St. Joe's Picnic

This was the 175th year of the St Joe Picnic in 2024 and it was held the 2nd weekend of August on both Friday 4 PM to 11 PM and Saturday 11 AM to midnight. We attended on Saturday from 5 to 8 PM. Parking was also available in the area at the seminary with a bus shuttle to and from the drop off at the front gates of the event. Wish there had been more shuttles available during peak hours because the wait was extremely long. We arrived at the drop off point at the front gates and then waited until an extremely long train (total of 6 engines) passed before we could enter. Trains pass by periodically, which is to be expected. We had pre-purchased $100 worth of tickets online for the 20% discount, and it was a bit of a challenge to find the Will Call booth for pickup. We were also surprised to be told that the tickets were only to be used for food, which is contrary to some of the wording on the website. We ultimately did patronize several game and activity booths which did in fact accept the tickets, so all was not in vain. We were aware that the special $1.75 chicken dinners offered this year in honor of the 175th would go fast. News reports indicated 4,000 dinners would be offered for an expected crowd of 50,000 patrons over the 2-day event. By the time we made it to the chicken dinner ticket booth, they sold out by 5:30. A bit disappointed, but we had been prepared it might happen. I felt bad for those who were not well aware beforehand. We ended up getting $7 beers and $3 hot dogs, playing a few games, purchasing a few raffle tickets, and then selling some of our tickets to other patrons and giving some away as we headed out early to go down the street to eat dinner at a sit down neighborhood restaurant. Our party of 6 all agreed the event felt a bit disorganized, difficult to navigate booths and the property, signage was sparse, and golf carts were annoyingly prevalent throughout the pedestrian pathways. Since this is a charity event, I was happy to participate and lend support. The volunteers are all to be commended. The property itself is also lovely beneath the mature trees and the weather was pleasant.

100%, hands down, the best picnic ever. This year, they had chicken dinners for $1.75 to celebrate their 175th year. They had more food trucks, more drinks, more music. I had more wins, bingo, cake, and showdown poker. Go next year, you will not regret it!!

If you live in Louisville, particularly if you live near Frankfort Ave, you will be familiar with the annual St Joe's picnic that benefits the children's home. I remember a childhood friend talking about going to the picnic and winning two cakes. I was intrigued -- I had never won cakes at a picnic! Later I would know about the picnic to avoid that stretch of Frankfort during picnic weekend. This year I finally got my schedule and my friends coordinated enough to get a group out to see what all the fuss was about. Admission is free, and we headed over on Friday night to catch up and try to win some sweets. Bring cash for tickets ($1 = 1 ticket), although there are plenty of ATMs if you forget. 5 tickets buys you a beverage (only beer, no wine or spirits), and games cost 10-25 cents to play. Games are simple enough for a kid to play -- place a coin on a number that you want to win, wait for a wheel to spin, and see if you won something -- but fun enough for an adult to enjoy winning. I struck out every time I played, but a friend of mine won 4 straight games. I think her next stop was to pick up a Powerball ticket on her way home. It's a good time guaranteed, and goes to a great cause. Catch the St Joe's picnic next year when it's happening on the Avenue!

