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 track with a great view and all-inclusive ticket. Tickets: Reserved Seating is $375 each or $3,000 for a table of 8. Preferred Seating: $400 each; $3,200 for a table of 8. Tickets available at KDF.org, or call (502) 584-FEST. Sponsor: Kentuckiana Honda Dealers. Contributing Sponsors: Kentucky Proud and PC3. Media Sponsors: MIX 106.9 and The Voice-Tribune.
Motorcycle Night:
KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL MOTORCYCLE NIGHT. 5–11 PM. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville. Waterfront Park, Ringling Circus Party Lawn (Great Lawn). Enjoy a variety of motorcycles from all over the region. The first 100 attendees receive a free 2026 Pegasus Pin. Admission is free with a 2026 Pegasus Pin®.
Waterfront Wrestling:
KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING LIVE. 7 PM – 9 PM. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, Ringling Circus Party Lawn (Great Lawn). Live televised Ohio Valley Wrestling event. Special meet-and-greet with OVW stars at 6 PM. Admission is free with a 2026 Pegasus Pin®. For more information, call (833) 477-6786. Produced by Ohio Valley Wrestling. (FOOD, DRINK AND PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED.)
Honoring Educators:
HEROES IN EDUCATION DAY at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville is Thursday, April 30. Free admission for educators with school ID.
Live Entertainment:
SOUND MACHINE 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.)
FRIDAY, MAY 1
Honoring Military:
MILITARY DAY is Friday, May 1 at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville with free admission all day for Veterans and active military with their military ID.
Live Entertainment:
THE LEFTOVERS 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.)
THURSDAY, APRIL 30 AND FRIDAY, MAY 1
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.
KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL PEGASUS PLAY-VILLE SPONSORED BY NORTON CHILDREN’S. Open Thursday 4 PM -10 PM, Friday Noon to 10 PM. (Entrance closes at 9 PM.) Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront. Midway rides and games that are fun for the whole family. Admission is free with a 2026 Pegasus Pin®. (FOOD, DRINK AND PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED). Sponsor: Norton Children’s.
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.
