20 Awesome April Events Happening Only in Oldham!

24 Mar 20 Awesome April Events Happening Only in Oldham!

Oldham County is packed with unique things to do in April! Whether your interests lie in theatre, art, gardening, history or music, it can all be found ONLY in Oldham County! With the rising costs of gas, a one-tank fill-up will be worth the drive to Oldham County. Day-trip or plan to spend the weekend – you won’t be disappointed with the variety of options just waiting to be explored. Check out these events then visit our CALENDAR for event MORE!

Behind the Scenes Big Bloom Walk
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Crestwood, KY
April 19, 1 – 2:30 p.m. and April 20, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
$20.00 – $30.00 per person

Stroll through the grounds of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, April – May, to witness an amazing display of color and beauty that only takes place this time of the year. Sayde Heckman, Garden and Arboretum Manager, will lead a walking discussion and behind-the-scenes look to show off the 20,000 bulbs and more than 20 varieties planted for this year’s Big Bloom. Visitors will learn what goes into creating this annual event and gain inspiration on how to create a bulb display in their own garden. The peak bloom occurs in mid-late April.

Jack of Diamonds
The Little Colonel Playhouse
Pewee Valley, KY
Showtimes:
April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m.
April 3, 10 at 2:00 p.m.
Adults – $19/Seniors/Students – $17
For ages 13 and up.

The Little Colonel Playhouse in Pewee Valley will kick off April by hosting Jack of Diamonds, a play written by Marsha Kash and Douglas E. Hughes and directed by Sharon Spurrier. Jack is a former jeweler who made his living buying and selling diamonds via late-night TV ads. He lives in a rather luxurious, privately-owned retirement home along with his fellow residents: the visually challenged techno-wizard Rose, the artistically gifted but forgetful Flora, and the narcoleptic beauty Blanche. Unbeknownst to the four of them, however, the man to whom they’ve entrusted their life savings – a smooth-talking financial advisor named Barney Effward – has been arrested for bilking his clients out of their savings through a Ponzi scheme. Faced with financial ruin, the four suddenly find themselves confronting the author of their miserable fate when Effward is unexpectedly delivered among them – along with several million dollars in diamonds. Pandemonium ensues as the four retirees try to find a way to exact their revenge, recoup their losses, and keep the authorities from discovering their plans. 

Easter Egg Hunt and Peter Rabbit 2
Sauerbeck Family Drive-In
La Grange, KY
April 2 and April 9
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Hunt eggs from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Peter Rabbit 2 starts at 8:30 p.m.
$20 per carload

Hop over to Sauerbeck Family Drive-In for a great family event! This is a rain or shine event. In case of inclement weather, eggs will be distributed to cars so kids are sure to get some candy! The movie will start at its scheduled time. Several areas will be set up for families to hunt for eggs so every child will be able to fill their basket.*There will be a separate late showing of a new movie after this event that will require separate paid admission.

50 Barns in 50 States:  A Collection of Paintings by Ann R. Carter
Oldham County History Center
La Grange, KY
April 2 – July 16
General admission charged.

At the age of 84, Ann decided to set a goal to paint a barn in every state before her 90^th birthday.  Not only did she accomplish the goal but she accomplished it ahead of schedule. Born in Minnesota, Ann and her husband, Richard, moved to Oldham County in 1975. Her creative talent began in high school and years later she began painting barns. She held her first art exhibit, Oldham County Barns at the Oldham County History Center, in 2007.

April Plant Release
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Crestwood, KY
Wed., April 6, beginning at 9 a.m.
Prices vary.

Following on the heels of its March 26 Opening Day, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens will host its annual April Plant Release. Staff find it unbelievable that they are getting ready to start their third season of selling plants online! Similar to last year, Yew Dell will be incorporating online plant market releases to compliment in-person plant sale events at Yew Dell. The April 6 online release will feature Trees, Shrubs, Annuals, and Beyond. Plants purchased throughout April will be available for pick up at the end of April. A list of the plants for each online release will be published a week before. Visit Yew Dell’s Online Plant Market to see the plant selection and shop!

Wildflower and Fern Walks
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
Goshen, KY
Saturday, April 9 and Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.- Noon
Free. Masks are required.

Join Creasey Mahan’s Executive Director and author of two books, Tavia Cathcart Brown, on an exciting two-hour walk filled with spring wildflowers, woodland ferns, and lots of fresh air on the grounds of the preserve. Visitors will find winding trails with all varieties of trees, wildflowers, and shrubs and woodlands, wetlands and meadows full of native grasses, springs, songbirds, and a meandering stream.

