03/28/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL KICK-OFF LUNCHEON SPEAKER PROMISES TO PACK A PUNCH

Sugar Ray Leonard is Featured Speaker at Annual Luncheon March 28, 2024. Louisville, KY. – The Derby Festival’s annual kick-off luncheon will be a knockout! Legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard will be the featured speaker at the Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual They’re Off! Luncheon Presented By BAE Systems on Friday, April 19. The renowned sports icon, […]

03/27/24 — KENTUCKY LOTTERY PICKS 2024 DERBY CITY FANATIC

LOUISVILLE NATIVE WILL BE THIS YEAR’S THUNDERNATOR March 27, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Through a PICK 3 and KENTUCKY 5 special second-chance promotion sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery, Louisville resident Leslie Lyon Sr. is this year’s Derby City Fanatic for the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival. As part of his big win, Lyon will serve as […]

03/26/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL TOURING PARADE ROUTE MOVES TO LOCAL PARKS

NEW ROUTE WILL TRAVEL THROUGH LOCAL PARKS March 26, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Local parks will be highlighted as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s 4th annual Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade on Saturday, April 6. The traveling display with nearly 20 units helps kick off the Festival’s month-long April celebration. This year’s “mini” parade […]

03/21/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL STYLE SOIREE HEADED DOWN THE RUNWAY NEXT WEEK

DILLARD’S RETURNS AS TITLE SPONSOR OF FASHION SHOW March 21, 2024. Louisville, KY. – The go-to event for spring and Derby fashion trends is headed down the runway next week at the Dillard’s Spring Fashion Show. The Derby Festival’s annual style tradition is Thursday, March 28 at Caesars Southern Indiana. This year’s show is themed […]

03/19/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL ADDS NEW EVENTS TO 2024 LINE-UP

Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Louisville, KY.- The countdown continues to this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival  and there are several new events for Festival fans of all ages to enjoy. New additions include a viewing of  painted horse statues at Churchill Downs, a hat show at the Kentucky Derby Museum, special spring soccer and football games, […]

03/12/24 – LOCAL ATTORNEY & FOODIE NAMED DERBY BURGER QUEEN

Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Stacy Hoehle of LaGrange, Ky., is taking home the title of Derby Burger Champion. The recipe for her P.L.T. Burger was selected as this year’s winner after a cook-off this morning between the top four finalists at the Kroger in Middletown. The 12th Annual “Derby Burger Challenge” is […]

03/08/24 – FINAL FOUR SET TO COMPETE IN COOK-OFF TO NAME 2024 DERBY BURGER CHAMPION

March 8, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Burger fans have spoken! Nearly 20,000 beef lovers voted online to help pick the top 4 finalists for this year’s Derby Burger Challenge sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council along with Official Seasoning, Dan-O’s Seasoning, and Kroger. This year’s top burger chefs include: Returning champ Brian Capps of Louisville […]

03/04/24 – MAIN EVENT PEGASUS PIN TUESDAYS KICK OFF MARCH 5TH

Monday, March 4, 2024. Louisville, KY.  – Fans are invited to help jump-start their Kentucky Derby Festival season at Main Event’s Pegasus Pin Party! The Derby Festival is celebrating Pegasus Pin wearin’ season with a family-friendly celebration at Main Event in Louisville (12500 Sycamore Station Place) on Tuesday, March 5, from 5 PM until 7 […]

02/29/24 – 2024 PEGASUS PINS ARRRIVE IN RETAIL OUTLETS FRIDAY

2024 PROGRAM INCLUDES RECORD 15 GRAND PRIZES Thursday, February 29, 2024. Louisville, KY. – A sure sign of spring in Louisville is the arrival of thousands of colorful and collectible pieces of plastic – the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Pins. 2024 marks the 52nd edition of the iconic plastic pins, which will be available at […]

02/28/2024 – DERBY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE

FIVE PRESENTING SPONSORS RETURN TO SUPPORT EVENT February 28, 2024. Louisville, KY. – In 51 days, one of the country’s top fireworks displays and air shows – Thunder Over Louisville – will light up the Louisville skyline. The daylong event is set for Saturday, April 20th on the Waterfront. Festival officials released details about the […]

