Us The Ultimate Louisville Survival Guide And 7 Unforgettable Habits And Quirks Outsiders Shake While Locals Own Them

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Louisville, Ky., is simply a charming, quirky metropolis pinch a rich | contented each its own. But if you’re not a local, locals tin show beautiful soon that you are not. Whether you’re a tourer passing done aliases a caller transplant recently arrived and trying to find your groove, location are things astir you that retired you. Whether it beryllium your mispronunciation of nan city’s sanction aliases your customary portion order, locals person a knack for a knowing a alien erstwhile they spot 1 who hasn’t afloat acclimated to nan civilization and hit of this lively city. If you’ve ever wondered really they tin show you’re not a existent Louisvillian, present are 7 tell-tale signs successful which you’re still a newbie.

Louisville, Kentucky, is simply a metropolis pinch its ain unsocial vibe, and whether you’ve conscionable moved present aliases are visiting for nan first time, location are a fewer unmistakable signs that springiness distant whether you’re a existent Louisvillian aliases conscionable passing through. From nan measurement group pronounce nan city’s sanction to nan section customs you mightiness not know, natives tin spot outsiders pinch ease. Here are 7 telltale signs that you’re not rather from Louisville yet.

1. You Don’t Know nan Secret Names of Kroger Stores

Kroger is simply a beloved market shop concatenation successful Louisville, but what sets it isolated is nan unofficial nicknames locals person fixed to astir each of them. For example, nan Kroger connected Brownsboro Road is known arsenic “The Dirty Kroger,” a nickname that stems from its estimation among nan community. Another classical is nan Kroger adjacent nan University of Louisville campus, which is simply known arsenic “U of L Kroger.” If you’re still calling them by their firm names and person nary thought what these nicknames are, it’s clear you’re still not afloat successful nan loop. I

2. You Struggle pinch nan City’s Name

One of nan first things that’ll extremity locals disconnected to nan truth that you’re not from Louisville is really you pronounce nan city’s name. If you’re saying “Louis-ville” aliases “Lou-uh-ville,” you’re astir apt a tourist. Locals pronounce it “Loo-uh-vul” (or “Loo-a-ville” aliases “Looey-ville,” depending connected nan neighborhood). While there’s nary 1 correct version, if you get nan pronunciation wrong, expect to get immoderate playful corrections. It’s each successful bully fun, though; locals emotion it erstwhile newcomers study to opportunity it conscionable right. The section tourism agency moreover put up a neon motion downtown to thief visitors navigate nan pronunciation debate.

3. You’re Ordering Mint Juleps astatine nan Bar

Mint juleps, nan signature portion of nan Kentucky Derby, are often associated pinch Louisville, but if you’re ordering 1 astatine a section bar, you’ll guidelines retired for illustration a sore thumb. Despite nan drink’s iconic status, astir locals steer clear of nan mint julep, reserving it mostly for Derby Day tourists. If you’re still asking for 1 astatine a barroom that locals frequent, you’re apt a newcomer. In reality, Louisvillians thin to opt for bourbon consecutive aliases successful a much classical cocktail for illustration an Old Fashioned aliases a Bourbon Sour.

4. You Don’t Get nan ‘Where Did You Go to School?’ Question

In Louisville, erstwhile personification asks you, “Where did you spell to school?” they’re not referring to your assemblage aliases university. They’re asking astir your precocious school, and much specifically, which section precocious schoolhouse you attended. Louisville has a long-standing contented of rivalries betwixt schools for illustration Manual, Trinity, and St. Xavier, and your reply will apt spark a speech astir these section rivalries. If you mention a university, for illustration nan University of Kentucky aliases Indiana University, arsenic your “school,” you’ll instantly springiness yourself distant arsenic personification who’s not from here. It’s 1 of nan easiest ways for a existent Louisvillian to spot a newcomer.

5. You Haven’t Heard of ‘Six Flags Over Jesus’

Louisville is location to Southeast Christian Church, 1 of nan largest churches successful nan country, and if you’ve ne'er heard nan nickname “Six Flags Over Jesus,” you’ll decidedly guidelines out. The nickname is simply a playful motion to nan sprawling field of nan religion located connected Blankenbaker Parkway. Locals emotion to joke astir really nan monolithic religion feels for illustration an amusement parkland pinch its galore services and events. If you’re caller to nan area, you mightiness not yet beryllium acquainted pinch nan name, but inquire immoderate local, and they’ll stock nan wrong joke. It’s conscionable different quirky portion of Louisville civilization that newcomers quickly study to appreciate.

6. You Think nan Derby is Just One Day

The Kentucky Derby is Louisville’s signature event, but for locals, it’s much than conscionable a one-day race. The Derby is simply a season-long celebration, starting weeks earlier nan title pinch events for illustration Thunder Over Louisville, nan Pegasus Parade, and Oaks Day. If you’re only focusing connected nan large title itself, you’ve missed nan existent principle of nan Derby experience. Locals are immersed successful Derby festivities agelong earlier nan horses deed nan track, and nan build-up to nan arena is conscionable arsenic breathtaking arsenic nan title time itself. Understanding this deep-rooted contented is cardinal to fitting successful arsenic a Louisvillian.

7. You Don’t Get nan City’s Geography and Landmarks

Louisville’s surface science is tricky to navigate, particularly if you’re caller to nan city. Locals springiness directions based connected landmarks that person been gone for years, for illustration nan aged Woolworth’s aliases nan erstwhile Humana Building. If you’re still trying to navigate nan metropolis based connected these aged references, you’re not yet a Louisville expert. In addition, existent locals person an uncanny expertise to find their measurement astir utilizing vicinity names that whitethorn person changed complete time. To blend in, you’ll request to quickly prime up connected these subtle geographical quirks and go acquainted pinch nan city’s ever-evolving layout.

Louisville is simply a metropolis afloat of character, quirks, and deep-rooted traditions that only locals genuinely understand. As a newcomer, it’s earthy to make a fewer missteps, but don’t interest — locals are friends and happy to stock nan city’s secrets. From learning really to pronounce nan city’s sanction to embracing nan Derby play and section customs, becoming a existent Louisvillian takes time. If you drawback yourself making immoderate of these rookie mistakes, conscionable cognize that you’re connected nan correct way — pinch a small clip and practice, you’ll beryllium speaking and acting for illustration a existent section successful nary time.