Louisville, KY — U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley, headquartered in Louisville, KY, has established a Thunder Over Louisville waterway restriction on the Ohio River, from April 12th thru 13th, between mile markers 597.0-607.0. The following restrictions will be enforced by local law enforcement and U.S. Coast Guard waterside assets: The Coast Guard has established […]

April 7, 2019. Louisville, KY. The Clark Memorial/2nd Street Bridge will close Thursday, April 11, in preparation for Thunder Over Louisville. We ask your help in communicating this information to the public in the coming days. The Louisville Metro Police Department will release their Thunder traffic plan on Tuesday, April 9. CLARK MEMORIAL/2ND STREET BRIDGE […]

April 6, 2019. Louisville, KY. – With the traditional spin of a wheel Brittany Patillo of Louisville, KY, was named the 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen tonight at the 61st annual Fillies Derby Ball at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Brittany, 22-years-old is a Senior at the University of Louisville majoring in Theatre Arts. She is […]

March 28, 2019. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival is joining forces with Global Game Changers (GGC), a group known for their superpowered projects, to help teach local children the importance of volunteerism. The “Citywide Power of Volunteerism” project is part of the 2019 Give A Day week of service, set for April 13 […]

March 27, 2019 Louisville, KY.  We’re just a little over two weeks from the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville! This year’s event, set for Saturday, April 13, will include a packed air show, with non-stop military and civilian air acts. The Derby Festival tonight released the full list of performers scheduled for […]

LOUISVILLE (March 27, 2019) – Mayor Greg Fischer today joined representatives from Metro United Way, Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky Derby Festival and a variety of nonprofits to kick off the eighth annual Mayor’s Give A Day Week of Service with support from Metro United Way, April 13-20, 2019 “Now, more than ever, it’s important […]

March 26, 2019. Louisville, KY. – The latest spring fashion trends walk the runway this week as Macy’s Presents the Kentucky Derby Festival Spring Fashion Show. Set for Thursday, March 28th, in the Showroom of Horseshoe Southern Indiana, this year’s show is themed We Are Wonder Women. The event starts with cocktails and boutique shopping […]

March 25, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Lori Poe of Mt. Sterling is taking home the title of Derby Burger Champion, in the 8th Annual “Derby Burger Challenge” sponsored by Kentucky Beef Council and coordinated by the Kentucky Derby Festival. Poe’s recipe for her “Chimichurri Churchill Burger” was selected as the overall winner after a cook-off […]

March 21, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Class Act Federal Credit Union and the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation will host dozens of talented kids at the Academic Challenge this weekend. The quick-recall tournament is set for this Saturday, March 23, at Spalding University in the Mansion Building. The tournament is coordinated by Jefferson County Public Schools […]

March 21, 2019. Louisville, KY. – One of running’s most iconic figures, Kathrine Switzer will participate in her first ever Derby Festival race. Switzer was the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, and recently ran it again 50 years later in 2017. (The run was only 24 minutes slower than she […]

March 19, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Calling all Derby Festival foodies! Festival Fans can help pick the 2019 ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. Dozens of original recipes were submitted for the competition sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council. Those recipes featuring 100% beef have been narrowed to the top 8 recipes. Voting is open online to help […]

March 19, 2019. Louisville, KY. Kentuckiana students from grades K-12 were honored tonight at J Graham Brown School for their artistic achievement in the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Student Art Contest Presented by The Fillies, Inc. A panel of local artists selected the winners. Of the hundreds of entries, some of the most popular themes […]

March 18, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Calling all Derby Festival foodies! Festival Fans can help pick the 2019 ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. Dozens of original recipes were submitted for the competition sponsored by the Kentucky Beef Council. Those recipes featuring 100% beef have been narrowed to the top 8 recipes. Voting is open online to help […]

March 18, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Kentuckiana students ranging in age from 5 to 18 and their winning artwork from the 2019 Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Student Art Contest Presented by The Fillies, Inc. will be honored on Tuesday, March 19. The awards ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. at the J. Graham Brown […]

Louisville, KY— March 18, 2019 — Kosair Charities will partner with the Kentucky Derby Festival through special opportunities aimed at helping kids in our community take flight. Collaborations include educational components as well as exclusive experiences for Kosair Kids at the Humana miniMarathon/Marathon, the BB&T Great Balloon Fest, and Celebrity Day at the Downs. “This […]

March 16, 2019. Louisville, KY. – 14-year-old Ophelia Lorenz of Louisville won her first Ford Motor Company Derby Festival Spelling Bee this afternoon. Lorenz correctly spelled “Chihuahua” – A dog of very small breed developed in Mexico, probably from an indigenous breed, having erect pointed ears and a soft ,usually short-haired dog. The competition was […]

March 14, 2019. Louisville, KY. – ESPN’s Hannah Storm, current anchor for SportsCenter, will be the featured speaker at the 63rd Annual They’re Off! Luncheon on Friday, April 12. The luncheon, first held in 1957, serves as the time-honored kick-off to each year’s Festival. It’s the second-oldest event on the Festival schedule. An award-winning journalist, […]

March 14, 2019. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s Waterfront Jam returns Thursday, April 25, at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville. The concert series includes more than two dozen local and regional bands and 7 national concerts on two stages. Admission to all shows is FREE with a 2019 Pegasus Pin ($6 at retail locations and $7 […]

March 11, 2019, Louisville, KY. A Kentucky Derby Festival favorite returns this week to help usher in spring. Festival Unveiled is Thursday, March 14, at the Mellwood Arts Center. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Citizens Union Bank and Four Roses are the Presenting Sponsors of this pre-Festival party. “Festival Unveiled” will showcase several […]

March 8, 2019. Louisville, KY. – Runners participating in this year’s Humana Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon will take home a finisher’s medal they helped design. Derby Festival Officials unveiled the 2019 race medal this morning at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. The medal features the museum and “The Big Bat” – the world’s […]