02/27/2024 – DERBY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT TO CRANK UP THE POWER ON SATURDAY

February 27, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Let’s get ready to ROBORUMBLE! The 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation annual RoboRumble Regional Robotics Tournament rolls into Marion C. Moore High School on Saturday, March 2nd for a day of engineering excitement and challenges. The regional STEM robotics competition, hosted by the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation and coordinated […]

02/23/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL’S FIRST SHIPMENT OF PEGASUS PINS ARRIVE

EVAN WILLIAMS CREATES SPECIAL GOLD PIN BOURBON BOTTLE Friday, February 23, 2024. Louisville, KY. – The iconic symbol of the Kentucky Derby Festival and springtime in Louisville has arrived! The first shipment of the 2024 Derby Festival Pegasus Pins were delivered this morning to Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Main Street in downtown Louisville’s Whiskey […]

02/21/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL FANS CAN VOTE NOW ON THE NEXT ‘DERBY BURGER’ CHAMPION

February 21, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Calling all Derby Festival foodies! Festival Fans can help pick the 2024 ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. Dozens of original recipes were submitted for the competition sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council along with Official Seasoning, Dan-O’s Seasoning, and Kroger. The recipes have been narrowed to the top eight recipes and […]

02/21/24 – LOCAL STUDENTS TAKE ON COMMUNITY ISSUES AT 4TH ANNUAL JUSTICEFEST

February 21, 2024. Louisville, KY.– Students from Jefferson County Public Schools will be in the spotlight sharing their ideas on ways to solve community-wide issues this Saturday at the fourth annual Park Community Credit Union Presents Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation JusticeFest. The JusticeFest event showcases projects and collaborative work done by JCPS students from elementary […]

02/19/24 – PNC TOUR DE LOU FEATURES NEW START & FINISH FOR 2024

FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A MEDAL February 19, 2024. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival is adding some bling and new views to its annual cycling experience – the PNC Tour de Lou. The event’s start and finish will move to Louisville’s NuLu neighborhood. Plus, for the first time, all […]

02/09/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL RACES OVER 50 PERCENT CAPACITY

SPECIAL VALENTINE’S PROMOTION KICKS OFF TODAY February 9, 2024, Louisville, KY. – Spots are filling up fast for Kentucky’s largest day of road racing! Registration for the GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon, set for Saturday, April 27, 2024, has reached more than 50 percent capacity. The cap for both races combined is 12,000 participants. Runners […]

02/08/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL & PNC TO OFFER FREE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CYCLISTS

FIRST 250 REGISTRANTS RECEIVE FREE SHIRT February 8, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Need help getting in cycling shape? The Kentucky Derby Festival and PNC are offering FREE training for cyclists of all experience levels. The six-week PNC Tour de Lou Training Program, produced by the Louisville Bicycle Club, returns this year with training options to […]

02/02/24 – DERBY FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2024 OFFICIAL POSTER & MERCHANDISE

FANS CAN ORDER ONLINE NOW AND RECEIVE SPECIAL DISCOUNT February 2, 2024, Louisville, KY. –  Hot off the presses! A sign that spring and the Kentucky Derby Festival are just around the corner was unveiled  this morning as the Festival’s 2024 Official Poster rolled off the presses at Louisville’s Welch Printing. Spring style was also […]

01/29/24 – CHURCHILL DOWNS PARTNERS WITH DERBY FESTIVAL TO OFFER FREE SEATING AT 2024 PARADE

69th EVENT TO CELEBRATE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY January 29, 2024. Louisville, KY. – You won’t need tickets to this year’s Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade to have a prime viewing spot! Churchill Downs is sponsoring all general admission bleacher seating for this year’s event. More than 3,000 seats along the route from Jackson to 9th […]

01/25/24 – FINAL CALL TO BE DERBY FESTIVAL’S 2024 ‘DERBY BURGER’ CHAMPION

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ANNUAL CHALLENGE IS JANUARY 31 January 25, 2024. Louisville, KY. – Calling all grill masters and burger enthusiasts! The Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Beef Council are searching for the next ‘Derby Burger’ Champion and you have until next week to submit your burger recipes for a chance to win. […]