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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Short description|Celebration held prior to the Kentucky Derby}}
{{multiple issues|
{{Rewrite lead|date=April 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2018}}
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{{Infobox recurring event |
|name = Kentucky Derby Festival
|logo =
|image = Louisville fireworks.jpg
|imagesize = 250px
|caption = Thunder Over Louisville
|___location = [[Louisville, Kentucky]], US
|years_active = 1935–1937, 1956–2019, 2021–present
|dates = The two weeks prior to the [[Kentucky Derby]]
|genre = Horse racing
|website = {{URL|https://kdf.org/}}
}}
The '''Kentucky Derby Festival''' is an annual festival held in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], during the two weeks preceding the first Saturday in May, the day of the [[Kentucky Derby]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://discover.kdf.org/what-is-the-kentucky-derby-festival/ |title=What is the Derby Festival®? – Our Story |website=Kentucky Derby Festival |access-date=January 31, 2024 |quote=The Festival blasts off each year with the Opening Ceremonies – Thunder Over Louisville, one of the nation’s largest annual fireworks extravaganzas! The ensuing two weeks of excitement and entertainment promise something for everyone. |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131073622/https://discover.kdf.org/what-is-the-kentucky-derby-festival/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The festival, [[Kentucky]]'s largest single annual event, first ran from 1935 to 1937, and restarted in 1956.
The festival's main components are: [[Thunder Over Louisville]], the largest annual [[fireworks display]] in North America; the [[Great Steamboat Race]], featuring the [[Belle of Louisville]] and the [[Pegasus Parade]].
==History==
The Kentucky Derby Festival Association started the first week-long festival in 1935, including a parade, a riverfront regatta and an orchestral concert. The first director was Olympic gold medalist [[Arnold Jackson (athlete)|Arnold Jackson]]. In 1937, a Derby Festival king and queen were crowned, marking the start of this tradition. After the floods of 1937, the festival was discontinued and it was not until 1956 when the modern-day Kentucky Derby Festival was reborn. In 2020, the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19, the first such cancellation since 1938.
In 1962 [[Tom "Cactus" Brooks]] received the first Kentucky Derby Festival Silver Horseshoe Award, "given to a person who had made a difference in the community and in youth development".<ref>{{cite news|title=Fireworks Show Honors 'Cactus'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/109025350/|work=The Courier-Journal|date=April 30, 1962|accessdate=December 28, 2020|___location=Louisville, Kentucky|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129015625/https://www.newspapers.com/image/109025350/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Official events==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2008}}
===The Royal Court===
The Royal Court is among the oldest traditions of the Kentucky Derby Festival tradition, dating back to the 1950s by The Fillies, Inc. The Royal Court consists of a group of five young women chosen to preside over events related to the Kentucky Derby. These women officially represent both the Derby Festival and the city of Louisville.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.derbycraze.com/kentucky-derby-festivals.html |title=Famous Kentucky Derby Festivals |website=derbycraze.com |access-date=August 5, 2013 |archive-date=August 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808055210/http://www.derbycraze.com/kentucky-derby-festivals.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January, a court of Derby Princesses is selected from a pool of more than 1000 applicants. Thirty finalists are selected and the pool is then reduced to five young women who make up the court. Criteria for the selection of the court members includes knowledge of the Derby Festival, poise, intelligence, personality, academic excellence and campus/community involvement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ryan |first=Jacob |url=http://www.whas11.com/sports/derby-horse-racing/Kentucky-Derby-Festival-Queen-crowned-203921291.html |title=2013 Kentucky Derby Festival Queen crowned {{pipe}} WHAS11.com Louisville |publisher=Whas11.com |date=April 20, 2013 |access-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105160318/http://www.whas11.com/sports/derby-horse-racing/Kentucky-Derby-Festival-Queen-crowned-203921291.html |archive-date=November 5, 2013 }}</ref>
The court attends nearly 70 events during the two-week period leading up to the Kentucky Derby. The queen is selected by a spin of the wheel at the Annual Fillies Derby Ball.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefillies.org/|title=ACW Fillies – Home|website=thefillies.org|language=en|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619165810/http://thefillies.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> The festival saw this method of queen selections as the most fair way to select from their court and the tradition continues today. Each member of the court is awarded a $2000 scholarship, an entire wardrobe for the festival, VIP access to all events and a chauffeur for the entire two weeks of the official Kentucky Derby Festival.
