Kentucky Derby Festival

Held every year since 1956, Kentucky Derby Festival takes place in Louisville during the few weeks in late April and early May.

It's the largest annual event in Kentucky with a month-long party celebrating the tradition of the state and features several signature events.

The festival is a sequence of cultural and sports events.The unique entertainment events attract more than 1,500,000 guests, locals, and tourists and promise something for everyone. 

For sports fans, there is basketball, volleyball, and golf. For music lovers, the concerts are almost non-stop. 

With two-thirds of the Festival events free, families can enjoy numerous just-for-kids activities. Other highlights include a half and full marathon, hot-air balloon events and live bed racing! 

Among the diverse events of the festival you can find:

• The Pegasus Parade- The parade takes place on the Thursday before Derby and thousands of people line the streets to watch the Pegasus parade.
• Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon- The marathon is one of the top 50 races in the country and features about 15,000 runners from across the US and different countries.
• Great Balloon Race and Great Steamboat Race
• Thunder Over Louisville- It feature one of the nation’s top air shows and one of the largest annual fireworks shows in the country.

So what are you waiting for? Check out the website featured on this page and plan a unique family experience in Kentucky.