FANS INVITED TO RIBBON CUTTING AT 11 AM April 21, 2026. Louisville, KY. – One of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s signature events – Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront – opens Thursday, April 23 at 11 a.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in front of the main entrance to mark the […]

BATTLE OF THE BELLES RETURNS NEXT WEEK OFFICIAL STEAMBOAT RACE COCKTAIL SELECTED April 20, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Battle of the Belles returns Derby Week! The Belle of Louisville is ready to reclaim her title in the 2026 Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race. The Belle was sidelined last year due to a leak in […]

April 14, 2026. Louisville, KY. We’re counting down to the return of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies: Thunder Over Louisville! This year’s event, set for this Saturday, April 18, will include a packed air show, with military and civilian air acts. Here’s the full lineup* as of April 14, 2026 (in alphabetical order): Ace […]

THUNDER VIEWING OPTIONS ALONG THE RIVER April 13, 2026. Louisville, KY – As one of the nation’s largest firework displays, Thunder Over Louisville can be seen for miles! There is plenty of free public viewing along the river in downtown Louisville, Waterfront Park and along River Road, as well as in Southern Indiana. There are […]

PNC TOUR DE LOU CYCLING EVENT RIDES THROUGH LOUISVILLE TOMORROW NEW START AND FINISH, PLUS 12-MILE ROUTE ADDED FOR 2026 April 11, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual cycling event – the PNC Tour de Lou – will roll through Louisville TOMORROW. This year, the start and finish line will have a […]

TAKE A SWING AT $1 MILLION DURING STOCK YARDS BANK DERBY FESTIVAL EVENT HOLE-IN-ONE GOLF CONTEST OPENS APRIL 16 April 11, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s golf event tees off next week and it’s your annual chance to take your best shot at $1 million. The Stock Yards Bank $1 Million Dollar […]

CLARK FORKLIFTS TO SUPPORT BRIDGE EFFECTS April 3, 2026. Louisville, KY. – This year’s Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show is getting a lift, literally, from a Louisville company known for lifting and moving heavy loads. CLARK Material Handling Company is donating forklifts to support fireworks placement along the east side of the CLARK Memorial Bridge […]

NEW START AND FINISH, PLUS 12-MILE ROUTE ADDED FOR 2026 April 2, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual cycling event – the PNC Tour de Lou – will roll through Louisville on Sunday, April 12. This year, the start and finish line will have a new home at Big Four Lawn, and […]

NFL QUARTERBACK AND LOUISVILLE STANDOUT TO SPEAK AT LUNCHEON March 31, 2026. Louisville, KY. – One of Louisville’s most recognizable football stars is returning to a city he considers home. NFL quarterback and former University of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be the featured speaker at the 2026 They’re Off! Luncheon Presented by BAE Systems, the […]

DAY-LONG EVENT INCLUDES SHOPPING, MUSIC, AND EASTER EGG HUNTS March 30, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The community is invited to a block party this weekend to celebrate Derby Festival season! The Kentucky Derby Festival’s Block Party Presented by Humana and Park Community Credit Union returns on Saturday with local food, live entertainment, and family-friendly festivities. […]

EVENT ON APRIL 3 FEATURES FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN March 29, 2026. Louisville, KY.- The Kentucky Derby Festival is taking the celebration to New Albany this week for an evening of family-friendly fun. The Caesars Foundation of Floyd County FamFest features indoor and outdoor activities this Friday, April 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at […]

March 28, 2026. Louisville, KY. – With the traditional spin of the wheel, Tania Vergara-Gongora {TAH-Nyah / Ver-Gaura / Gohne-Gora} of Louisville was crowned the 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen tonight at the 68th annual Fillies Derby Ball Presented by Courtesy Cadillac at the Omni Louisville Hotel. Tania is a junior at Bellarmine University pursuing […]

REPUBLIC BANK BOURBONVILLE TOASTS AMERICA’S NATIVE SPIRIT ON APRIL 2 March 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. – It’s time to toast to spring! Bourbon fans can mix, mingle and sip their way through a spirited evening next week at Republic Bank BourbonVille! The Kentucky Derby Festival event, set for Thursday, April 2 from 6:30 to 9:30 […]

GUESTS WILL ENJOY CROWNS, MASKS & MYSTERY AT FILLIES DERBY BALL March 26, 2026. Louisville, KY. – It’s the ball that starts it all! The first ball of the Derby season – the 68th annual Fillies Derby Ball® Presented by Courtesy Cadillac – is set for Saturday, March 28 at the Omni Louisville Hotel. The […]

PINK LUXURY SEDAN TO BE SHOWCASED AT FESTIVAL EVENTS March 26, 2026. 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 2026 Cadillac CT4 Luxury Sedan was wrapped in the Festival’s signature […]

NORTHERN KENTUCKY WOMAN WILL BE THIS YEAR’S THUNDERNATOR March 25, 2026. Louisville, KY. – A Northern Kentucky woman has won the Kentucky Derby Festival jackpot! Through a second-chance promotion, sponsored by the Kentucky Lottery, Carol Irvin of Dayton, Kentucky, has been named Festival Fanatic for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival. As part of her lucky […]

RINGLING CIRCUS HYPE CREW AND WATER LANTERN EVENT MAKE FESTIVAL DEBUT March 23, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Festival Fans have even more ways to celebrate this year! As the countdown continues to this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival, several events are debuting on the 2026 lineup. New additions include high-energy entertainment with the Ringling Circus Hype […]

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR DERBY FESTIVAL FASHION EVENT March 18, 2026. Louisville, KY. – The runway will be filled with color, statement looks and fresh trends when Dillard’s Spring Fashion Show returns on Thursday, March 26 at Caesars Southern Indiana. The 2026 show is themed “Color Rush: Fashion at the Speed of Life,” and will […]

March 12, 2026. Louisville, KY. – A La Grange man was named this year’s burger boss and is taking home the title of 2026 Derby Burger Champion for his Caribbean twist on the classic burger. Greg Yopp’s recipe for The Jerk burger was declared the winner after a cook-off this morning between the top four […]

TICKETS ON SALE FOR THE FILLIES DERBY BALL March 11, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Masks, mystery and royal tradition will take center stage March 28 when the Fillies Derby Ball® Presented by Courtesy Cadillac returns to the Omni Louisville Hotel. The black-tie event, themed “A Royal Masquerade,” will bring the elegance of Venice, Italy, to […]