From a play about infertility to a food truck fest and Shakespeare in a parking lot: WFPL’s Stephanie Wolf has this look at some of what’s happening in Louisville arts and culture.

Hoosiers say Derby isn’t just for Kentucky by 89.3 WFPL News Louisville

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How to spot human trafficking during large events like the Kentucky Derby by 89.3 WFPL News Louisville

A mix of cream cheese and cucumbers: Benedictine has become a favorite of Derby parties, and it's truly Kentucky fare. WFPL arts and culture reporter Stephanie Wolf has the backstory on this sandwich spread.

You know about the Run for the Roses, but how about the Run for the Ropes? On Friday, the athletes with Ohio Valley Wrestling took to the ring to delight fans at the Kentucky Derby Festival for the first time since 2019. WFPL’s Ryan Van Velzer has this story about a Louisville staple attracting audiences, both old and new.

An eastern Kentucky ecologist has measured the world’s largest red hickory tree in an area marked for logging in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Logging in other parts of the forest has degraded the land contributing to landslides and the proliferation of invasive plants. Now environmental groups worry the massive red hickory will face the same fate.

Last week on Science Behind the Forecast, we learned about how the weather can affect Thunder Over Louisville. This week we're sticking with the Kentucky Derby Festival theme and learning how weather affects The Great Balloon Race.

WAVE 3 Meteorologist Tawana Andrew said the Kentucky Derby Festival has very specific criteria for the balloons to get off the ground.

“The wind, if it's greater than 12 mph, they are going to postpone the launch. They'll also postpone the launch if visibility is less than 3 miles or there is fog in the area or if rain is in the area,” Andrew said. “They'll also postpone the launch if clouds are below 1,500 feet.”

And wind isn't necessarily the most important weather factor once the balloon is in the air. Andrew said rain can make it very challenging to fly a hot air balloon. She said not only can it affect visibility but it can make the flight itself more difficult. 

“The temperature of a balloon can reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Andrew. “So there's hot air inside of this balloon, and you have rain falling on top of it. It's cooling it down and the hot air inside which basically is pushing the balloon back down towards the ground, so the balloon is losing its lift."

WFPL's Bill Burton spoke with Andrew for this week's edition of Science Behind the Forecast.

Burlesque, as an art form, includes a variety of things: music, striptease, elaborate costumes and dancing. A Louisville artist wants to ensure it also showcases a variety of body types.

Weather obviously plays an important role in Thunder Over Louisville and thankfully, Saturday's forecast is sunny and warm. But WAVE 3 Meteorologist Tawana Andrew said of the 30 full Thunder shows since 1990, rain has fallen on half of them. Andrew said rain doesn't really impact the aircraft but clouds sure can. Andrew joins WFPL's Bill Burton for the latest edition of Science Behind the Forecast.