LOUISVILLE, KY (May 26, 2022) — A packed slate of events including collaborations with local nonprofits, special experiences, and ways to give back highlight the itinerary for the Sixth Annual Muhammad Ali Festival. The Ali Festival will take place from June 3-9, with events every day, as well as those before and after to extend the celebration. The entire schedule is centered around Muhammad Ali’s six core principles: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality. As well as his legacy, and love for Louisville.
The week kicks off on June 3, the anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s passing. The public is invited to pay their respects at Cave Hill Cemetery during Roses and Remembrance. The Ali Center will be handing out roses for anyone to place at Muhammad’s gravesite, as they celebrate his life and legacy. Also that day, Nzinga Garvey, granddaughter of Marcus Garvey, will speak at the Ali Center as part of the Daughters of Greatness breakfast series. Rounding out the day’s activities is a free Open Gym Night at TKO Boxing Gym.
The weekend of Ali Festival will be highlighted by the Ali-Ville Trolley Tour and Family Day. The Trolley Tour is curated and led by the museum’s collections team, and will take participants around the city to tell the story of Ali in his hometown. Family Day will include Arts and craft, face painting, free films, a meet and greet with Ethan the Dog, and much more! Regular admission rates apply for the exhibits but children 12 and under are free.
More Ali Festival events include the Ali Institute Day of Service in collaboration with Change Today Change Tomorrow, Ali Community Night with the Louisville Bats, a Red Cross Blood Drive, and the Greatest Giveback in partnership with Metro United Way.
In addition to all of these events, the fun is kicked off early on Memorial Day, with the Inaugural Ali-Ville Creative Classic, where five local artists will create murals inspired by Muhammad Ali, and the public can come vote for the winner. This event is made possible by generous support from the Preston Arts Center.
To cap off the week, Racing Louisville FC will host Ali Night on June 11, where Muhammad’s legacy will be celebrated on the field, and team members will sign Ali merchandise to be auctioned off to benefit the Center.
Throughout the week, local businesses will be celebrating with their own specials. One such example is SuperChef Darnell Ferguson’s Tha Drippin Crab, that will be offering a special sandwich named the Seafood G.O.A.T on Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9.
Anyone looking for more information on the entire itinerary should head to alicenter.org/ali-fest.
A special thanks to Louisville Public Media, for being a proud media partner.
About the Muhammad Ali Center
The Muhammad Ali Center, a 501(c)3 corporation, was co-founded by Muhammad Ali and his wife Lonnie in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The international cultural center promotes the Six Core Principles of Muhammad Ali (Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality) in ways that inspire personal and global greatness and provides programming and events around the focus areas of education, racial and gender equity, and global citizenship. The Ali Center is formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications, and is one of the newest stops on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The Center’s headquarters also contains an award-winning museum experience. For more information, please visit www.alicenter.org.