24-HOUR PROMOTION OFFERS LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON September 4, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Ready, set, save! Registration for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s 2027 Race Weekend opens at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Runners can secure their spot for a full weekend of racing this spring and take advantage of an exclusive 24-hour promotion […]

August 6, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Lifelong Louisvillian and longtime Kentucky Derby Festival volunteer Debra Wise Rayman will Chair the 2027 Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation. As the charitable arm of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Foundation supports initiatives that foster inclusive opportunities for the community by championing charitable causes, empowering education, and preserving the Festival’s legacy. Rayman, who has served on the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Board for more than five years, was elected at the […]

APPLICATIONS FOR 2027 ROYAL COURT OPEN MONDAY July 29, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The road to Kentucky Derby Festival royalty begins next week! Young women from Kentucky and Southern Indiana who are full-time college students (in at least their second year) are invited to apply to be part of the 2027 Royal Court. Applications open […]

July 16, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival is looking for runners and walkers to help lead the way to race day! Applications are now open for the 2027 Race Ambassador Team. Ambassadors will represent the Kentucky Derby Festival’s 2027 Race Weekend, featuring the Festival 5K Presented by First Urology on Friday, April […]

July 2, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Thunder Over Louisville is going global this Fourth of July! The Kentucky Derby Festival, in partnership with the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet and WLKY, will share a special presentation of this year’s Thunder air show and fireworks with the American Forces Network. The broadcast, airing on Independence […]

June 10, 2026. Louisville, KY. – President of Omega Consulting, LLC, Bill Fisher, Jr., will Chair the 2027 Kentucky Derby Festival. Fisher, who has served on the Festival’s Board for 18 years, was elected by the Board of Directors at their annual meeting this afternoon. Fisher is a seasoned global operations executive with more than […]

EXCLUSIVE DEALS FOR ONE DAY ONLY June 10, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Festival fans have a chance to score special deals on one-of-a-kind Kentucky Derby Festival merchandise! The Kentucky Derby Festival is holding its Annual Sale, a one-stop-shop for finding a variety of unique and festive Derby Festival merch and memorabilia this Friday. The ONE […]

FREE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN FOR ALL AGES June 4, 2026. Louisville, KY.- The 2nd annual Zoeller Pump Company ParadeFest returns this weekend. Families are invited to kick off their summer with more Kentucky Derby Festival fun. The free event is this Saturday, June 6, from Noon to 4 p.m. at Zoeller Pump Company. “We’re carrying the […]

24-HOUR PROMOTION SET FOR JUNE 3 May 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival is lacing up to celebrate Global Running Day on Wednesday, June 3. Runners will receive special pricing on registration for the 2027 Race Weekend, including the Humana miniMarathon and Marathon, the Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology […]

REGISTER YOUR GOLD WINNER PEGASUS PINS BY WEDNESDAY Gold Pin Grand Prize is $20,000 Cash May 4, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Found a Gold Pegasus Pin? Make sure it’s registered! Festival fans who discovered a Gold Winner Pin in their 2026 Pegasus Pin Sponsorship envelope need to register it online at PegasusPins.com by 5 p.m. […]

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL THURSDAY & FRIDAY April 29, 2026. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for THURSDAY’S AND FRIDAY’S Derby Festival activities. THURSDAY, APRIL 30 Derby Festival Day at the Races: KENTUCKIANA HONDA DEALERS KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL DAY AT THE DOWNS. 11:30 AM, Churchill Downs, Fourth Floor, Skye Terrace. Celebrate Thurby at […]

THE FESTIVAL HEADS TO THE TRACK FOR THURSDAY’S ‘DAY AT THE DOWNS’ April 29, 2026. LOUISVILLE, KY – The Kentucky Derby Festival is taking the party trackside to the iconic Twin Spires. Join the celebration on Thursday, April 30, for the Kentuckiana Honda Dealers Festival Day at the Downs, hosted in the exclusive 4th floor […]

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 Belle of Louisville and the Belle of […]

$1 MILLION PRIZE STILL UP FOR GRABS April 28, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The $1 million prize is still up for grabs in the Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest. No one has aced Hole #8 at Seneca Golf Course, though a Louisville man came closest on Tuesday night. […]

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL TODAY April 28, 2026. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for TUESDAY’S Derby Festival activities. Bettin’ on a Fun Night: KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL TEXAS HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT. 4:30 PM Boarding/check-in. 6 PM Tournament begins, plus one-hour Cruise (subject to river and weather conditions). Belle of Cincinnati, docked at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville […]

April 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Bed racing fans filled the stands at Broadbent Arena tonight for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Bed Races Presented by Snap-on. 46 teams participated in the 37th annual event, pushing their decorated beds around a figure-eight course and competing for the fastest times and most outrageous costumes and decorations. […]

April 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Fifty-six golfers will give it their best shot and take a swing at $1 million in tomorrow’s Finals for the Stock Yards Bank $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest. The Finals begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at Seneca Golf Course, Hole #8. Each Finalist gets one […]

EVENT FEATURES KENTUCKY AND INDIANA WINERIES April 27, 2026. LOUISVILLE, KY – Toast the magic of Derby Week at the Commonwealth Credit Union WineFest! Enjoy a spring evening of sipping, savoring and strolling on Tuesday, April 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mellwood Art Center in the Van Gogh and DaVinci Rooms. Commonwealth […]

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL TODAY April 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for MONDAY’S Derby Festival activities. Beds On Wheels: KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL GREAT BED RACES PRESENTED BY SNAP-ON. 6 PM Parade of Beds. 7 PM Racing. Broadbent Arena. Beds aren’t for sleeping during Derby Week, they’re for racing! Beds on […]

BED RACING HEADED TO BROADBENT ARENA TODAY April 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Beds aren’t for sleeping during Derby Week, they’re for racing! On Monday, April 27, mattresses on wheels hit the pavement for the Great Bed Races Presented by Snap-on. 46 teams are geared up to navigate the high-stakes figure-eight course inside Broadbent Arena […]