April 11, 2025. Louisville, KY. For Thunder fans looking for something to do this weekend, here are some events taking place to share Thunder Over Louisville and Derby Festival spirit.
Flood Cleanup:
Waterfront Park is hosting a community cleanup effort to remove debris and trash left behind from the historic flooding. Volunteers are needed to help restore the TurfMutt Great Lawn – South, located at 231 Witherspoon Street (near Witherspoon and Floyd Streets). The flood cleanup is Saturday between 9 AM and 12 PM. Parking will be free in the surface lot directly across from the TurfMutt Great Lawn.
Pegasus Pin Pop-Up Shops:
Kentucky Derby Festival Staff and Volunteers will be set up around the community throughout Thunder Day selling Pegasus Pins at various locations. The plastic pins are one of the primary sources of funding for the Festival and a way individuals can support the community celebration. Pegasus Pins are $7 in advance and $10 at the entrance to events.
Pop Up Shop Locations:
10 AM – 6 PM Kentucky Exposition Center
10 AM – 2 PM Kentucky International Convention Center
10 AM – 2 PM The Louisville Zoo
Volleyball Tournament:
KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC TOURNAMENT. Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13. One of the country’s largest and oldest outdoor volleyball tournaments featuring sand and grass volleyball for all levels of play. For more information, call The Volleyball Connection (502) 582-3530 or visit BaxterJacks.com. Contributing Sponsors: ASICS and Mikasa.
Sand Divisions at Baxter Jacks
April 12 and 13: 9 AM – 6 PM
Bats Baseball:
LOUISVILLE BATS GAME. 1 PM Gates Open. 2:05 PM First Pitch. Louisville Slugger Field. Doubleheader. New “Derby City”/Kentucky Derby Festival-themed jerseys will be worn. Both games will be seven-inning contests. The start of the second game will occur about 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first. For tickets: milb.com/louisville.
Thunder Sounds in the Conservatory:
3 PM – 11 PM. The Galt House Hotel will have a day of live music, food and drinks in The Conservatory (3rd Floor) during the traditional Thunder timeframe. Kentucky Derby Festival will also have a Pop-Up Shop on site with Official Festival & Thunder Merchandise from 4 PM – 8 PM. Entertainment provided by Mike Mullins (3-7 PM) and DJ Nighthawk (7-11 PM). The event is open to outside guests. (All hotel parking garages are operational and have hourly parking rates.)
Racing Soccer:
RACING LOUISVILLE SOCCER GAME. 3:30 PM Gates open for a $2 happy hour. 5 PM Game. Lynn Family Stadium. Racing Louisville hosts star forward Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit. Commemorative Racing Louisville and Thunder Over Louisville themed merch will be available to purchase. For tickets and to shop: RacingLouFC.com
About Kentucky Derby Festival
2025 marks the 70th year for the Kentucky Derby Festival, a month-long celebration packed with 70+ events leading up to the first Saturday in May. As an independent community organization, it’s supported by 4,000 volunteers, more than 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people every spring and has a local economic impact of more than $127 million. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
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