"Where Art and Heritage Celebrate Community"

"The Portland Museum is an educational resource that exists to collect, preserve, exhibit, interpret and enhance the culture and heritage of Portland."

Rush the Growler 5K Walk/Run & Finish Line Festival

Portland Museum held the second annual Rush the Growler 5K Run/Walk and Finish Line Festival based on local heritage on Saturday, September 29th.

“Rush the Growler” is American slang for a bucket of beer, which in the late 19th century was a safer, more sterile beverage than water or milk, making beer the beverage of choice for many. Fathers, uncles, and grandfathers often sent children with an empty growler to the corner tavern to fetch cold, fresh beer. If the children spilled or splashed any beer, the old man was said to growl. Teenagers with an entrepreneurial spirit would show up at work sites to pick up workers’ growlers. They would string the pails on long poles to carry quantities of pails to refill on a single trip. This task became known as “rushing the growler.”

Rushing the growler, once a common activity in Portland, is a fitting name for this 5K race! Louisville’s own Bluegrass Brewing Company (BBC) enthusiastically agreed to be an event sponsor, along with Strothman & Company, ZirMed Inc. and Louisville Magazine. All the proceeds from the race and the Finish Line Festival will benefit the Portland Museum and will be used for operations and programs. Beginning at Portland Family Health Center the Rush the Growler 5K Run/Walk course led participants through the historic Portland neighborhood, along the Riverwalk, past the K&I Railroad Bridge to the old Portland street grid and scenic vistas of Portland Wharf Park.

Volunteers from Church of Our Lady on Rudd Street handed out water to runners and walkers as they raced into Portland Wharf Park.

Portland Museum Board members sold tickets at the Finish Line Festival.

Runners and walkers relax and enjoy BBC beer at the Finish Line Festival.

Blue Murphy and the Doghouse Serenaders entertain the guests with old-fashioned bluegrass music.

Neighborhood kids have a blast jumping around in an inflatable castle.

Thanks again to Portland Museum Board of Trustees and all of our volunteers for a fabulous day. Join in the fun next year! Rush the Growler is an annual Portland Museum event. Look for it in late September 2008.

2308 Portland Avenue | Louisville, Kentucky 40212 | (502) 776-7678