LIST: Kentucky Derby Festival events for 2023
It's time to start planning your Kentucky Derby fun.
As always, the Kentucky Derby Festival is hosting dozens of events, like marathons, balloon glows, parades and more.
Here, we've highlighted some of the bigger events and what you need to know about them:
April 13: $1 Million Dollar Hole-in-One Golf Contest
Where: Seneca Golf Course
Now in its 33rd year, the $1 million dollar prize is still up for grabs in the finals of this contest. Anyone from beginners to scratch golfers can take a shot. If no one gets the million, they can still walk away with $5,000 for the closest ball to the hole.
Preliminaries are held for 10 days. The Hole-In-One is open daily. Each golf ball is $1 and you get 10 free golf balls with the purchase of a $7 Pegasus Pin at the event.
April 13: Bourbonville
Where: Frazier History Museum
Multiple distilleries across the Commonwealth will be mixing up signature bourbon cocktails, along with bourbon-inspired cuisine being served up for the night. There are general admission and VIP tickets
*This event is 21 and older*
April 22: Thunder Over Louisville
Where: Louisville and Indiana waterfronts
The firework and airshow serves as the opening ceremony for the Kentucky Derby Festival. This year's theme is "Through the Decades," and fans can expect to see Thunder memories of the past back on display.
The day starts at 3 p.m. with the airshow and caps off with Thunder Over Louisville at 9:30 p.m.
April 25: Taste of Derby
Where: Louisville Slugger Field
The annual event features a sampling some of Louisville's best dishes and also helps a worthy cause, with all proceeds going to the Dare to Care Food Bank Not much.
The event goes from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and features signature dishes from more than 50 of Louisville맥스카지노s finest restaurants and beverage companies. There is also a bourbon tasting, wine tasting, and a silent auction.
Tickets will not be sold at the door. So, you will need to jump on tickets early online.
They're $85 .
April 27 - May 5: Fest-A-Ville (AKA, Chow Wagon)
Where: Louisville Waterfront Park
Food, live music and rides. This more than week-long event runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day and 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
This year's musical acts include J.D. Shellburne, R&B singer Marzz (who has opened for Jack Harlow), Elvis Shane and more.
April 28-29: Great BalloonFest
Where: Bowman Field and Fest-a-Ville
Three balloon events over the course of two days. First on Friday at 7 a.m. is the Rush Hour Race, which starts at Bowman Field. Then later Friday at 8 p.m. at the Fest-a-Ville is the Great Balloon Glow. Things end back at Bowman Field on Saturday at 7 a.m. with the Great Balloon Race.
April 29: miniMarathon and Marathon
Where: Throughout Louisville and southern Indiana
This marks the 50th running of the miniMarathon, which gives runners a scenic tour starting in downtown Louisville, heading through Churchill Downs and finishing at Lynn Family Stadium. The marathon takes a similar course but makes its way over through southern Indiana before finishing at Lynn Family.
The race starts at 7 a.m., with a 6-hour time limit for marathon runners.
April 29: Ken-Ducky Derby
Where: Kroger's Fest-a-Ville at the Ohio River waterfront
46,000 rubber ducks will be dumped into the Ohio River for a chance to race and compete for prizes. People can purchase ducks online beforehand or in person from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Then, at 4 p.m. the drop happens, and at 5 p.m. prizes will be announced for the winning ducks pulled from the water.
Proceeds go to benefit Harbor House of Louisville. Harbor House is a local, nonprofit, charity that lights the way for adults with physical and cognitive disabilities.
April 30: Pegasus Parade
Where: The parade route runs down Broadway in downtown Louisville
The Pegasus Parade returns to Broadway for 2023 on Sunday, April 30. The family-friendly annual event showcases some of the nation's finest marching bands and equestrian units along with inflatable characters and colorful floats.
This year's parade theme is "Celebrating Derby Traditions" to showcase all that makes Derby Festival and Derby time a memorable time of year. Everything will be on display from Derby Festival events, fashions and fascinators to family traditions, horse racing and springtime.
The parade marches west on Broadway for 17 blocks and lasts approximately two hours.
There is plenty of free space to occupy for a good parade-viewing spot, but you can buy tickets to a special bleacher section that gives the best view. .
May 1: Great Bed Races
Where: Kentucky Exposition Center
Grab four of your co-workers, build a bed on wheels, decorate it, dress in a ridiculous costume, and then race to the finish. That's what the KDF Great Bed Races is.
Each year, thousands of enthusiasts gather to cheer on more than 30 teams.
The 2023 theme is "Through the Decades," featuring inspiration from movies, music, fashion, television and sports.
The Parade of Beds is at 6 p.m. followed by the races at 7 p.m.
. Entry fees are $150 per team.
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May 3: Great Steamboat Race
Where: The Wharf at the Ohio River waterfront
As one of the original and longest standing traditions of the Kentucky Derby Festival, the Great Steamboat Race has been taking place on the Ohio River since 1963.
The event pits vessels against each other, including the Belle of Cincinnati, as they compete for bragging rights in this race on the river. It boards at 4:30 p.m. before the race gets underway
The race lasts about 2 hours, finishing back at the Wharf. Following the race, the victor is awarded the pair of coveted Silver Antlers during an Awards Ceremony at the Chow Wagon at Kroger맥스카지노s Fest-a-Ville.
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