===Thunder Over Louisville===
[[File:Thunder Over Louisville.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Fireworks at Thunder Over Louisville]]
The festival's first major event is [[Thunder Over Louisville]]. Thunder kicks off with a day-long air show and one of the largest [[fireworks display]]s in North America.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lammers|first1=Braden|title=Distinguished service awards presented to the men behind Thunder Over Louisville|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2014/04/11/distinguished-service-awards-presented-to-the-men.html?page=all|access-date=October 16, 2014|work=Louisville Business First|publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=April 11, 2014|archive-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025061258/http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2014/04/11/distinguished-service-awards-presented-to-the-men.html?page=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Kleber">{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Clay W. |editor-first=John E. |editor-last=Kleber |year=2001 |title=The Encyclopedia of Louisville |chapter=Thunder Over Louisville |page=883 |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |___location=[[Lexington, Kentucky]] |isbn=0-8131-2100-0 |oclc=247857447 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC |access-date=April 21, 2024 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313151808/https://books.google.com/books?id=pXbYITw4ZesC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Gege |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/events/kentucky-derby/festival/2024/03/04/kentucky-derby-festival-2024-top-16-louisville-events/72486057007/ |title=From Thunder Over Louisville to the parade, 2024's top 16 Kentucky Derby Festival events |date=March 4, 2024 |work=[[Courier Journal]] |access-date=April 20, 2024}}</ref>
=== Fest-A-Ville ===
During the festival, much of [[Louisville Waterfront Park|Waterfront Park]] is billed as "Fest-A-Ville". It hosts a number of events, including the Chow Wagon, rides, and concerts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/krogers-fest-a-ville/|title=Kroger's Fest-a-Ville|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=March 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306194244/https://discover.kdf.org/krogers-fest-a-ville/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/chow-wagon/|title=Chow Wagon|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424035039/https://discover.kdf.org/chow-wagon/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Poster ===
Each year, an official Derby Festival poster is unveiled and prints are sold to help finance festival events.
=== Pegasus Parade ===
[[File:2013 CMB Pegasus Parade IMG 1828.jpg|thumb|left|The [[University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band]] appearing at the 2013 [[Pegasus Parade]]]]
The first event held by KDF was the 1956 Pegasus Parade.<ref name="discover.kdf.org">{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/pegasusparade/|title=Republic Bank Pegasus Parade|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208023133/https://discover.kdf.org/pegasusparade/|url-status=live}}</ref> The parade is held annually on the Thursday before Derby.<ref name="discover.kdf.org" />
[[NBC]] [[Today (American TV program)|Today Show]] weatherman [[Willard Scott]] was the host of [[WAVE (TV)|WAVE TV's]] broadcast coverage of the Pegasus Parade from 1982 through 2005.<ref name=ScottHam>{{Cite news|last=Dorsey|first=Tom|date=April 29, 1982|title=Willard Scott Has Always Been Somewhat of a Ham|language=en-US|work=The Courier Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/109527933/?terms=Willard%20Scott&match=1|access-date=November 26, 2022|archive-date=November 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128182214/https://www.newspapers.com/image/109527933/?terms=Willard%20Scott&match=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=PegasusParade>{{cite web |title=Here are 11 fun facts about the Pegasus Parade |url=https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/kentucky-derby-festival-pegasus-parade-fun-facts/417-cfced9ca-982b-460f-a16e-d51a9d507112 |website=whas11.com |date=May 2022 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128182212/https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/kentucky-derby-festival-pegasus-parade-fun-facts/417-cfced9ca-982b-460f-a16e-d51a9d507112 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Sports ===
Various sport competitions are held as part of the Festival, including the Derby Festival Volleyball Classic.<ref>{{cite web|first=Danielle|last=Goodman|title=Players compete in 34th annual Derby Festival Volleyball Classic at Seneca Park|date=April 30, 2023|work=WLKY|url=https://www.wlky.com/article/derby-festival-volleyball-classic-seneca-park-louisville/43750943|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502110910/https://www.wlky.com/article/derby-festival-volleyball-classic-seneca-park-louisville/43750943|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1973 to 2017, the Festival hosted the [[Derby Festival Basketball Classic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/preps/kentucky/2018/02/01/kentucky-derby-festival-basketball-classic-canceled-2018/1087768001/|title=No hoops for you: Kentucky Derby Festival cancels high school basketball all-star game|work=The Courier-Journal|access-date=April 16, 2018|language=en|archive-date=May 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510050440/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/preps/kentucky/2018/02/01/kentucky-derby-festival-basketball-classic-canceled-2018/1087768001/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1974, a [[pro-am]] [[golf]] tournament has been held.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/pro-am/|title=Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Pro-Am Golf Tournament|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023418/https://discover.kdf.org/pro-am/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==== Races ====
