The Dude Abides, Annually
Do you know The Dude? He of the Coen Brothers’ “The Big Lebowski”?
Once a year, usually in the summer, he is feted in Louisville with some white Russians, a bowling tournament, and of course, a special showing of the movie. There’s also music, a gathering of Achievers, and generally a lot of fun celebrating the cult classic movie.
The Louisville Lebowski Fest is nine years old and growing. It has spawned other Lebowski fests in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle – even one in the U.K.!
But the Louisville one is the original – and, we think, the best. It was inspired by conversations at a tattoo expo, where bored exhibitors began tossing out lines from the movie during a slow afternoon. From there, they naturally thought: Why not throw a huge party in Louisville related to the movie?
The fest is centered at the Executive Strike and Spare, which is near a lot of Louisville airport hotels. Along with the bowling and the movie, there are serious costume and trivia contests. Some pretty good Dudes, Walters, Nihilists, and Maudes are usually on hand to liven up things.
The Dude himself – Jeff Bridges – visited the fest in 2008. He has since gone on to visit a Los Angeles Lebowski Fest, and win an Oscar for another movie, “Crazy Heart.” He has said in interviews he loves the movie. (He is, of COURSE, referring to “The Big Lebowski.”)
Fans help promote the festival by posting photos of themselves holding signs in the “John 3:16”style. This year, they’re holding “Lebowski 7:17” signs, to reflect this year’s July 16 & 17 dates.
And yes, that rug really tied the room together.
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