The Whiskey Files
Hermitage Farm
Goshen, KY
Wednesday, April 13, 7 – 8 p.m.
$54.50 per person/$35 for Stevens’ book.

Hermitage Farm’s next guest speaker for The Whiskey Files will be Peggy Noe Stevens, a member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame. Stevens has worked in hospitality and the bourbon industry for over 30 years, during which time she became the world’s first female Master Bourbon Taster. Just over 10 years ago she created the Bourbon Women Association, and she worked as an originator for the development of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Stevens will lead a unique bourbon tasting followed by a signing of her latest book, “Which Fork Do I Use with My Bourbon?”  in Barn 6. Dinner reservations are not included with this ticket.

Showbarn Sessions at Ashbourne Farms
Ashbourne Farms
La Grange, KY
Friday, April 15, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Tickets:  $150

What could be better a better way to enjoy a spring evening than with live music by Steep Canyon Rangers, heavy hors d’oeuvres and artisan cocktails nestled away under the beautiful setting of Ashbourne Farms? This is the third installment in the Showbarn Sessions series. The Steep Canyon Rangers originated in Asheville, NC and their distinctive sound blends bluegrass and Americana roots. The band are Grammy award winners, have topped the Billboard charts numerous times and are frequent collaborators with renowned banjoist (and comedian) Steve Martin. This intimate evening promises to be a one-of-a-kind event you won’t want to miss.

Hermitage Farm’s annual Easter Egg Hunt
Hermitage Farm
Goshen, KY
Saturday April 16, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$10 per child for egg hunt/Spots are by registration only/Additional cost for food & drinks

Come to the biggest Easter Egg Hunt this side of the river! Join for Hermitage Farm for their annual Easter Egg Hunt. The farm will be hosting a number of egg hunts for kids of all ages, while families can enjoy a selection of box lunches and pastries. With springtime cocktails available from our mobile bar, an exclusive Hermitage pop-up shop, and a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny, this is the perfect Easter event for the whole family. All ticket proceeds donated to the Humane Society of Oldham County– there will even be a few cute friends available for adoption!

A Day of Henry Clay
Oldham County History Center
La Grange, KY
Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Free for current Oldham County History Center members/$15 for non-members. Tickets limited to 50 participants. No tickets sold at the door.

The Oldham County History Center will celebrate its new acquisition of an oil portrait of Kentucky Statesman, Henry Clay by well-known Antebellum portrait artist, Joseph Bush. The painting was donated by Eleanor Bingham Miller, who will be a featured guest speaker. Henry Clay was a friend of James and Amanda Mount and visited their home in LaGrange numerous times. Today this home is the J.C. Barnett Library & Archives on the History Center campus. Program includes lunch and Kentucky Heritage Council Chautauqua performances of Henry Clay by Kevin Hardesty and Charlotte Dupuy by Elizabeth Lawson. 

Sip N’ Sew Fascinator Creator Workshop
3rd Turn Oldham Gardens
Crestwood, KY
Wednesday, April 20, 5 – 7 p.m.
$80 per person. Includes one beverage voucher.

Hand make your own personal fascinator with friends while enjoying your favorite libations at Oldham Gardens! Louisville native and expert milliner Laura Moser will walk you through the process and provide all material you need for that perfect fascinator for half the price of buying one. Laura is one of four official Kentucky Derby Museum Milliners for 2022. Admission includes all the material you need to create one fascinator and one beverage voucher.

La Grange Live!™ Open Mic and Karaoke Night
The Gallery at Gatewood
La Grange, KY
April 21, 5 – 10 p.m.
FREE admission/Cash bar/Must be 21 or over.

Guests are having so much fun at The Gallery at Gatewood’s Open Mic and Karaoke Night that it just keeps staking place again and again! Whether you want to show off your hidden musical talent or just to have fun with friends, this is the place to be every third Thursday in La Grange. This monthly event is in partnership with Brian Rea of Trackside Karaoke.

The fun takes place at the beautiful Gallery at Gatewood on the first floor of the Historic Gatewood Building on Main St. The venue alone will inspire you – the Gallery at Gatewood Event Venue is reminiscent of a European Gallery with an urban-edge. It features Ghost chiavari chairs, exposed brick walls, complimentary backdrop wall and more! Located on the first floor of the Historic Gatewood Building. 

Plant Walk Series – Spring Blooms Workshop
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Crestwood, KY
April 23, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Workshop included with price of general admission.

Join Horticulture Apprentice Silas Zoeller on his last Plant Walk tour before taking his next professional step. For his last hurrah, Silas will showcase the gorgeous Spring Blooms emerging throughout the gardens of Yew Dell. This Plant Walk is included with Admission; no advance ticketing is required. An RSVP is recommended to get an estimated attendee count.