[[File:Kentucky Derby Festival, Great Balloon Race.jpg|thumb|225x225px|The Great Balloon Race]]A number of races take place in the festival. The Kentucky Derby Festival [[Mini marathon|miniMarathon]] and [[Marathon]] occur the Saturday before the Kentucky Derby. The mini has been held since 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://derbyfestivalmarathon.com/history/|title=Race History|website=derbyfestivalmarathon.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417023500/https://derbyfestivalmarathon.com/history/|url-status=live}}</ref> That same Saturday is typically also when the Great [[Hot air ballooning|Balloon Race]] is held,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/u-s-bank-great-balloon-race/|title=U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest: Great Balloon Race|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426194341/https://discover.kdf.org/u-s-bank-great-balloon-race/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the culmination of the hot air balloon-themed BalloonFest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/u-s-bank-great-balloonfest/|title=U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=March 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306194328/https://discover.kdf.org/u-s-bank-great-balloonfest/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Recognition is given to Louisville's restaurant employees with the [[Run for the Rosé]], where waiters and waitresses run an [[obstacle course]] while carrying trays of glasses filled with wine.{{reference needed|date=October 2024}}
For the annual [[bed]] races, businesses create themed mobile beds that are paraded before being race on an indoor track with costumed employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/great-bed-races/|title=Thorntons Great Bed Races|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401102242/https://discover.kdf.org/great-bed-races/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Great [[Steamboat]] Race usually takes place in the week before Derby, where the [[Belle of Louisville]] typically takes on at least one challenger.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/great-steamboat-race/|title=Great Steamboat Race Presented by IBEW Local 369|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903043546/https://discover.kdf.org/great-steamboat-race/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Miscellaneous ===
Since 1997, a spelling bee has been held for the festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discover.kdf.org/spelling-bee/|title=Ford Motor Company Spelling Bee|website=discover.kdf.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709150125/https://discover.kdf.org/spelling-bee/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Pegasus pins ==
Since 1973, KDF has sold a plastic [[Lapel pin|pin]] for the Kentucky Derby featuring a [[pegasus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pegasuspins.com/collector-info/pin-trading-schedule-price-guide/|title=Pin Trading, Schedule & Price Guide|website=pegasuspins.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706225233/https://pegasuspins.com/collector-info/pin-trading-schedule-price-guide/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pegasuspins.com/faqs/|title=Pegasus Pin FAQs|website=pegasuspins.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707003228/https://pegasuspins.com/faqs/|url-status=live}}</ref> The pin is used as proof of purchase for admission to a number of the KDF events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pegasuspins.com/pegasus-pin-admission-events/|title=Pegasus Pin Admission Events|website=pegasuspins.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707033044/https://pegasuspins.com/pegasus-pin-admission-events/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Derby cruising==
A controversial aspect of the Derby Festival is "Derby Cruising." Though it is not an official or licensed event during Derby Festival, it takes place in the historically black areas of West Broadway on Derby day and the Friday before it. Cruising consists of motorcycles and cars (many elaborately modified) driving slowly down Broadway, pedestrians crowding the sidewalks, and several blocks closed for a festival with rides and street vendors. The gridlock associated with cruising made it difficult for police to respond to instances of violence during 2005 Derby cruising. In 2006, police made an effort to stop cruising, shutting down Broadway except to [[emergency vehicle]]s, which resulted in suggestions of [[racial profiling]] and much public debate about the legitimacy of Broadway cruising as a free alternative to other festivities.<ref name="cj070501">{{cite news|title= City can use plan to stop cruising|date=May 1, 2007|author=Adams, Jim|publisher=[[Courier-Journal]]|pages=1A}}</ref>
In 2007, police announced similar plans, although slightly more of Broadway was to remain open, including access to [[Shawnee Park]]. The 2007 plan sparked a lawsuit by business owners and a [[civil rights]] foundation, claiming the shutdown of Broadway during Derby week violated their [[constitutional right]]s and cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars in business. A [[United States federal judge|federal judge]] allowed the plans to proceed, citing concerns about "public safety and the free flow of traffic".<ref name="cj070501" />
In 2008, police again banned cruising, but with a new plan allowing traffic to flow but to have a high number of officers on hand to enforce the city's noise and cruising ordinances, the latter of which prevents vehicles from blocking a roadway.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cruising law stirs debate on fairness, clarity|date=May 27, 2007|author=Adams, Jim|publisher=[[Courier-Journal]]|pages=1A}}</ref> Police reported that arrests were down from 2007, although they did shut down a 10-block portion of Broadway for a short time on Derby evening after gridlock developed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cruising arrests down|publisher=[[Courier-Journal]]|author=Hershberg, Ben Zion|pages=5B|date=May 5, 2008}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Hillbilly Outfield: Kentucky Derby party]]
* [[List of attractions and events in the Louisville metropolitan area]]
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://kdf.org/}}
* [https://thunderoverlouisville.org/ Thunder Over Louisville website]
* [https://discover.kdf.org/greatballoonfest/ Great BalloonFest website]
* [https://discover.kdf.org/great-steamboat-race/ Great Steamboat Race website]
* [https://discover.kdf.org/pegasusparade/ Pegasus Parade website]
* [https://derbyfestivalmarathon.com/ Derby Festival miniMarathon & Marathon website]
{{Kentucky Derby}}
{{Louisville}}
[[Category:Kentucky
[[Category:Festivals established in 1956]]
[[Category:Horse racing meetings]]
[[Category:Marathons in the United States]]
[[Category:Hot air balloon festivals]]
[[Category:Parades in the United States]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:April]]
[[Category:May]]
[[Category:Sports festivals in the United States]]
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