We love October. Cool temperatures blow in. Beautiful leaves paint the landscapes. Everyone’s favorite seasonal flavorings return. Football reigns supreme. And, music fills the air. Well, for us it does. October is the month for Garvin Gates Blues Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. A family tradition.
Rob’s brother-in-law coordinates the Garvin Gates Blues Festival, held every year on the 2nd weekend in October. Rob’s family gathers in Louisville, and we all enjoy catching up, visiting with friends, eating good food, and appreciating the blues musicians who take the stages for the 2-day event. The free outdoor festival in the historic Old Louisville neighborhood of Garvin Gate is “Louisville’s largest free, volunteer-run street music festival dedicated to blues music.” On the streets, people gather--everyone from mayor and councilmembers, to families, to Kentucky Blues Society members, to old-timers, youngsters, and even homeless street revelers. Music draws them all in.
Our brother-in-law and his co-chair work year-round to pull the festival together. Thanks to him, we have behind-the-scenes looks as we hobnob with the VIP crowd. It’s all very low-key, but we enjoy standing behind the stage talking to performers and watching the equipment resets and takedowns.
The music is pretty darn good. Many of the bands are local and regional. All the musicians share their talents with songs of grace, angst, longing, heartbreak, determination, resilience. You know--The Blues. The instruments breathe life into the songs, accentuating the emotions, as spectators sway and dance. Garvin Gates Blues Festival bares its soul and envelops people with driving beats and intense performances. Those guitarists could stand up to guitarists anywhere. Those vocalists would turn any judge’s chair. It’s some damn fine music.
Unfortunately, 2026 put a damper on the event. Damper, as in damp. Damp, as in rain. Rain, as in Hurricane Isaias. The festival had to shut down early because the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias made its way up to Kentucky. Too wet for all the spectators. Too wet for all the instruments and electronic equipment. Too bad for us.
When we come up for the festival, Rob and I often stay at the Louisville Bourbon Inn. We found this bed and breakfast gem years ago, and love to stay at the historic 1887 Victorian mansion when we can. Tripadvisor has ranked Louisville Bourbon Inn as #1 Bed & Breakfast in the U.S., and #3 Bed & Breakfast in the World. “Best of the Best.” Allen, proprietor and chef, cooks delicious breakfasts, elevated Southern comfort food, presented with flair. His Biscuits and Gravy has won The Gravy Cup, the world’s largest biscuits and gravy competition, for the last 2 years. Delicious.
Every October, our weekend in Louisville is all about connecting with people. People we regularly keep in touch with. People we see once a year. People who are struggling with personal issues. People we mourn who are no longer with us, such as Rob’s sister. People we recognize casually. People that we meet for the first time. Rain or no, we always have a good time sitting around or standing around, talking with folks, listening to music, maybe a little sip of Bourbon here or there. Our gathering feels like an important ritual that anchors us to those family members and friends. We love sharing those times, catching up year after year.
We made new friends this year. We don’t even know their names. During breakfast in the Bourbon Inn, as we dove into French Toast with Blueberry Syrup and Candied Bacon, we met a couple who were eloping. Their marriage ceremony would be in the gardens of the Bourbon Inn the next day, just the two of them. We had a great morning conversation, and later, a fun evening conversation with them. They asked us to come to the garden for their wedding at noon. Alas, the timing wouldn’t work out for us, with family commitments at hand. Later that day, Rob and I visited Just Creations, a fair-trade gift shop where Rob’s beloved sister had worked. We saw a Kenyan artist's small Wedding Sculpture carved out of soapstone. The artist's note said, “May the union last as long as the stone from which the sculpture is carved.” His note also indicated that the sculpture should be given to a couple on their wedding day. We just HAD to buy it and take it to our Inn buddies on their blessed day. When we presented them with the sculpture, they were incredibly moved. Hugs all around. The next day, we said our goodbyes to them, ships parting in the night. I will always remember our chance encounter with the eloping couple, and how good we all felt as we shared a little bit of ourselves.
I’m sure you all have family traditions or activities that you look forward to. Cherish those moments, because sometimes they don’t last. Life issues often prevent family and friends from getting together. But, absence doesn't shake the familiar bonds. Those bonds between family and friends can carry on forever. You can always draw on those memories to prop you up when you need support. Relationships are everything.
Louisville is a great destination city. Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby, Mohammed Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum, University of Louisville, bridges, mansions, eclectic neighborhoods, music, funky vibes, Bourbon Tours.....…Louisville has a lot to offer. Here's a write-up I did several years ago, Booze, BOOs, and Blues.
If you get the notion, and if you get your mojo working, ramble on over and join us in October next year for the Garvin Gate Blues Festival. It's a great time, y'all.