PINK PARTY PLANNED FOR 70TH CELEBRATION April 24, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The event that started the Kentucky Derby Festival – the Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade – steps off THIS SUNDAY, April 27, at 3 p.m. The parade, which is celebrating its 70th march in 2025, will head down Broadway from Campbell to 9th Street, […]

OFFICIAL STEAMBOAT RACE COCKTAIL SELECTED April 23, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The hometown Belle of Louisville is ready to defend her title and win back bragging rights and the Coveted Silver Antlers from upriver rival, the Belle of Cincinnati, during the Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race on Wednesday, April 30. Details for this year’s race […]

REGISTRATION IS SOLD OUT FOR 2025 EVENT April 22, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Ready, set, race! The Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology makes its debut Friday evening, April 25, kicking off a full weekend of racing with the traditional GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon on Saturday, April 26. Registration is SOLD OUT […]

PACKET PICK-UP FOR miniMARATHON, MARATHON AND NEW FESTIVAL 5K April 22, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Runners participating in the GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon, and the new Festival 5K Presented by First Urology, can pick up their race packets starting Thursday, April 24 at the Race Expo and Packet Pick-Up. More than 10,000 people are […]

FANS INVITED TO RIBBON CUTTING AT 11 AM April 21, 2025. Louisville, KY. – One of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s signature events – Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront – opens Thursday, April 24 at 11 a.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in front of the main entrance to mark the […]

April 19, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The L&N Federal Credit Union Great BalloonFest – one of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s most colorful and picturesque events – takes flight next week with four hot-air balloon events over three days! This year’s Great BalloonFest features two Balloon Glows and two Balloon Races, giving Festival fans even more […]

DAY-LONG EVENT ON APRIL 19 AT NORTON HEALTHCARE SPORTS & LEARNING CENTER April 17, 2025. Louisville, KY. – A community celebration of Derby-time traditions featuring local food, fare, family-friendly activities and more fun will be underway this weekend at the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Block Party Presented by Churchill Downs, Humana and Park Community Credit Union. […]

REPUBLIC BANK BOURBONVILLE CELEBRATES AMERICA’S NATIVE SPIRIT April 16, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Derby Festival and bourbon fans can enjoy a spirited evening this week at Republic Bank BourbonVille. The event on Thursday, April 17th celebrates two of Kentucky’s signature favorites – the Kentucky Derby Festival and bourbon. This marks the first year the event […]

NEW POST RIDE PARTY ADDED FOR PARTICIPANTS April 15, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual cycling experience – the PNC Tour de Lou – is set to take a spin through Louisville this Saturday, April 19. The event’s start and finish has moved to a new location at the Belvedere (141 N […]

April 14, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The Pegasus Pin is not only your ticket to a month’s worth of Kentucky Derby Festival fun, offering free admission to Festival events, you can also get special deals on food, services and more, when you wear it around town! These local partners are offering exclusive Pegasus Pin Perks […]

HOLE-IN-ONE GOLF CONTEST OPENS APRIL 17 April 13, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s golf event swings into action this week and it’s your annual chance to take your best shot at $1 million. The Stock Yards Bank $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest opens Thursday, April 17 and runs through Sunday, April […]

April 11, 2025. Louisville, KY. For Thunder fans looking for something to do this weekend, here are some events taking place to share Thunder Over Louisville and Derby Festival spirit. Flood Cleanup: Waterfront Park is hosting a community cleanup effort to remove debris and trash left behind from the historic flooding. Volunteers are needed to […]

PINK LUXURY SEDAN TO BE SHOWCASED AT FESTIVAL EVENTS April 7, 2025. Louisville, KY.- Kentucky Derby Festival and Courtesy Cadillac are giving Festival fans a chance to win a new Cadillac during this year’s Festival! To help promote the Courtesy Cadillac Festival Challenge, a 2025 Cadillac CT4 Luxury Sedan was wrapped in the Festival’s signature […]

April 5, 2025. Louisville, KY. – As Louisville faces historic flooding, the Kentucky Derby Festival is facing the difficult decision to cancel its Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville. The show was set for one week from today on Saturday, April 12. At the expected flood levels that will be reached in the coming days, […]

April 2, 2025. Louisville, KY.- The Kentucky Derby Festival is postponing the new Zoeller Pump Company ParadeFest due to inclement weather expected through the weekend. The first ParadeFest was set to take place outdoors this Saturday (April 5) and will be rescheduled for a later date. Festival officials will share the new date as soon […]

April 2, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Through a Fast Play W!N ticket second-chance promotion, sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery, Springville, Tenn., resident Aleece Passman is this year’s Festival Fanatic for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival. As part of her lucky win, she will serve as the Thundernator for the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over […]

FAMFEST FEATURES INDOOR & OUTDOOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN April 1, 2025. Louisville, KY.- The Kentucky Derby Festival is headed across the bridge and to Southern Indiana this Friday for an evening filled with festive fun for the entire family! The Caesars Foundation of Floyd County FamFest Presented by Wellstone Regional Hospital features indoor and outdoor activities […]

March 28, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The countdown continues to this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival and there are some new events for Festival fans of all ages to enjoy! New additions include a 5K evening race, a special celebration for the parade, a tea party and a Derby breakfast. These new events are all part […]

2025 DILLARD’S SPRING FASHION SHOW A SELL-OUT March 24, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The go-to fashion event of the spring season is headed down the runway this week! The Dillard’s Spring Fashion Show, the Derby Festival’s annual style tradition, is Thursday, March 27 at Caesars Southern Indiana. The sold-out show features boutique shopping and cocktails […]

March 22, 2025. Louisville, KY. – With the traditional spin of a wheel, Elizabeth King of Georgetown, KY, was named the 2025 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen tonight during the 67th annual Fillies Derby Ball Presented by Courtesy Cadillac at the Omni Louisville Hotel. Elizabeth is a senior Presidential Scholar at the University of Kentucky pursuing […]