REGISTRATION OPENS NOV. 10 FOR FREE 15-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM November 6, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Runners can take the first step toward the Finish Line for Derby Festival’s Race Weekend! Registration opens next week for the Norton Sports Health FREE Training Program. The 15-week program is designed to help runners of all experience and fitness […]

October 29, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Louisville’s favorite springtime traditions are just a ticket away! Tickets for all 2027 Kentucky Derby Festival events go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. From fireworks and bourbon and wine tastings to a steamboat race, parade and fashion show, there’s an event for everyone. Tickets can […]

2027 GOLDEN TICKET RAFFLE OPENS THURSDAY October 19, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Go for gold and the chance to win one-of-a-kind Derby Festival experiences! The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Golden Ticket Raffle is back for 2027, with three chances to win prize packages featuring some of the biggest events of Derby Festival season. Golden Tickets […]

APPLICATIONS OPEN OCT. 16 FOR PARTICIPANTS October 14, 2026. Louisville, KY. – You could be part of a tradition that kicks off Derby Week in Louisville! Applications for the 2027 Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade open this Friday, Oct. 16. This year’s parade theme is “Springtime in the Bluegrass.” The parade features nearly 100 units […]

October 7, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival was recognized globally for excellence in the festivals and events industry this week during the International Festivals & Events Association’s (IFEA) Annual Convention & Expo in Tucson, Ariz. The Festival earned a total of 27 awards across multiple categories of marketing and communications, including video, […]

APPLICATIONS FOR 2027 ROYAL COURT CLOSE OCT. 11 October 7, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The road to royalty is coming to a close! The deadline to apply for the 2027 Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court is this week. Applications must be submitted by this Sunday, Oct. 11. Young women from Kentucky and Southern Indiana who […]

FOUR ROUTES OFFER A RIDE FOR EVERY CYCLIST October 5, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Get ready to pedal into spring! Registration for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual cycling experience opens at 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 6. The PNC Tour de Lou, a tradition that has brought the cycling community together for more than a decade, […]

ANNUAL DAY OF GIVING SET FOR SEPT. 10 September 9, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Get ready to Give for Good! The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the charitable arm of the Kentucky Derby Festival, is once again participating in Give for Good Louisville, the region’s most generous day of giving. The Foundation will join hundreds of […]

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 […]