October descends upon Shelby County, Kentucky, as the leaves change their hues and a cool, sometimes eerie breeze sweeps through the streets. With the arrival of this bewitching month comes a host of spine-tingling and delightful activities that are sure to awaken your inner adventurer and bring out the Halloween enthusiast in you. Whether you're a local seeking new haunts or a visitor eager to experience the charm of this quaint community during the most magical time of year, Shelbyville has a cauldron full of spooky and fun experiences near Louisville and Lexington in store. Join us as we embark on a thrilling journey through some of the best October attractions and events that make ShelbyKY the ultimate destination for a hauntingly good time.
Jeptha Creed Distillery Fall Harvest Festival
Back to Top of ListOctober 7 from 12 – 10 PM
Join the craft distillery for its first-ever Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 7! Enjoy live music (Bourbon Legend from 12 – 4 PM and Josh Bogard from 7 – 10 PM), local artisan and vendor booths, a cornhole tournament, gift basket raffles, a corn maze, and find out the winners of the painted bourbon barrel silent auction. Grab lunch or dinner from DTs BBQ and Four Moore's food trucks after your spirits tasting and enjoy a cocktail while enjoying the crisp October weather. Don't miss the corn maze — find your way through Jeptha Creed's signature Bloody Butcher heirloom corn just feet away from the rick houses where their bourbon ages. Click here for more information.
Image credit: Jeptha Creed Distillery
Grove Hill Cemetery Stories Behind the Stones
Back to Top of ListSaturday, October 21, from 4 – 6 PM
Meet and chat with some of Grove Hill Cemetery's most famous and notable permanent residents during a 90-minute walk through the beautiful, historic Shelby County, KY cemetery. Guest Speakers include the Bro. B. F. Hungerford, Col. Aquilla Whitaker, Julia Ann Hieronymus Tevis, Amanda Doyle Harris Alexander, Dr. George Nuckols, and Dr. Alice N. Pickett. Enjoy wine, cider, and other refreshments following the tour, with more interesting history to learn in Grove Hill Chapel. Admission is a suggested donation: school-age children $5 and adults $10. Preschool-age children enter for free. Use the historic entrance off Old Mt. Eden Road and 3rd Street in Shelbyville. Click here for more information.
Mulberry Orchard Fall Fun
Back to Top of ListFresh from hosting the Luke Bryan Farm Tour kickoff, Mulberry Orchard has kept the excitement going with their annual fall fun activities! Bring the whole family for $9 admission that includes all the fresh-from-the-farm fun you can imagine, including 25 activities like an apple mountain slide, the pumpkin parkway trike track, combine slide, petting zoo, corn maze, cargo climb, corn pit, hillbilly basketball, and so much more! Open Tuesdays-Fridays from 9 AM – 5 PM, Saturdays 9 AM – 6 PM, and Sundays 1–5 PM. Wagon rides are available to the public on weekdays from 1–4 PM. Click here for more information.
Local Community Spirit Walk: Shelbyville Ghost Tour
Back to Top of ListFridays and Saturdays in October | 7 & 9 PM
Take a guided stroll through historic Downtown Shelbyville, Kentucky. Explore our spirited past and those who may have stuck around. With the beautiful architecture and small-town feel of Shelbyville's downtown area, many people overlook the darker side of this rural town's history. From the start, what would become Shelbyville was mired in violence. The first people to settle in this area were faced with danger from Native American raids. The painted stone massacre occurred just a few miles down the road. The violence didn't stop there; Shelbyville was raided in the civil war, the target of outlaw guerrilla fighters, and even drew national attention for the murder of a former LT. Governor. Click here for tickets and to learn more.
Image credit: Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal
Gallrein Farms Fall Festival
Back to Top of ListSaturdays & Sundays through October 31
A Kentucky favorite, Gallrein Farms was voted one of Kentucky's top three farm tourist attractions during the recent Kentucky Living magazine "Best in Kentucky" survey. Their annual fall fun on the farm festival is just one reason they deserve that title! Held each year from mid-September through the end of October, families travel from miles away to enjoy an authentic farm experience in ShelbyKY. An all-access bracelet is available for $20 and includes activities such as the train, corn maze, haunted house, obstacle course, hayride, and petting zoo! Food trucks, locally-grown pumpkins, sweet treats, and all things fall are waiting for you at Gallrein Farms this October! Click here to learn more.
Make a day (or two) of it! — Best weekend getaway in Kentucky
Whether you're planning to take in a ghost tour or hear from the deceased during Grove Hill Cemetery's Stories Behind the Stones, you'll find plenty of spooky, spine-tingling fun in Shelby County, Kentucky, this October. Just 30 minutes from Louisville and 45 minutes from Lexington make each of the above events easy to get to this October! While you're in ShelbyKY, make a day of it! Plan a visit to our two distilleries and enjoy a meal at fantastic restaurants like Claudia Sanders Dinner House and the Bell House. There's so much to see, do, and taste in ShelbyKY that you'll likely find it necessary to stay the night — choose from fantastic vacation rentals, traditional hotels, and tranquil bed and breakfasts. Start planning your October trip to ShelbyKY today!
Events
Live music, festivals, bourbon tastings, and more. What more can you ask for?
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Events
Live music, festivals, bourbon tastings, and more. What more can you ask for?