Louisville Kentucky’s Forecastle Festival Named as Top 10

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May, 2009) — The Kentucky Tourism Council (KTC) has chosen The Forecastle Festival as one of the Top 10 Summer Festivals and Events. Founded in Louisville, this unique, outdoor event is equally based on a three-part format – music, art and activism – and it’s the largest gathering in the American Midwest of its kind. It has become an expanding symposium for musicians, artists and environmentalists and connects the progress Midwest with high profile talent, creative artists and keynote speakers.

A grassroots effort, the first Forecastle was held in Louisville’s Tyler Park in 2002 and cost less than $500 to produce. Since then, the festival has built on its success, expanding to a 3-day “Festival and Symposium” on The Louisville Riverfront. This year’s line up is the biggest and best, yet – including Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes and many more. Forecastle was selected as one of the “Top 33″ events in the country, by the staff of Paste Magazine, “The Cream of the Crop of Midwest Events” by The Discovery Channel and “One of the top 101 things to do in America” according to Spin Magazine. The founder and captain of Forecastle, JK McKnight, sums up this one-of-a-kind festival as “where the Midwest connects.”

The 2009 Festival will be held July 10-12. For more information visit www.forecastlefest.com or 502-472-7555.

For a list of other events happening in Louisville, to request a free Visitors Guide or to book discounted attractions tickets and hotel accommodations call 1-888-LOUISVILLE (1-888-568-4784) or visit www.gotolouisville.com. Once in town stop by the Louisville Visitors Center at 4th & Jefferson Streets for advice, brochures, souvenirs, the Col. Sanders and Bourbon Country exhibits or to buy discounted attraction tickets.

Judges decided the seasonal Top 10 list based on nominations place by KTC members across Kentucky. Criteria for judging included popularity of the event, its impact on the local tourism economy as well as cultural and historical significance. The entire Top 10 list is in the June issue of Kentucky Monthly and posted on KTC’s website at http://enews.tourky.com/?page_id=389.

KTC is a 600 member statewide association representing all sectors of the state’s tourism and travel industry.

Since 1968, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s primary goal has been to enhance the city and county’s economy through tourism development – to promote and sell Louisville as a destination for conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings and pleasure and business travel on a worldwide basis.

May 18, 2009   Posted in: United States Central