Festivities for the Kentucky Derby start about a month before the first Saturday in May. From a Spring fashion show to The Great Hot Air Balloon Race to one of the largest firework shows in the world, Louisville definitely knows how to celebrate the nation’s longest-running sporting event, even if the actual ‘Run for the Roses’ is only a two-minute race.
Even though there are several ‘Derby’ events starting in early April, the official kick-off to the Kentucky Derby Festival starts two weeks prior to Derby Day with “Thunder Over Louisville.” As mentioned above, this is one of the largest displays of fireworks in the world. Eight 400-foot barges anchored in the Ohio River around the Second Street Bridge send an explosion of color into the downtown sky. The finale includes a mile-long waterfall of fireworks cascading down from the bridge. It is quite a show!
There are events for just about anyone and everyone! Krogers ‘Fest-a-ville’ kicks off with the Waterfront concert series with national talent, family fun, food (known as the ‘Chow Wagon’ to me), midway rides, and more! This festival runs until the Friday before Derby. All you need to attend the Kentucky Derby Festival events is a Derby pin that you can purchase for $5. Here are some of the pins from when I was younger.
Just one week before Derby Day runners take to the streets of Louisville for the Kentucky Derby Festival mini and full marathon, which takes them on a tour of the city as well as a lap around Churchill Downs. That same day marks the end of a 3-day Great Balloonfest with the Great Balloon Race. I remember this one as a kid. We would get up so early and head to Bowman Field just before sunrise to see all the colorful hot air balloons getting ready. The glow of the balloons against the dark sky was somewhat magical. We would follow them around town as they floated over the city. One of my favorite hot air balloons was Porter Paints balloon (local paint store) it had orange and white stripes and was in the shape of a paint can!
The Pegasus Parade (Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade) takes place the week of Derby. It was always on the Thursday before Derby, but this year it will be on Monday. We would always go right after school and find a spot downtown along Broadway to watch the parade with marching bands, horses, floats, and infallible balloons, including a giant pegasus! This is the oldest Kentucky Derby Festival event and it is also one of the largest in the country.
One of the longest-standing traditions of the Kentucky Derby Festival is The Great Steamboat Race. This year, there will be 3 steamboats racing each other on the Ohio River - The Belle of Louisville, Belle of Cincinnati, and American Duchess. The race lasts about two hours, basically earns bragging rights on the Ohio River, and is just another excuse to get dressed up and party.
Thursday before Derby, you can go to Churchill Downs for Thurby and celebrate what Kentucky is famous for - horse racing, bourbon, and music! This year just so happens to be Cinco de Mayo on Thursday as well…so all the more reason to have a good time! When we come home for Derby, we typically save this day for visiting a horse farm, taking a tour of a bourbon distillery, or other attractions in and around town. We are usually at the track on both Friday and Saturday.
Speaking of Friday…this is actually a school holiday in Louisville, called Oaks Day. The Kentucky Oaks is a race that started alongside the Kentucky Derby in 1875, for the best 3-year old fillies. All who attend (except those that didn’t get the memo) wear pink in honor of Breast Cancer Survivors, who get to participate in a parade on the track. There is even a signature cocktail called the Oaks Lilly, which is delicious! It is my favorite of the two days at the track because it is generally more low-key than Derby and everything is pink! For a lot of locals, this is the day they come to the track, families too, and then have a fabulous Derby party at home on Saturday.
And now for the main event - Derby Day! This day is a little like Christmas for me. Whether I am at home preparing for my guests to arrive and making sure every last detail is in place, or whether I am in Louisville preparing for a day at the track, getting my dress and hat ready, and packing my bag, I usually have butterflies with excitement for the day. The energy of the crowd, the spectacle, the horse racing, and oh my goodness the hats - it is all so incredible. People go all out! It’s a full day of races and mint juleps. Just before the Run for the Roses, the Louisville marching band starts up with “My Old Kentucky Home” as the horses head to the starting gate, which will give you chills and maybe a tear in your eye. When you hear, “And they’re off!” it’s just two short minutes and it’s over.
I was in the stands, surrounded by family when we won the Kentucky Derby in 2018 with Justify and I was home with family and friends when we won again in 2020 with Authentic. Both times were exhilarating and surreal. The Run for the Roses is not only a time-honored tradition in Louisville, but also celebrates these beautiful, hard-working thoroughbreds and their teams that get them to this point. A horse only has one chance in their lifetime to run in the Kentucky Derby. And, knowing what it takes for each horse to actually earn a spot at that starting gate makes this one, 2-minute race, so exciting and worth celebrating.
(If you missed my blog post on Derby prep races and what it takes for a horse to earn a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, go check it out!)