St. Joe's Picnic has been around for almost longer than seems possible. This year was its 166th picnic, and to put that into perspective, consider that Abraham Lincoln was 40 years old the year of the first St. Joe's Picnic -- 11 years from becoming president. Mark Twain was a teenager. St. Joe's Picnic is older than:* Old Louisville,* the Civil War,* the Kentucky Derby,* refrigeration, the telephone and light bulbs.That is damn impressive. It's a large festival to benefit the St. Joe's Children's Home, which started as an orphanage and is now a residential treatment program for abused and neglected children, a therapeutic foster care and adoption program and a child development center. The Picnic is definitely for a good cause.And the free festival includes tent after tent of cheap (i.e. 10¢ and 25¢) gambling games, bingo, beer and my favorite, the cake booth! You put a dime down on a number; the number gets called; you win a cake! It's brilliant! That's some gambling I can get in to. But I always find it entertaining that there is some decadence and depravity under the surface of St. Joe's Picnic. It's a family event, but as the night gets later, the beer definitely starts to kick in. You can spot the folks talking just a bit too loud or making out behind the booths. We had time to make this observation this year as we were spending 30 minutes or so in a food line -- only to order and then be sent to another line to wait for our food. Friends who opted for other treats found similar experiences at other booths. (Tip for next year: Eat before you go!) The beer lines were crazy fast and short, though, for better or worse. It was nice that friends who were not in line would run and grab us beer while we waited. Some other things to note if you haven't been yet. All the food and drink is sold via tickets at $1 per ticket. So if you are off in your estimations, you might overspend and go home with a pocketful of unused tickets. On the other hand, St. Joe's Picnic is on the affordable side for a festival. And parking might be a hassle. But to make the most of it, park a bit farther down on Frankfort Avenue, and use that time to duck into some shops along the way. So to summarize: Long history. Good cause. Cake! Beer! Tickets. Parking. Every Louisvillian should go to St. Joe's Picnic at least once. There are other festivals that I look forward to more, but it's such a fun part of Louisville's history that you can't miss it.

Louisville and catholic church picnics go hand in hand. St Joe's is a home for children, and has been a fixture in this town for a long time. It's definitely the largest picnic I have ever been to and boasts loads of gambling options for the adult visitor. They also have a number of food and drink choices as well as a chicken dinner that they serve inside a smaller building on campus. There is live music and lots of fun to be had at this summer staple.Parking on the other hand is a bit cumbersome. Uber/Lyft here or show up early to score a nice spot.

The picnic itself was ok. Tickets are $1 a piece, rides cost 3-6 per rider. My big complaint is the parking situation. We parked at seminary (after having to drive around because it wasn't maked anywhere but at the lot itself) and planned to take the advertised shuttle. We waited a while with another family then ended up walking to the picnic. It was almost a mile there. On return, no one at the picnic could tell us where to find the shuttle...another mile back...with a 5 year old...It was worth going because it's going to a good cause, but there needs to be better training/communication.

Hadn't been to this event in 30 years and it is still as vibrant as back then. Good charity event for a great cause everyone in the area should attend sometime and support these kids.

This is my favorite picnic of the summer. It also is a reminder summer is almost over. I've been going to this picnic since I was a kid. The atmosphere is energizing and friendly and for all age groups. Lots of fun ways to win prizes or play poker. The food is always good and great proportions. Now as an adult I get to take my daughter to this event and it's just as exciting to watch her have fun as I did at her age.

Big chicken dinner..10 bucks..can't beat it. Weather isn't too bad this evening either, so a great night for chicken, beer, booths and a band. They're open til midnight. For those who do not know about St JOE'S, they are an incredible organization. They started as an orphanage back in the day, but have eventually transitioned into a multifaceted program, including residential living for abused and neglected children, adoption, family therapy, etc., to name a few. I work in this city as a therapist . I've worked with many kids from St J's. The work they do is much needed for the community and these kids. Over the last several years, funding from government agencies have plummeted. Often organizations like this are forced to work on shoe string budgets. They depend on the private sector to help out. If ur looking for something to do tonight, come out and support them, or go online and visit there website and donate to a cause that is in much need of ongoing funding and support.

St Joes picnic...you cant live in the Ville without hearing all about it. Lots of cheap games for kids, food, venders, loads of alcohol, and the infamous cake booth wrapped into an overfilled and often body-odor filled festival.Parking can be difficult and the games require you to purchase tickets instead of paying cash. From about 5-6pm on, this place becomes one big drunkfest. Really, it gets bad fast. Take the kiddies home. According to a volunteer, they typically end up with at least one big brawl as well. Were talking falling-over drunk.I expected a family-friendly event and was very surpised at how much is tolerated here. Strong making out and vulgarity, tipsy people, and crude behavior...is it a shady bar or a fundraiser for children? I grew tired of the lewd comments from drunk men real quick. Three stars because it can be fun for kids and adults to indulge in cheap carnival games early in the day. Late(ish) in the day...stay away.