Awards & Accolades
2016 Kentucky Derby Festival
The United States of Great Outdoors “5 Spectacular Balloon Festivals in the United States”
Leo Readers’ Choice Awards 2016 “Best Parade” and Runner-Up “Best Festival”
Daily Burn “15 Best Spring Marathons in the U.S.”
Landmarks of Excellence Honorable Mention “Writing News Releases” and “Electronic Newsletter”
International Festival & Events Association Pinnacle Awards
GOLD Awards:
- BEST FULL LENGTH TV PROGRAM (NATIONAL). Thunder Over Louisville Broadcast for American Forces Network. Produced by WDRB TV.
- BEST EVENT INVITATION. Basketball Classic Invitation. Designed by Vimarc.
- Best Misc. Clothing. Tour de Lou Cycling Jersey. Designed by Vimarc. Produced and distributed by KDF.
- Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor. Jim Beam/Race Expo Official Bourbon Sponsorship. KDF Marketing Team.
- Best Food & Beverage Program. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon. Concessions by Cox.
- BEST VENDOR/SUPPLIER. The Event Company.
- Best Press/Media Kit. 2016 KDF Media Guide and Press Credential. Produced by Derby City Litho. KDF Communications Team.
- Best Media Relations Campaign. KDF Communications Team.
- Best Promotion publicizing an IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award Win. “Go for Gold!” KDF Communications Team.
SILVER Awards:
- Best Overall Festival. Silver Grand Pinnacle.
- Best Radio Promotion. Macy’s Spring Fashion Show Radio Spot. Produced by Vimarc.
- Best Festival/Event Mobile Application. 2016 KDF App. KDF Communications Team and CrowdTorch.
- BEST NEWSPAPER INSERT/SUPPLEMENT. 2016 Derby Festival Official Guide. KDF Communications Team. Designed by Vimarc. Printed by The Courier-Journal.
- Best SINGLE NEWSPAPER DISPLAY AD. Thornton’s Great Bed Races. Designed by Vimarc.
- Best Ad series. “Your Search is Over.” Designed by Vimarc.
- Best Commemorative Poster. 2016 Official KDF Poster. Designed by Poster Artist Kathy Sullivan. Printed by Impressions Incorporated. Distributed by Synergism Apparel, Inc.
- Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal. CareSource, Official Sound Sponsor of Thunder. KDF Marketing Team.
- best sponsor partner. Horseshoe Southern Indiana. KDF Marketing Team.
- Best Single New Sponsorship Opportunity. RiverLink. KDF Marketing Team.
- Best children’s programming. Ford Motor Company Spelling Bee. KDF Event Team.
- Best Event/Program within an event to Benefit a Cause. KenDucky Derby. Produced by Harbor House of Louisville.
- Best New Event. WineFest VIP. KDF Event Team.
- Best New Promotion Activity. Vintage miniMarathon Shirt Promotion. Produced by Synergism Apparel, Inc.
- most creative/effective news stunt. Louisville Orchestra Records Thunder Soundtrack. Louisville Orchestra & KDF Communications Team.
BRONZE Awards:
- Best Event/Organization E-newsletter. “Festival Times.” KDF Communications Team and Vimarc.
- BEST MISC. MULTIMEDIA. KDF “Clueless” Video. Produced by Austin Wilder Digital Productions, Inc.
- Best Company Image Piece. KDF License Plate. Designed by Vimarc.
- Best Single magazine display ad. miniFun Run Ad. Designed by Vimarc.
- Best New Merchandise. Thunder “Power Bank.” KDF Merchandise Team
- Best Sponsor Gift. Pro-Am Golf Tournament Sponsor Gift Set.
- best individual sponsor follow-UP REPORT. Valero. KDF Marketing Team.
- Best Overall Sponsorship Program. Republic Bank Pegasus Parade Sponsorship. KDF Marketing Team
- Best Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management Plan for an Event. Pegasus Parade Emergency Action Plan. KDF Event Team.
- Best Money-Making Idea. Golden Ticket Raffle. Produced by KDF Foundation.
- Best Overall Merchandising Program. 2016 Merchandise Mega Book. KDF Merchandise Team and Synergism.
BizBash Top 100 Events in the United States – Thunder Over Louisville
Louisville Business First: 2015 Best Places To Work
Louisville Business First: 2015 Partners In Philanthropy
International Festival & Events Association Pinnacle Awards
GOLD Awards:
Best Overall Festival. Gold Grand Pinnacle.
Best Radio Promotion. U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest Radio Spot. Produced by Vimarc.
BEST ORGANIZATION WEBSITE. www.KDF.org. KDF Communications Team and Vimarc.
BEST MISC. MULTIMEDIA. #KDFStories Video. Produced by Vimarc.