Public Archaeology Day at Gatewood Plantation
Oldham County History Center
Saturday, April 23, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Free, but reservations are required.

The Oldham County History Center will host its first 2022 Public Archaeology Day at Gatewood Plantation on Saturday, April 23, with three more to follow throughout the year. The History Center has conducted archaeological research on this private site since 2005, which is now recognized by the National Park Service as a site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The site honors former slave-turned-abolitionist Henry Bibb who escaped enslavement by William Gatewood at this site, as described in Bibb’s narratives.

Kindergarten Readiness & Petting Zoo at Maples Park
The Maples Park
Crestwood, KY
Sunday, April 24, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
FREE.

Join the Oldham County Early Childhood Council and Oldham County Public Library at The Maples Park to celebrate early childhood and kindergarten readiness at this event targeted for families with children ages 5 and under, but children of all ages are welcome. Featuring the Honey Hill Petting Zoo and booths with fun activities, information and kindergarten readiness stations from the Oldham County Early Childhood partner organizations. Food Trucks!

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK featuring Julius Caesar
The Maples Park
Crestwood, KY
Sunday, April 24, 2 – 4 p.m.
FREE.

Kentucky Shakespeare is bringing their talents to The Maples Park with a 90 minute performance of Julius Caesar. Bring your own chairs to this free outdoor event sponsored by the City of Crestwood and Mayor Jim Kramer. The following food trucks will be available:  Smokin Dawgs, Big R’s BBQ, in addition to Hive & Barrel Meadery and Mile Wide Brewing. Backup Rain Space:  Dennis Deibel Barn. A gravel parking lot adjacent to the rear entrance of the park.

13th Annual Animal Attraction Art Show
Gallery 104
La Grange, KY
April 26 – June 4
FREE.

This is one of the most popular and fun shows the Arts Association of Oldham County (AAOOC) has ever organized. This juried exhibit is a multimedia show open to any artist who creates animal themed art.  A wide variety of media are represented in the exhibit including:  painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture and multimedia. The quality and presentation of the art for this show is exceptional and has continued to grow since its inception in 2010. This annual show has drawn highly talented professional artists from as far away as Bowling Green, Ky., and Bloomington, Ind., with many AAOOC members represented as well. The show is exhibited at Gallery 104 in La Grange.

 

Spring Plant Sale – Member Preview
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Crestwood, KY
April 29, 5 – 8 p.m.
FREE.

For Yew Dell’s 20^th Anniversary, staff are excited to resume the Spring Plant Sale – Member Preview tradition! Current Members will have exclusive access to the Plant Sale bounty starting at 5 p.m. There will be a cash bar, light hors d’oeuvres, and a lively plant discussion in the Gheens Barn at 7 p.m. Photos and details about our upcoming Castle Terrace Project will be shared. For in-person programs and events, entry is limited to one person (whether adult or child) per ticket. Please purchase enough tickets for your guest count; extra guests without tickets will not be allowed entry.

A Deadly Daily Double
The Little Colonel Playhouse
Pewee Valley, KY
April 29, 30 @ 7:00 pm
Tickets: $45 per person.
Suitable for all ages.

The Little Colonel Playhouse in Pewee Valley sets the stage for a second play in April, one of intrigue and murder in their latest who-done-it play, A Deadly Daily Double. Written and directed by Teresa Wentzel, the setting is 1929 and the Barnstübler twins are throwing their annual Derby gala! Jazz, mint juleps, and celebrities abound!  But somebody wants the dynamic duo dead!  Is it the famous film star Lillian Dish? Or famous author and lush F. Scott Fitzhugh?  Does quick-tempered Sal Capone want them snuffed out?  Then there’s the famous, seductive chocolatier and femme fatale Cocoa Chanel.  Last, but far from least, is the romantic ladies’ man Rudolph Valentinia.  Will Elliot Mess, famous detective, solve the murder before you do?  Come join the fun…and help solve the mysterious murder of the famous Barnstübler twins.  Oh!…and don’t forget your Derby hats!!!

Spring Plant Sale – Public Welcome
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Crestwood, KY
Saturday, April 30
Session times:  10 a.m. – Noon, Noon – 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
0 – $9/Ticketed event.

Thanks to sponsor LG&E & KU Foundation, the big kahuna of in-person plant sales is back! Timed tickets scheduled in advance will attempt to control the plant purchasing madness at Yew Dell. Horticulture Staff and knowledgeable Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and make recommendations, as well as plenty of carts to help attendees get spring planting projects to their cars. Open to the public.

Check our MORE EVENTS in the Oldham County Tourism Calendar of Events!