05/03/23 – SHENANIGANS CAN’T KEEP BELLE OF LOUISVILLE FROM WINNING GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE

May 3, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The Belle of Louisville is still the queen of the Ohio River for the fourth straight year. The hometown steamboat was declared the winner of the Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race tonight following deliberations by the judges, the boat Captains, Derby Festival Officials and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. The […]

05/03/2023 – WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DERBY FESTIVAL THURSDAY, MAY 4 AND FRIDAY, MAY 5

May 3, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for THURSDAY’S AND FRIDAY’S Derby Festival activities. The party continues at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon: Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the WaterfrontSM. Open Daily 11 AM – 11 PM. Waterfront Park. ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE featuring concerts with national talent, family fun, food, kids’ inflatable playground, midway rides. […]

05/02/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL HEADS TO RACETRACK FOR DAY AT THE DOWNS THURSDAY

HONDA WORLD IS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF 2023 DAY AT THE RACES May 2, 2023. LOUISVILLE, KY – The Kentucky Derby Festival is getting in the Thurby spirit with Derby Festival Day at the Downs Presented By Honda World on Thursday, May 4 at Churchill Downs in the 4th floor Skye Terrace. Honda World is the […]

05/02/23 – WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DERBY FESTIVAL WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

May 2, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for WEDNESDAY’S Derby Festival activities. The party continues at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon: Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the WaterfrontSM. Open Daily 11 AM – 11 PM. Waterfront Park. ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE featuring concerts with national talent, family fun, food, kids’ inflatable playground, midway rides. Admission is […]

05/01/22 – CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT GREAT BED RACES

SAMTEC NEW TITLE SPONSOR OF 2023 EVENT May 1, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Bed racing fans filled the stands at Broadbent Arena tonight for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Bed Races. Samtec is the new Title Sponsor of the 2023 event, which featured nearly 40 teams pushing their decorated beds around a figure-eight course, competing […]

05/01/23 – WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DERBY FESTIVAL TUESDAY, MAY 2

May 1, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for TUESDAY’S Derby Festival activities. The party continues at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon: Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the WaterfrontSM. Open Daily 11 AM – 11 PM. Waterfront Park. ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE featuring concerts with national talent, family fun, food, kids’ inflatable playground, midway rides. Admission is […]

05/01/23 – UNCORK THE GOOD TIMES AT DERBY FESTIVAL’S WINEFEST

TOASTING EVENT’S NEW TITLE SPONSOR – CHICKEN SALAD CHICK May 1, 2023. LOUISVILLE, KY – The Kentucky Derby Festival is toasting the Derby and spring season with sipping, savoring and strolling at the Chicken Salad Chick WineFest on Tuesday, May 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. Chicken Salad Chick is the new Title Sponsor of […]

05/01/23 – GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE IS FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH NEW SPONSOR

RACE TO FEATURE THREE VESSELS May 1, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Two Belles and a Countess will battle it out as the Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race gears up to dash down the river on Wednesday, May 3. This year marks the 60th race of this long-running Festival favorite, which pits the Belle of Louisville […]

04/30/23 – WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH DERBY FESTIVAL MONDAY, MAY 1

April 30, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for MONDAY’S Derby Festival activities. Take a Swing JAMON BROWN FOUNDATION GOLF SCRAMBLE. Noon Social Hour. 1 PM Shotgun Start. University of Louisville Golf Course. 4th Annual Jamon Brown Foundation Golf Scramble benefiting the Jamon Brown Foundation Empowerment Center in West Louisville. Produced by Jamon Brown […]

04/30/23 – BED RACING HEADED TO BROADBENT ARENA MONDAY

April 30, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Beds aren’t for sleeping during Derby Week, they’re for racing! On Monday, May 1, beds on wheels will hit the racetrack during the Samtec Great Bed Races. Nearly 40 teams are on tap to compete in a race around a figure-eight course inside Broadbent Arena at the Kentucky Exposition […]

