While most cities wind down after Pride Month, Louisville is just heating up, and not just in the kitchen.
The city, often regarded as one of the South’s most unexpectedly queer-friendly destinations, is home to a new, year-round experience that combines LGBTQ+ history with Southern cuisine: the Pride Plates tour by Louisville Food Tours.
A First-of-Its-Kind Experience
Only one other queer food tour exists in the United States, in New York City. That makes Pride Plates not just a unique Southern attraction but a national standout.
The 1.5-mile guided walking tour takes guests through the heart of Louisville’s LGBTQ+ history, making five delicious food and drink stops along the way. Think historic Pride picnics, moments of resistance, celebrations of queer joy, and some of the best bites the city has to offer.
But don’t mistake it for a novelty. The tour is rooted in research and community input.
“This tour was a labor of deep love and connection,” said Richie Goff, Director of Marketing for Louisville Food Tours and the creator behind Pride Plates. “We knew it was important to not just tell queer stories, but to ensure they were told by queer people, and done right.”
That commitment meant diving into the University of Louisville’s LGBTQ archives, partnering with local organizations like Queer Kentucky, and paying LGBTQ+ creatives for their contributions.
Pride in Every Season
Unlike many Pride events that come and go with the calendar, Pride Plates is a year-round offering. It’s part of a growing movement in Louisville to make inclusivity more than just a seasonal celebration, it’s a cultural value.
From the queer-owned shops and restaurants in NuLu and Old Louisville to major fall events like the Louisville Pride Festival (Sept. 14) and Bourbon & Belonging: Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week (Oct. 3–5), the city is building an ecosystem of LGBTQ+-affirming experiences.
And food, it turns out, is the perfect medium to bring people together.
“We believe that great food and great stories have the power to build stronger communities,” Goff said. “This tour is one way to share that spirit with both locals and visitors alike.”
The Bigger Picture
The launch of Pride Plates comes as part of a larger push from Louisville Food Tours to create ethical, inclusive tourism. The company emphasizes reinvesting in the people and places that make Louisville unique, and delicious.
With Pride Plates, the message is clear: LGBTQ+ history isn’t just something to remember in June. It’s living, breathing—and ready to be tasted.
For more information or to book the tour, visit Louisville Food Tours.
