Hardin County Events May 13–17: SpringFest Glendale Weekend

Key Takeaways

• 23rd Annual SpringFest in downtown historic Glendale — Saturday May 16, 9 AM to 5 PM. 200-plus vendor booths, 20-plus food trucks, a classic car show, and a pancake breakfast 8 to 11 AM. One of the biggest single-day events in the county.
• 24th Annual Spring Fling and Ride for Veterans at American Legion Hardin Post 113 — Saturday May 16, 9 AM to 4 PM. Registration at 9, kickstands up at 11:30. You do not have to ride to come out.
• Friday May 15 is a double-bill night — A1A, the official Jimmy Buffett tribute, at the Historic State Theater (show 7 to 9 PM) and Brent Terhune doing stand-up at Fort Knox's Saber and Quill ($10 advance / $15 door, open to the public).
• Three live-music nights Saturday — B. Robbins, Patrick Routt and Judah Brantingham at Heartland Mini Golf (6 to 9 PM); Nigel Wearne at the Little Blue House Concert Series (7 PM); The Strayz at Cosmic Golf (8:30 PM).
• Plus Larrikin Bourbon Co. tasting at Revival Vintage Spirits, the Broadbent Animal Sanctuary flash-sale tattoo event in Radcliff, the Heavenbound Baptist Church Car-N-Bike Show, Plant Bingo, a Women's Networking Luncheon, a Menopause and Mocktails cooking class, and an All-Poetry Open Mic to close out the week.

Summary

Jon O'Brien's events list for the week of Wednesday May 13 through Sunday May 17 is front-loaded into the weekend — and Saturday in particular. SpringFest in downtown historic Glendale and the Spring Fling and Ride for Veterans at American Legion Post 113 are both county institutions, and they land on the same day, alongside a stack of live music, fundraisers, and a flash-sale tattoo event in Radcliff. Friday is its own decision: a Jimmy Buffett tribute downtown or stand-up comedy at Fort Knox.

For Hardin County families trying to plan, this is a weekend where every day has something on it — and most of it is at locally owned venues or benefits a local cause. If you can only get out once, Jon's framing is that Saturday is the day to do it.

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Rachel Brantingham handed to Jon with the same read everyone watching had already figured out: "This week in Hardin County is full. It's packed." Jon agreed and started at the top.

Wednesday, May 13 opens with the Culinary Photo Adventure at 11:30 AM at The Crab Party in Radcliff — a food-photography meetup with the Meade Photography Club, with shooting tips, staging advice, and a dessert-photography stop afterward at The Chocolate Lab. Wednesday evening is Plant Bingo at The Straight and Narrow, 6:30 to 8:30 PM at 125 E. Dixie Ave. in Elizabethtown — a plant-themed bingo night with drinks and plant prizes. Bingo starts at 6:30, so arrive early.

Thursday, May 14 is an open night on Jon's list — he pointed people toward the Fort Knox MWR calendar, the Hardin County Public Library, and Elizabethtown Tourism as catch-alls.

Friday, May 15 is busy. The Women's Networking Luncheon runs 12 to 1:30 PM at the Lincoln Trail District Health Department, connecting professional women across Hardin and Meade counties. A Larrikin Bourbon Co. tasting runs 4 to 7 PM at Revival Vintage Spirits on Helm Street — Melody from Larrikin pouring the lineup. Jon, who knows the brand, made a point of recommending their bourbon maple cream and their gin. Casey, Romy and The Rooftop play Heartland Mini Golf at 6 PM — limited, VIP-style seating, tables filling fast. Menopause and Mocktails is a hands-on cooking class with CleanGoodEats at 6 PM in Radcliff — menopause-friendly recipes and alcohol-free mocktails.

Then Friday's two big shows. Brent Terhune does stand-up at Fort Knox's Saber and Quill — doors 6:30, show 7:30, $10 advance and $15 at the door, open to the public. And the A1A Jimmy Buffett tribute plays the Historic State Theater Complex in Elizabethtown — doors 6, show 7 to 9 PM, billed as the official and original Buffett tribute act. "I'm sure there will be a lot of parrot heads over there," Jon said — "a lot of those tiki shirts." When Scott Lucas asked which to pick, Jon went downtown: "I feel like downtown's got a lot more than up at Fort Knox. If you live closer to downtown, it's a little bit easier on the drive too. But if you like the funny yokes, out there is a fun time."

Saturday, May 16 is the heavy day. The 23rd Annual SpringFest in downtown historic Glendale runs 9 AM to 5 PM — 200-plus vendor booths, 20-plus food trucks, a classic car show from 9 to 1, and a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11. "If you need to have some good food on your belly, that's a good spot," Jon said. When Rachel asked for the move — she's never been, and she has her kids this weekend — Jon's answer was simple: get there early, park in the big field on the edge of town and walk in, and yes, it's kid-friendly everywhere. The 24th Annual Spring Fling and Ride for Veterans at American Legion Hardin Post 113 runs 9 AM to 4 PM — registration at 9, kickstands up at 11:30 — with a raffle, vendors, tattoos, pony rides, auctions, food trucks, and live music. Phil Taul called it a Hardin County institution and asked whether you have to ride. Jon: "No, you don't have to ride to come out. You can go check it out. They do like to have people come to the ride, but it's up for anybody."

Also Saturday: the Heavenbound Baptist Church 2nd Annual Car-N-Bike Show at 6857 Shepherdsville Rd. — $20 registration, register 10 to noon, judging at 2, awards at 4, with concessions, a bake sale, and a silent auction. No alcohol permitted, Jon noted — "so don't be trying to sneak in any booze." The Broadbent Animal Sanctuary Flash Sale is at Love and Devotion Historic Tattoo, 759 N. Dixie Blvd. in Radcliff, starting at noon — discounted tattoo flash, a food truck, and rescued, rehabilitated animals on site for a photo op (Jon thinks a bald eagle and some owls). A free beginner basketball class from Fundamentals with The Kendalls runs 3:15 to 4 at the Bluegrass Sportsplex — ball handling, passing, shooting. Boots and Brims at The Highlands Venue is a Sigma Gamma Rho scholarship fundraiser with a live band, DJ, dancing, and food.

And Saturday night brings three live-music options. B. Robbins, Patrick Routt and Judah Brantingham play Heartland Mini Golf from 6 to 9 PM — a local showcase Rachel plugged on-air, with full disclosure: "Judah's my nephew. So yeah, I'm plugging it. Go grab a bite, play a couple holes, and catch some live local music. I'll be out there." (Jon's pre-show note: there'd been some confusion because the same group is also booked at Cosmic Golf in a couple of weeks — the Heartland date is Saturday.) Nigel Wearne, the Australian blues-jazz-Americana-noir artist, plays the Little Blue House Concert Series at 7 PM — an outdoor setting, bring a chair or blanket. And The Strayz play Cosmic Golf at 8:30 PM.

Sunday, May 17 closes the week with the All-Poetry Open Mic at Flywheel Brewing, 3:45 to 6 PM, hosted by A.S. Coomer — signup to read begins at 3:45. "Always a fun time," Jon said. "Coomer usually does some of his own stuff and then opens it up for everybody else."

If you only get out once this week, the case is Saturday — and Jon, Rachel, and Phil all landed on it. SpringFest in the morning, the Ride for Veterans alongside it, and live music to close the night.