September 29, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival is celebrating fall with some great deals. The Festival will hold its 19th annual Yard Sale this Friday, October 1, at the KDF office at 1001 South Third Street in Old Louisville. The sale is one day only and will run from 8 a.m. to […]

July 2, 2021. Louisville, KY. – U.S. Troops around the world will see Thunder Over Louisville in honor of the July 4th holiday. The Kentucky Derby Festival has teamed up with the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, as well as WHAS11 to share a special presentation of the 2021 Thunder show with the American […]

FamFest event June 24 in New Albany June 22, 2021. Louisville, KY. – Derby Festival fun is not over! Fans are invited to bring their families out this Thursday evening for the Caesars Foundation of Floyd County FamFest. The event will be held from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Riverfront Amphitheater in New […]

June 16, 2021. Louisville, KY. – Louisville native Mike Shea will chair the 2022 Kentucky Derby Festival. Shea, who has served on the Festival’s board for 20 years, was elected by the Festival’s Board of Directors at its annual meeting today. Shea is a partner in the government relations firm, Government Strategies, LLC. He follows […]

JUSTICEFEST EVENT TO BE STREAMED ON YOUTUBE May 20, 2021 Louisville, KY. – Students from Jefferson County Public Schools will share their ideas to solve community-wide issues this Saturday at the inaugural Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation JusticeFest Presented by Churchill Downs and Humana. The event is the first phase of the Derby Equity and Community […]

May 7, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival has partnered with Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, as well as Louisville vocalist and songwriter Jason Clayborn, to share a special music video release this weekend. Clayborn and The Atmosphere Changers along with Clayborn’s sister Daria Raymore perform the single “God Made it Beautiful” […]

May 7, 2021 Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation’s regional STEM competition goes virtual this weekend. Instead of robotics, this year’s RoboRumble incorporated the Minecraft Education Edition. Students in elementary and middle school were challenged to create a Kentucky Derby Festival event using the Minecraft World. The winners will be announced in a […]

Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Louisville, KY. – Derby Festival fans who found a Gold Pin in their 2021 Pegasus Pin Sponsorship envelope need to register online at www.PegasusPins.com by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, to be eligible for the drawing of the new Gold Pin Grand Prize – $15,000 cash. The winner will be announced […]

April 28, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The Belle of Louisville is in the winner’s circle again tonight, after finishing first in the Great Steamboat Race Presented by Kroger. Following deliberation by the judges, Derby Festival Officials, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, the hometown Belle was declared winner of the 59th annual race against her up-river […]

April 27, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The $1 million prize is still up for grabs after 31 years 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 tonight. Shawn Santini of Louisville came closest […]

April 27, 2021. Louisville, KY. – This year’s Great Steamboat Race Presented by Kroger will have three contenders – the hometown Belle of Louisville, up-river rival the Belle of Cincinnati and from the south in Memphis, the American Duchess. The race is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28. The three boats will participate […]

April 26, 2021. Louisville, KY. – There were lots of beds at the Kentucky Exposition Center tonight, but none were for sleeping. Beds with wheels competed in the Ashley HomeStore Kentucky Derby Festival Great Bed Races. Nearly 20 teams pushed their decorated beds on an outdoor drag-race style course, competing for the fastest times. Bluegrass […]

April 26, 2021. Louisville, KY. – 53 golfers will take a swing at $1 million in Tuesday’s Finals for the Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest. The Finals begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, at Seneca Golf Course, Hole #8. Each Finalist gets one shot at the […]

April 26, 2021. Louisville, KY. – Beds aren’t for sleeping during Derby Week, they’re for racing! Today, beds on wheels will hit the racetrack in the Ashley HomeStore Kentucky Derby Festival Great Bed Races. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, this year’s event is not open to the public, only to participants. Bed racing coverage will […]

April 25, 2021. Louisville, KY. – This is the last day of preliminary qualifying rounds for the Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. it’s $1 per shot at the Seneca Golf Course Driving Range off Pee Wee Reese Road. The […]

The Kroger Great BalloonFest Tribute which was postponed this morning due to unfavorable winds, is now postponed until tomorrow (Sunday) evening. Balloonists had hoped to take flight Sunday morning, but have decided to wait until the evening for better flying conditions. Festival officials will continue to monitor the weather and share any updates. The evening […]

April 22, 2021. Louisville, KY. Kentucky Derby Festival (“KDF”) is launching the Derby Equity and Community Initiative, (“DECI” or “the Initiative”), with support from Churchill Downs and Humana Inc. This partnership is a combined effort to incorporate equitable programming into the Derby season with the intention of directing economic impact and ensuring a sense of […]

April 16, 2021. Louisville, KY. – As final set-up continues for this year’s Thunder Over Louisville show, Derby Festival organizers are making further adjustments due to growing concerns of mass gatherings after potential fireworks locations were leaked earlier in the week. The Festival will now utilize only three self-contained locations – the Kentucky Exposition Center, […]

April 15, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual cycling event – PNC Tour de Lou – rides through Louisville this Sunday, April 18. Now in its 8th year, the PNC Tour de Lou was created for cyclists of all experience levels. In 2021, participants were offered the opportunity to bike in-person this […]

April 14, 2021. Louisville, KY. – It’s time to take your shot at $1 million! The Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest returns in 2021. The contest opens on Thursday, April 15, and runs through Sunday, April 25 at the Seneca Golf Course Driving Range (off Pee Wee Reese […]