Best Ad Series. “The Stories You Tell Happen Here” ad series. Designed by Vimarc.
Best T-shirt Design. KDF Collegiate Shirt. Designed and produced by All Pro Championships.
Best Misc. Clothing. “I Run Because” Runner Shirt (Navy Blue). Designed by Vimarc. Produced by All Pro Championships.
Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor. Thorntons. KDF Marketing Team.
Best Green Program. KDF “Go Green!” Program. KDF Event Team. Sponsored by LG&E.
Best Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management Plan for an Event. KDF Emergency Action Plan. KDF Event Team.
Best Overall Merchandising Program. 2015 Merchandise Mega Book. KDF Merchandise Team and All Pro Championships.
Best Press/Media Kit. 2015 KDF Media Guide and Press Credential. Produced by Derby City Litho. KDF Communications Team.
Best Media Relations Campaign. “Message of Change.” KDF Communications Team.
SILVER Awards:
Best Event/Organization E-newsletter. “Festival Times.” KDF Communications Team and Vimarc.
Best Social Media Site. Festival Facebook Page. KDF Communications Team.
Best Event Program. BeerFest Program. Designed by Vimarc.
Best Single magazine Display Ad. Thunder Over Louisville Ad. Designed by Vimarc.
Best Commemorative Poster. 2015 Official KDF Poster. Designed by Poster Artist Karen Boone. Produced and distributed by All Pro Championships.
Best Pin Or Button. 2015 Chairman’s Pin. Designed by Vimarc.
Best New Merchandise. Louisville Slugger Muddler.
Best Sponsor Gift. Evan Williams Commemorative KDF 60th Celebration Bottle. Sponsored by Evan Williams.
Best Sponsor Follow-Up Report. HumanaVitality. KDF Marketing Team.
Best Overall Sponsorship Program. Thunder Over Louisville. KDF Marketing Team.
Best Educational Program. Health Fair. KDF Event Team.
Best Children’s Programming. miniFun Run. KDF Event Team.
Best Event (within an existing event/Festival). Thorntons Great Bed Races. KDF Event Team.
Best Food & Beverage Program. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon. Concessions by Cox.
Most Creative/Effective News Stunt. Thunder – Hanging of Flags on Crane. KDF Communications Team.
Best Promotion publicizing an IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award Win. “Passion for Pinnacles – Sponsor Tour of Love.” KDF Communications Team.
BRONZE Awards:
Best TV Program. Republic Bank Pegasus Parade TV Spot. Produced by Vimarc.
Best Full Length Television Program (National). Thunder Over Louisville for American Forces Network. Produced by WLKY TV.
Best Commemorative Poster. 2015 Limited Edition Poster. Designed by Poster Artist Karen Boone. Produced and distributed by All Pro Championships.
Best T-shirt Design. Pooper Scooper T-shirt. Designed by Vimarc.
Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal. Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. KDF Marketing Team.
Best Single New Sponsorship Opportunity. Wild Turkey. KDF Marketing Team.
Best Volunteer Program. Marathon/miniMarathon Race Ambassador Program. KDF Event Team.
Best New Promotion Activity. “I Run Because” Campaign.
Best New Attendee Service. Automated Ticketing. Concessions by Cox.
Best Money-Making Idea. Gallopalooza Horse Raffle. KDF Merchandise Team.
BizBash Top 100 Events in the United States – Thunder Over Louisville
USAToday Travel 10Best: Southern Cultural Festivals
International Festival & Events Association Pinnacle Awards
GOLD Awards:
Television – Best TV Promotion
Multimedia – Best Event Website
Multimedia – Best Organization Website
Best Misc. Printed Materials
Best Company Image Pieces
Best Commemorative Poster
Best Pin or Button
Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor
Best Volunteer Program
Best Event/Program within an event to Benefit a Cause
Best Event (within an existing event/Festival)
Best New Promotion Activity
Best New Attendee Service
Best Overall Merchandising Program
Best Press/Media Kit
Most Creative/Effective News Stunt
Best Media Relations Campaign
Best Promotion publicizing an IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award Win
SILVER Awards:
Grand Pinnacle
Radio – Best Radio Promotion
Best Festival/Event Mobile Application
Best Cover Design
Best Other Merchandise
Best Sponsor Gift
Best Overall Sponsorship Program
Best Green Program
Best Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management Plan for an Event
Best Food & Beverage Program
Best New Event
BRONZE Awards:
Multimedia – Best Event/Organization E-newsletter
Best Single Newspaper Display Ad
Best Ad Series
Best Outdoor Billboard
Best T-shirt Design
Best Misc. Clothing
Best New Merchandise
Best Targeted Sponsor Solicitation Proposal
Best Single New Sponsorship Opportunity
Best Money-Making Idea
