The Kentucky Derby Festival

The Kentucky Derby festival in Louisville Kentucky got its start back in 1935 with a week long celebration that included: a parade, a riverfront regatta, and also an orchestral concert. The first director of this festival was Olympic gold medalist Arnold Jackson.

Then came the flood of 1937 and the festival was discontinued until 1956 when the modern day Derby Festival was rekindled. Now, the Kentucky Derby Festival has grown to over seventy events which precede one of the oldest organized horse races in the nation: the Kentucky Derby.

The Derby Festival begins

Thunder over Louisville kicks off the Derby festival on April 18th with the nation's largest annual firework celebration on the banks of the Ohio River. A top rated air show begins at 3pm the day of thunder. Thousands of fans line the banks of downtown Louisville to get a look at some of the military's latest aircraft. Skydiving and aerobatics fill the day as aircraft entertain the crowd waiting for the big firework show.

But when night falls in Louisville, and the big firework celebration begins, all eyes are glued to the nighttime sky. Eight three hundred foot barges line up on each side of the Second Street Bridge as Thunder rocks the downtown area. For nearly thirty minutes spectators are rewarded with a firework show without rival. Music booms in synchronization as the fireworks explode into the night time sky casting beautiful reflections on the Ohio River. Since 1991 the fireworks have been designed by Zambelli Fireworks International, which is regarded as the "first family of fireworks."

More festival events

The mighty steamboat race is another big event of the Kentucky Derby Festival. This time honored race is "usually" between the Belle of Louisville and The Delta Queen of Cincinnati Ohio. This race first got its start back in 1963, and is another event which thrills the spectators, both young and old alike. But, this type of race is not handicapped by anyone, because steamboat racing has no rules. So anything is quite possible, which adds to the excitement even more.

The Great Steamboat Race begins at the Clark Memorial Bridge, and proceeds to six mile island before both steamboats turn and race back down river to the finish line. The race usually takes an hour and a half to complete its 14 mile run. Who will win the coveted golden antlers this year in the race? Well, that's just about anyone's guess.

The Pegasus parade is also another event in the Kentucky Derby Festival. In fact, this parade was the first event of the Kentucky Derby festival in 1956 when the festival started again at full swing. One of the largest parades in the country, the Pegasus parade features: floats, marching bands, equestrian units, and also celebrities.

Held on the Thursday before the Kentucky Derby, this parade really packs in the spectators along Broadway in downtown Louisville. In 2007 the attendance was 280,000 people viewing the parade from the sidelines. So arrive early because the parade begins at 5:00 pm.

The Great Balloon Race

This event is another favorite of the Kentucky Derby Festival. This balloon race got its start back in 1973 at Iroquois park with just seven balloons. What began as one race has now grown to a weekend of hot air balloon related activities. Some of these activities are the: balloon tour, balloon glimmer and glow, and of course the "Great Balloon Race."

The 2009 balloon fest will be held from April 23rd through 25th. The great balloon race will be on April 25th weather permitting. Over thirty five balloons race in this annual event as they all chase the hare balloon and where ever the wind decides to take them. Each of these events are free with the purchase of a Pegasus pin; although you will be required to pay a parking fee.

Over two weeks of activities and events lead to the Big race itself. Some of these events vary from year to year while others still remain. There's also the: Volleyball classic, $1 Million hole in one golf tournament, for both ladies and men, and also the Chow Wagon on the waterfront, with just about any type of food you could imagine.

If you're also feeling active, you can try your luck at the annual bed making contest, or the "Great Bed race" on a lighter note. Then you can participate in the 13.1 mile run in the min-marathon. Or you could just sit back and enjoy over 70 events which make up the Kentucky Derby Festival.

Numerous activities fill the festival with: athletic events, concerts, fashion shows, wine tasting, along with luncheons and many private parties and backyard barbecues. The choices of activities are almost endless as the time nears to the biggest event of the year at Churchill downs. This is when the big stars (the thoroughbred horses) come out on the track and run for the roses.

Sources:

www.kdf.org
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Derby_Festival.com