WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL ON WEDNESDAY
April 28, 2026. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for WEDNESDAY’S Derby Festival activities.
Rolling on the River:
SHEPHERD INSURANCE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE. 4:30 – 5:30 PM boarding. 5:45 PM departure. Race begins at 6 PM. The Mary M. Miller and the Belle of Cincinnati will compete for bragging rights on the Ohio River. Belle of Louisville will host a Dockside Celebration. Awards presentation immediately following on the Belle of Louisville. Tickets on the Belle of Louisville $200. For Belle of Louisville tickets, call (502) 584-FEST or visit KDF.org. For Belle of Cincinnati tickets, call 800-261-8586 or visit BBRiverboats.com. Free spectator viewing at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and along the banks of the Ohio River. Sponsor: Shepherd Insurance. Official Patient Care Provider: PPL Therapeutic Services, PLLC. Official Bourbon: Brough Brothers Distillery. Official Tequila: Casamigos Tequila. Supporting Sponsors: Belle of Louisville and Belle of Cincinnati. Media Sponsor: Q103.1.
Waterfront A-Glow:
WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL LOUISVILLE. 6-10 PM. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, Ringling Circus Party Lawn (Great Lawn). New for 2026! Experience thousands of lanterns glowing along the Ohio River as guests personalize and release them at sunset, creating a stunning display of light and reflection. For more info and tickets: (833) 477-6786 or https://www.waterlanternfestival.com/events/louisville. (FOOD, DRINK AND PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED.)
Derby Week Gala:
KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE DERBY GALA PRESENTED BY HUMANA. Doors open at 6 PM. Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center. The annual Derby Gala features legendary hip-hop artist Common, plus funk-soul group Tank and Bangas. Cocktail reception, dinner, open bar, live concert, dancing, bourbon pull and more. Produced by the Louisville Urban League, with proceeds benefitting the Louisville Urban League. For tickets and more info, lul.org, or (502) 585-4622.
Live Entertainment:
THE AESTHETIC AT KROGER’S FEST-A-VILLE. 8 PM. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, Miller Lite Music Stage. Admission is free with a 2026 Pegasus Pin®. Sponsor: Kroger. Stage Sponsor: Miller Lite. (FOOD, DRINK AND PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED.)
The celebration continues at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon:
Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the WaterfrontSM. Open Daily 11 AM – 10 PM. (Entrance closes at 9 PM.) Waterfront Park. ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE featuring concerts, family fun, food, kids’ inflatable playground, midway rides and more at the Ringling Circus Party Lawn (Great Lawn). All attendees under 18 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 years of age or older. Admission is free with a 2026 Pegasus Pin®. (FOOD, DRINK AND PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED). Sponsor: Kroger. Ringling Circus Party Lawn: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®. Music Stage Sponsor: Miller Lite. Pegasus Play-Ville Sponsor: Norton Children’s. Official Safe Ride Home Partner: Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL CHOW WAGON® Open Daily 11 AM – 10 PM. (Entrance closes at 9 PM.) Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront. Outdoor food & live music venue. Happy Hour Weekdays 4 – 6 PM $4 beer at the Beer Garden. All attendees under 18 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 years of age or older. Admission is free with a 2026 Pegasus Pin®. (FOOD, DRINK AND PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED). Sponsor: Kroger. Music Stage Sponsor: Miller Lite.
About Kentucky Derby Festival
2026 marks the 71st 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 $200 million. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
