What Else There Is To Do Around Here: Visiting the National Farm Machinery Show

Every February for the past 46 years, an influx of visitors from around the country come to Louisville for the largest indoor farm machinery show in the land, The National Farm Machinery Show. And every February for the past 46 years, the visitors that come for that show have asked one common question:

“What is there to do around here that’s equally as exciting as this show?”

So, we here at the National Farm Machinery Show decided to put together a little list of things to do, both inside and outside the gates of the Kentucky Exposition Center. The city of Louisville has a lot to offer, and our hope is that guests who come to Possibility City will come back again and again, even in the Farm Machinery Show’s off-season.

Championship Tractor Pull – This is a no-brainer. If you are here for the National Farm Machinery Show, what better way to witness the power of these machines than the Championship Tractor Pull? Drivers from around the country turn to heroes on the dirt floor of Freedom Hall. The event showcases the industry’s best in ground-pounding machines: Pro Stocks, Super Stocks, Modified, and Alcohol Tractors as well as Two-Wheel and Four-Wheel Drive Trucks. The show runs Wednesday – Friday February 15-17 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday February 18 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Eat- And eat as much as you possibly can. With more than 2,500 restaurant choices, it is important that you explore your culinary options and please your pallet with all the local flavor you can handle. Go for some true Louisville originals like Lynn’s Paradise Café, Jack Fry’s, Cumberland Brews, or for finer dining, Vincenzo’s or Seviche. Zagat recently bestowed a great honor on our town by naming Louisville one of the “Best Foodie Getaways Around the World.” Louisville was the only U.S. city to be named and shared the spotlight with major global cities like Okinawa, Japan and Cairo, Egypt. Popular Magazine Southern Living also recognized Louisville’s culinary greatness by naming the city to the Top 10 Finalists of “The South’s Tastiest Town.”
Check out Churchill Downs – Many National Farm Machinery Show attendants share a love of agriculture. And down the street from the Kentucky Exposition Center lies one of the greatest shrines to Equines, and the site of the forever famous Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs. Take a tour of the Kentucky Derby Museum, and soak up the rich history of the most exciting two minutes in sports. Or, plan your visit for Thursday and take the special Horses & Haunts tour at 7 p.m. Just be sure to make reservations at least 24 hours in advance, and get ready to be spooked. Find more information at www.churchilldowns.com.
Get Artsy- Louisville has a lot of places for the creative mind to shine. The 21C Museum Hotel is a must see for the culture-obsessed. Multi-million dollar art collections are on display for the public to view free of charge, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Then, continue to be crafty to your heart’s content at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft. If you like a more varied museum, visit the Frazier International History Museum or Louisville Science Center downtown and find hundreds of exhibits on history, health and life sciences. There is also the Louisville Slugger Museum and Muhammad Ali Museum for the sports buff in the family. Each of these gems is the pride and joy of Possibility City. With all conveniently located downtown, take a day to visit each!
Get well-acquainted with Bourbon – If you want to become an official Bourbon Country citizen, you must brave the Urban-Bourbon trail. Pick up your passport at the Visitors Center at 4th and Jefferson Streets downtown and get your adventure started. Patrons can take a self-guided tour through Louisville’s rich Bourbon history, stopping to make friends with servers and bartenders along the way. The program is free, and the Louisville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offers patrons a “passport” with trail options and tips on how to sip bourbon like a pro. Trail blazers can earn stamps in their “passport” from their visits to earn a special prize upon completion. Get techy and download the iPhone app guide at www.bourboncountry.com/urban-bourbon.
Get Wild – A visit to the Louisville Zoo is a great option for families! The New Glacier Run Exhibit features Louisville’s newest residents from the North Pole, Qannik and Siku, polar bear cubs. Be sure to also stop into Gorilla Forest, Tiger Tundra, Lorikeet Landing and see all the world’s neatest creatures in just one afternoon.
HAVE FUN –The National Farm Machinery Show is a perfect blend of business and pleasure, and the city as a whole embraces the same ideals.