (6/2): The June ICYMI kicks off, plus the Thomas giveaway winner announcement at 5pm.

💌 Mid-June: The June Kid-Friendly Louisville Guide drops — first paid-tier issue, themed monthly guide you can save and screenshot forever. ICYMI stays free, always.

On Instagram + TikTok this week

Follow along — daily finds, real-time recs, and the Thomas giveaway going live today:

• Instagram

• TikTok

Free for all of May. Paid tier launches in June.

Everything in this newsletter — every ICYMI, every Q&A, every Small Business Spotlight — stays free forever. The paid tier launching in June adds the monthly Kid-Friendly Louisville Guides (designed PDFs by topic), Best Events of the Month, and eventually Parent Night Out Guides. Optional, never required, always worth it if you want the extras.

If you’ve been on the fence about subscribing — now is the moment. Hit the button.

Subscribe now

If you read all the way down here, thank you. Truly. 100 of y’all means I’m not yelling into a void. Reply and tell me where you’re going to ride out this rainy week — I’m collecting notes and I’ll share the best ones in next week’s ICYMI.

xoxo, Shelby 🐣

Kid Friendly Louisville is a weekly newsletter for Louisville parents who want to actually leave the house. If a friend forwarded you this and you want it in your inbox every week (now on Mondays!), hit subscribe. It’s free.

I met up with Tracy Page and her daughter Morgan at Lil Nuggets Softplay Adventures over at Mellwood Art Center, and y’all. This one got me. We talked about how Lil Nuggets got started, why last Monday was the scariest day of Tracy’s life, and what it actually feels like to build a softplay space that’s really for the parents too. Here’s what you need to know ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Watch the Full Interview Here 🩷

Thanks for reading Shelby • Kid-Friendly Louisville! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

READ THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE ⬇️

The Name Literally Came From the Twins

This one made me laugh. Morgan was pregnant with twins and the very first day they did her ultrasound, her mom looked at the screen and went “oh my god, they look like little nuggets.” And she just… kept calling them that. Through the whole pregnancy. Until they were born. The name stuck.

And then when she started dreaming up the business, there was only one option. “They literally are our little nuggets,” she told me. “Everybody has a little nugget.”

I cannot disagree.

The Whole Thing Started Because of a First Birthday Party

Here’s how it really started. They wanted soft play for the twins’ first birthday party. They went looking for rentals and couldn’t find anything at a price that felt reasonable.

So their solution — and you have to picture this — was: “We should just buy the equipment.” Just buy it. The whole soft play set. “After we buy it, we can do parties.”

And that’s exactly what happened. The twins had their first birthday at their grandparents house, swimming pool plus full soft play setup, and from that day on Lil Nuggets was a mobile soft play business. They were going to people’s parties, hauling equipment, setting up and breaking down — in the Louisville summer heat, in the Louisville winter cold.

Eventually Tracy said: “I really want to brick-and-mortar this.” She was at an event next door and walked through the space at Mellwood. Concrete floors. Windows boarded up with wood. “It was hideous. But I saw vision.”

Lil Nuggets officially opened March 31, 2025 — and if you’ve been recently, you’ve watched it transform. There’s a new slide. The ball pit. They keep adding.

She Just Quit Her Corporate Job. Like — Last Week.

I asked Tracy what the hardest decision was, and she paused and said: “Taking the leap of faith — doing this full-time and leaving my full-time job. That was yesterday.”

Last Monday. She literally just walked away from her corporate job to go all-in on Lil Nuggets. “I believe in this. And I think once other people learn about it, they’ll love it too.”

I believe in it too. I’m rooting for them so hard.

It’s a Mother-Daughter Operation

Morgan — Tracy's daughter, and the one with the best deadpan delivery I've encountered in a while — is a NICU nurse by trade. "I'm just here so I don't get fined," she joked. (She's there a lot. She's running the front desk most days I stop in.)

Tracy is the visionary. “All the ideas come from her,” Morgan told me. “We kind of go off of what she has.” Morgan handles front-of-house and is the sounding board.

What I loved hearing about was the adjustment for Morgan. She’s a nurse — she’s literally not wired for this. “I’m not very entrepreneurial,” she said. “I like to go in, work, get my paycheck, come home, and leave work at work. I’m not used to bringing work home as a nurse — when you clock out, your patients don’t come with you.”

And then suddenly her mom is calling her about menus, about events, about ideas — all the time, every day. “At first I was like, oh my God, here she comes with another what-about-the-drink-menu, what-about-this. Especially with new motherhood on top of it, I was so overwhelmed.”

She’s found her footing now. “You get so obsessed with the work, you love it at the same time.”

If you’ve seen these two together, you already know — they’re the real deal.

“If You Need a Hug, We Have Hugs”

I asked Tracy what she wants parents to feel when they walk out, and her answer was the whole reason I wanted to do this Q&A in the first place. So I’m just going to give it to you:

“I want people to feel loved and cared for and feel like this space belongs to them, their kids, their siblings. I want it to be inclusive for everybody, all walks of life. I want to build a little nugget community where you can come in, your kid can be acting crazy, they can tear up the place — that’s what it’s for. No judgment.”

And then Morgan:

“If you need a hug, we have hugs. We have matcha, coffee, dirty sodas, snacks. If you need to go next door and grab a beer, I’ll watch your kid for a second. If you want to grab pizza across the way, go. Whatever you need.”

That is the energy. That is the whole thing.

The café is called The Nugget Nook — full coffee menu, dirty sodas, Philly Water Ice (mango, sour apple, rainbow), kid snacks. Designed so you can actually sit down while your kid plays.

What’s Coming Up

A few things to put on your radar:

• Afternoon hours are being added — they’re currently open Monday–Saturday until 1 PM, but Tracy is rolling out evening sessions (think 5–7) for working parents who can’t make it in the mornings. Stay subscribed to their email.

• Events — they just hosted a Pilates morning with bouquets, lattes, dirty sodas, and the kids played while the moms moved. It was beautiful and there is going to be more like it. Look at for another one JUNE.

• Summer camps — in the works. Stay tuned.

• Memberships are live — $39/mo Solo Pass (4 visits), $69/mo Double Nugget (8 visits), $59/mo Twins/Multiples (unlimited), $89/mo Family (12 visits). All include café discounts and Member Monday early openings.

• Birthday parties — shared, private, or fully styled (they handle decor, drinks, all of it). Packages start at $249.

• Parent’s Night Out is coming SOON — 4-hour drop-off for ages 3–7, includes pizza, craft, and a movie. Potty-trained kids only.

📍 Find Lil Nuggets Softplay Adventures

Address: 1860 Mellwood Ave, Ste. 191, Louisville, KY 40206 (Mellwood Art Center)

Website: littlenuggetssoftplayadventures.com

Instagram: @lilnuggetssoftplayadventures

Phone: (502) 661-6951

Open Play: $15/kid · adults free

Ages: 6 months – 7 years

If you haven’t been yet, go. If you have, go back and bring a friend who’s having one of those weeks. Tracy is building something special and she deserves every single one of us showing up for her.

— XOXO Shelby 🐣

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Kid Friendly Louisville is a weekly newsletter for Louisville parents who want to do more, stress less, and find the good stuff in this city. Know someone doing something incredible for Louisville families? Reply and tell me about it.