Bottoms up! We’re headed southeast to the Bourbon Capital of the World to explore the home of the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and a baseball wonderland. That’s right, we’re heading to USITT’s 2019 show site, Louisville, Kentucky.

Population: 600,000

Average Income: $53,000

Transportation: ZeroBus Downtown Circulator offers complimentary rides for passengers along Main, Market, and Fourth Streets in downtown Louisville. The all-electric, zero-emissions buses feature free Wi-Fi and arrive at stops frequently. Louisville was the first city in this part of the country to have a fleet of all-electric buses in operation.

Bicycles are also a great way to get around all year. Louisville is home to an extensive parks system that is most enjoyed on two wheels or on foot.

Fun Fact: Ninety percent of the U.S.’s disco balls are produced in Louisville each year by the Omega National Products factory, so there’s plenty of boogie to go around! There’s a campaign underway to produce the world’s largest disco ball in Louisville. It’s called “World’s Largest Disco Ball, Y’all.”

Restaurants & Refreshments: Belly up to the bar… and fill it with tasty fare, too!

Louisville houses many unique bars and restaurants that have converted churches, garages, and arcades into eclectic hangouts. Garage Bar, a retrofitted auto service garage, makes as much use of its outdoor space as its indoor. Lined with picnic tables out front and table tennis off to the side, Garage Bar serves up a house favorite to many — the oyster shooter.

Holy Grale offers a space to sip your ale in a choir loft. This Unitarian chapel turned bar offers up 27 beers on tap and 75 bottles, focusing on those hard-to-find brews.

If you’re more of a foodie, check out Hammerheads, a dive smoking duck breast tacos and pork belly PBLTs all in a small-scale kitchen.

Want to dine like a jockey? Make a trip to Wagner’s Pharmacy, a breakfast and lunch joint that’s been serving to the best of the best of the equestrian pool since the early 1920s. Don’t forget to stop by Churchill Downs after your meal. It’s just down the street.

Entertainment Industry: For theatre lovers to concert enthusiasts, Louisville has a venue for every type of fan. Enjoy classic theatrical productions at The Kentucky Center and the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville. If live music is more your style, check out the array of concerts at The Mercury Ballroom, Louisville Palace Theatre, and Headliners Music Hall.

USITT Life: The USITT Southeast Regional Section holds events and meetings throughout the year for members in the area. A USITT member is never far away. Visit their section site to see all events and happenings around Louisville and its neighbors.

Local Louisville Area Members and Exhibitors:

-ZFX, Inc.

-Entertainment Project Services

-StageOne Family Theatre

-Prodigy Performance Systems, Inc.

-The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

-University of Louisville

-Youth Performing Arts School