04/30/23 – 2023 PEGASUS PARADE RESULTS

PEGASUS PARADE MARCHES ON DESPITE WET WEATHER April 30, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade kicked off Derby Week this afternoon, as it marched on a Sunday for the second straight year. Fans lined downtown Louisville streets and braved chilly and rainy weather to celebrate the founding event of the Kentucky Derby […]

04/29/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL’S GOSPEL CHOIR SHOWCASE TAKES THE STAGE ON SUNDAY

April 29, 2023. Louisville, KY.  – GospelFest Presented by Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare and Republic Bank, the Kentucky Derby Festival’s gospel choir showcase, will take the stage on Sunday, April 30. The musical event returns to Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront again this year. The show begins at 6 p.m. with performances until […]

04/29/23 -WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL APRIL 30

April 29, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for SUNDAY’S Derby Festival activities. Preview of Pegasus: PREVIEW OF NEW KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL PEGASUS INFLATABLE. 1 PM. North Campbell Street & Broadway. Get a sneak peek of the new Pegasus inflatable as she is unveiled and inflated before making her debut marching down Broadway at […]

04/29/23 – miniMARATHON & MARATHON 2023 RESULTS

THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS HIT LOUISVILLE STREETS FOR DERBY FESTIVAL ROAD RACES 50TH RUN OF miniMARATHON CELEBRATED April 29, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon took off this morning with crisp, cool and cloudy conditions, ideal for a day of racing around the city. In honor of the 50th […]

04/29/23 – A CLOSE FINISH FOR THIS YEAR’S GREAT BALLOON RACE

April 29, 2023. Louisville, KY. – With brisk and beautiful conditions, 21 balloons lifted off from Bowman Field this morning in the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Race. The race got underway just after 7 AM, as light winds took the balloons northeast from Bowman Field toward the Westport Road corridor. The 20 “Hound” […]

04/29/23 – WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL APRIL 29

April 29, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for SATURDAY’S Derby Festival activities. Kentucky’s Largest Road Race: GE APPLIANCES KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL miniMARATHON and MARATHON®. 7:00 AM. Kentucky’s largest day of road racing with both 13.1-mile and 26.2-mile routes. The miniMarathon marks a major milestone in 2023, as it celebrates its 50th run. Free […]

04/28/23 – WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL TODAY

April 28, 2023. Louisville, KY. This is the schedule for FRIDAY’S Derby Festival activities. Last Day for Runner Packet Pick-Up DICK’S SPORTING GOODS KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL RACE EXPO AND PACKET PICK-UP. 11 AM – 9 PM. Kentucky Exposition Center, Freedom Hall. Two-day Expo where you can see the latest running gear, get nutritional advice, pre-race […]

04/27/23 – FRIDAY’S RUSH HOUR RACE CANCELLED DUE TO WET WEATHER

April 27, 2023. Louisville, KY. – Due to the forecast with wet weather, low cloud ceilings, and less-than-optimal conditions for ballooning, tomorrow morning’s L&N Federal Credit Union Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Rush Hour Race has been canceled. The Rush Hour Race was scheduled to launch at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning from Bowman Field. The […]

04/27/23 – SECRETARIAT NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF ZOELLER PUMP COMPANY PEGASUS PARADE

DERBY FESTIVAL PARADE ON SUNDAY Secretariat Monument & New Pegasus Balloon to Make Debut on Broadway April 27, 2023. Louisville, KY. – The event that started the Kentucky Derby Festival – the 68th annual Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade – steps off THIS SUNDAY, April 30, at 3 p.m. The parade will march West on […]

04/26/23 – DERBY FESTIVAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND

34th Annual Derby Festival Volleyball Classic We are commencing the Derby season this weekend with the 34th Annual Derby Festival Volleyball Classic! This event has been a Derby Festival staple for over 34 years. Even if you are not participating in the games, they are so entertaining to watch! This weekend (April 29th and April […]