EVAN WILLIAMS CREATES SPECIAL GOLD PIN BOURBON BOTTLE Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Louisville, KY. – The first shipment of 2021 Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Pins is here! The pins arrived at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Main Street this morning. It’s the first place you can purchase this year’s pins starting today for $6 […]

February 5, 2021, Louisville, KY. – A sign of spring and Kentucky Derby Festival this morning, as the Festival’s 2021 poster rolled off the presses at Derby City Litho in Downtown Louisville. This year’s poster called “Going Up” was designed by Louisville artist Andy Perez, who is known for his collage and mixed media artwork. […]

January 29, 2021. Louisville, KY. – If you’ve been cooking up new recipes at home, now is the time to showcase your skills. The Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Beef Council are looking for the next ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. Burger recipes are being accepted now through March 1 in the 11th annual beef showdown […]

January 26, 2021. Louisville, KY. – Plans are underway for the 2021 Kentucky Derby Festival. With public health and safety a top priority, the Festival’s traditional schedule of events leading up to Derby Day will look different this year. After months of planning and exploring all options, the Festival has created a mix of both […]

January 15, 2021, Louisville, KY. – The work of a local artist will help celebrate the 2021 Kentucky Derby Festival. Andy Perez, known for his collage and mixed media artwork, has been selected as the Festival’s Official Poster Artist for the 2021 season. “In a time when so much has changed, we wanted to continue […]

Participants Offered Virtual or In-person Option, PLUS Training December 21, 2020. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival and PNC are giving cyclists something to look forward to next spring. Registration opens today for the annual PNC Tour de Lou – a cycling event that takes riders on a tour around the city. The Festival […]

ARTWORK WILL HELP DESIGN-A-BUS December 14, 2020. Louisville, KY. – If you know a young artist, their work could decorate a TARC bus that will debut next spring as part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. TARC and the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Foundation are joining forces and merging their annual art competitions for the first time, […]

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR TRAINING AND KDF RACES December 9, 2020, Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival and Norton Sports Health are bringing their annual Training Program to participants in 2021. The FREE 15-week Norton Sports Health Training Program, for the 2021 Humana miniMarathon and Marathon, will be virtual. Registration for the program opens […]

6 WINNERS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE $500 AMAZON GIFT CARD November 24, 2020. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival and Amazon are sharing inspiring stories from six individuals who’ve been named 2020 Community Champions. After a four-week nomination process, the winning Community Champions were selected from more than 100 nominees. Each Community Champion has gone […]

November 16, 2020. Louisville, KY. – Logging a lot of miles while holiday shopping? Make all those steps count with the Kentucky Derby Festival’s new virtual 5K sponsored by Oxmoor Center. The Tinsel Trot allows participants to track their miles over multiple days at their own pace. Registration is open now through December 7th at […]

WINNERS RECEIVE $500 AMAZON GIFT CARD October 12, 2020. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival and Amazon are teaming up to recognize champions in the community – those who’ve had a special impact on our lives in 2020. Behind-the-scenes or on the front lines, the Derby Festival wants to honor those who’ve gone above […]

Last Day to Register is September 14 September 12, 2020. Louisville, KY. – There’s still time to register for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s virtual cycling event – the Virtual PNC Tour de Lou. Registration is open online at KDF.org/TourdeLou until 11:59 PM on Monday, September 14. “Moving events like the PNC Tour de Lou into […]

August 31, 2020. Louisville, KY. – Today is the last day for participants to register for the Virtual Humana Kentucky Derby Festival mini or Marathon. Registration will be open online at DerbyFestivalMarathon.com until 11:59 PM tonight. “The Derby Festival’s virtual race allows participants to run their own course and finish in their own time,” said […]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 20, 2020) – While the Belle of Louisville won’t be racing the Belle of Cincinnati in the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race this year, Four Roses will still recognize the time-honored event on land with a commemorative Single Barrel Bourbon. For the past 15 years, Four Roses has joined with the […]

August 20, 2020. Louisville, KY. – Donna Gribbins of Shelbyville, KY, has been crowned the 2020 Derby Burger Champion in the 9th Annual “Derby Burger Challenge,” sponsored by Kentucky Beef Council and coordinated by the Kentucky Derby Festival. Gribbins’ recipe for her “Bourbon Blackberry Bacon Cheeseburger” was selected as the overall winner after two rounds […]

August 15, 2020. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s tribute to Thunder Over Louisville continues this afternoon with a familiar Thunder sight in the sky. Fans around Louisville will see a plane towing banners flying around the city between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Today would have been the rescheduled date for the 2020 […]

August 11, 2020. Louisville, KY. – Burger fans have spoken! Nearly 4,000 beef lovers voted online to help pick the Top 4 finalists for this year’s Derby Burger Challenge, sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council. This year’s finalists include: Lori Poe of Mt. Sterling, with the Southern Charm Burger; Greg Schaad of Louisville, with The […]

August 7, 2020. Louisville, KY. – The Derby Festival is paying tribute to Thunder Over Louisville next week, leading up to what would have been the rescheduled date for the event on August 15. While the in-person event is not able to be held this year, the Festival is helping fans find other ways to […]

August 5, 2020. Louisville, KY. – A Kentucky favorite – the Derby Festival Pegasus Pin – is back just in time for the new Derby season. The pins are available exclusively in area Kroger stores for a limited time and retail for $6 each. The pins are a staple every spring during the Derby Festival […]

August 4, 2020. Louisville, KY. – Derby Festival Fans can help pick this year’s ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. Dozens of original recipes were submitted in the spring for the competition sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council. Those recipes featuring 100% beef have been narrowed to the top 8 recipes created by local chefs and foodies. Voting […]