Jeffersontown's Beloved Gaslight Festival

Residents of Jeffersontown have been looking forward to this week’s annual celebration for a while now. Jtown’s beloved Gaslight Festival began in 1969 and has since become the fifth largest festival in the area. A balloon glow, 5k run, parade, live entertainment, and over 140 booths are all part of the festival. So far this week a Thunder Motorcycle Rally, Gaslight Golf Scramble, and the 5K Walk/Run have taken place as part of the festivities. Don’t worry however if you are just getting clued in to all that Gaslight has to offer, there is much more to come later in the week. Wednesday is Business Appreciation Day, Thursday is the Gaslight Festival Parade, Friday is the Balloon Glow, and Sunday is the Gaslight Car Show. Running the entire weekend, Friday through Sunday, is an Arts Crafts Extravaganza and Entertainment Garden, and A Soap Box Derby will be Saturday and Sunday.

The Gaslight Festival has been bringing the Jeffersontown community together with fun and entertainment for the past 43 years. Jeffersontown, Kentucky is the second largest city in Jefferson County and home to the Bluegrass Industrial Park, the third largest employer in the State. Originally a close knit community of dirt roads and mom and pop shops, Jeffersontown was established in the mid 1700’s and was filled with stonecutters, saddlers, and craftsmen. In the late 1800’s the first road was put down in the City and in 1904 the Electric Railway, or Interurban, established a route from Jeffersontown to Louisville’s Public Square, creating progress and development opportunities to the neighborhood. The 1950’s brought tremendous growth to the Jeffersontown community. With the opening of General Electric’s Appliance Park and the new interchange at I-64, residents were moving to the Jeffersontown area in large quantities.  Jeffersontown is still growing today, and is one of the areas in Louisville with the most ongoing development.

Below is a brief explanation of the biggest events of the Gaslight Festival:

• Gaslight Festival Parade: The parade runs along Taylorsville Road and    Watterson Trail in  Jeffersontown. Over 100 marching bands, Jtown residents, horses, and antique cars will be featured in the parade. Thursday September 15 6:00pm- 8:00pm

• Gaslight Entertainment Garden Bands include: Edgewood on Friday September 14 from 7pm-10pm
  Muji Fuji on Saturday September 15 from 2pm-5pm
  Jefferson Tarc Bus on Saturday September 15 from 6pm to 10pm
  Larry Underwood and the Hound Dog Lucy on Sunday September 16 from 2pm-    5pm

• Gaslight Arts and Crafts Extravaganza: over 140 artists from all over the country have traveled to show their art.   
  Friday September 14 from 7pm-10pm
  Saturday September 15 from 9am-10pm 
  Sunday September 16 from noon-6pm

Jeffersontown’s Gaslight Festival has become a time honored tradition for the community. Even if you are not a member of the Jtown neighborhood, there will be plenty of great entertainment, food, and art for everyone’s tastes that should get you off your couch this weekend and outside enjoying the beautiful weather. For more information on the Gaslight Festival check out the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce’s website at http://www.jtownchamber.com/gaslightfestival.aspx.

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