Interested In Volunteering?
Bring Community and Tradition Together
Join the Kentucky Derby Festival and volunteer to create a citywide celebration!
The Derby Festival couldn’t produce our events without the help of our dedicated volunteers. The Festival itself would not be the grand civic celebration it has become without the commitment of community members like you!
And there’s no amount of time that’s too small to give. We have opportunities to help for one hour to an entire week. It’s the perfect chance to join the fun and add experience to your resume.
As a volunteer, you will receive the following benefits:
- Behind-the-scenes look at the Derby Festival’s biggest events
- Complimentary swag
- Tickets to other city events
- Discounts from various organizations
Here are just a few of the events that need volunteers:
- Thunder Over Louisville
- Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade
- GE Appliances mini & Marathon
- Samtec Great Bed Races
- WineFest
- And much more!
To all our volunteers – THANK YOU!
Already a Volunteer? CLICK HERE to log-in to your volunteer page!
Each year we recognize one of our volunteers as the “Volunteer of the Year,” for their years of service and the time they’ve dedicated to helping the Festival.
1983 – Bob Greenwell
1984 – Paul Ogden
1985 – Bill Lewis
1986 – Polly Ellsworth
1987 – Penny McTighe
1988 – Dwight Riggle
1989 – Judi Turner Cooper
1990 – Jim Bailey
1991 – Jim Trousdale
1992 – Betsy Kronish
1993 – Beverly Busch
1994 – Suzann Thompson
1995 – Joan Knight
1996 – Karen Mercke Moore
1997 – Barbara Archer
1998 – Wes Rutledge
1999 – Venita Brown
2000 – Danny Kanipe
2001 – Mary Alice Greenameyer
2002 – Kathy Bingham
2003 – Mike Ziemianski
2004 – Laura Jones
2005 – Anne Montgomery & Richard Spencer
2006 – Ward Robinson
2007 – Tom Steltenkamp
2008 – Mike Noland
2009 – Ty Cobb
2010 – June Blair & Jim Kalfus
2011 – Alex Freeman
2012 – Paul Carroll
2013 – Sandy Griffiths
2014 – George Troutman
2015 – Sheri Howard
2016 – Kay Russell
2017 – Bob Holt
2018 – Michael Montgomery
2019 – Joe & Kim Hamilton
2022 – Dan Wasserzug
2023 – Erik Helton
2024 – Laneisha Beasley