LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - As we head down the homestretch of Derby season, the Kentucky Derby Festival still has plenty of events for you and your family to get out to.
Here is everything that you need to know about what KDF has going on until Derby morning.
Stock Yards Bank $1 Million Dollar Hole-in-One Golf Contest℠
The Stock Yards Bank $1 Million Dollar Hole-In-One Golf Contest kicked off on April 17, at the Seneca Golf Course Driving Range off Pee Wee Reese Road and goes until April 27 with the exception of Sunday, April 20 for Easter.
Preliminaries are held for 10 days. The Hole-In-One is open daily. Each golf ball is only $1. Get 10 FREE golf balls with the purchase of a $10 Pegasus Pin at the event. (Offer is only valid once per day)
- Thursday, April 17 – Saturday, April 19; Monday, April 21 – Saturday, April 26, 2025 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
- Sunday, April 27, 2025 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM6:00 PM: Semi-Finals
- Tuesday, April 29, 2025 6:00 PM: Finals at Hole #8, Seneca Golf Course
- *Closed April 20 for Easter
In addition, there are also two upcoming special days. Monday, April 21 is First Responders and Veterans Day. Tuesday, April 22 is Ladies Day.
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Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville℠
- April 24 – May 2, 2025
- 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Daily Hours
- 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sunday Hours
Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront will return for its 19th year in 2025. Sponsored by Kroger, the party starts on the Great Lawn and runs through Derby Eve. It promises to have something for everyone – and admission is free with a 2025 Pegasus Pin.
As part of Fest-a-Ville, the Chow Wagon returns to Waterfront Park on the Ohio River. The Music Stage will feature live concerts with local and regional entertainment and a wide variety of musical genres including jazz, R&B, country, rock and blues.
L&N Federal Credit Union Great BalloonFest
Colorful hot air balloons will light up the Louisville skyline during one of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s signature and most picturesque events – The L&N Federal Credit Union Great BalloonFest.
The 2025 BalloonFest features four events taking to the skies:
- L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Glow – Thursday, April 24, 9:00 PM at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville
- L&N Federal Credit Union Rush-Hour Race – Friday, April 25, 7:00 AM at Bowman Field
- L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Glow – Friday, April 25, 9:00 PM at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville
- L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Race – Saturday, April 26, 7:00 AM at Bowman Field
Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology
- Friday, April 25, 7:00 p.m.
The inaugural Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology kicks off a full weekend of racing with the traditional GE Appliances miniMarathon and Marathon on Saturday, April 26!
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Participants will run a looped course that starts and finishes at Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park and includes a lap on the Big 4 Bridge. The 5K is open to participants age 10 and up. All 5K Participants will receive a medal and shirt.
The registration fee is $45.
Mayor’s Derby Brunch on the River
- Sunday, April 27, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Kick off Derby Week by enjoying a festive brunch featuring an authentic Kentucky breakfast, music, live and silent auctions, and tours of the historic Farnsley-Moremen property! The 2025 event will mark Riverside’s 20th year hosting this annual brunch.
Tickets are $125 per person or $950 for a table of eight.
For tickets or more information, call 502-935-6809 or visit www.riverside-landing.org.
Zoeller® Pump Company Pegasus® Parade
- Sunday, April 27, 3:00 p.m.
- West Broadway from Campbell to 9th St
The 2025 Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade returns to Broadway in Downtown Louisville on Sunday, April 27. This family-friendly annual event showcases some of the nation’s finest marching bands and equestrian units, along with inflatable characters and colorful floats.
The theme of the 2025 Pegasus Parade is “Happy Derby: Pink Out Party!” and will celebrate spring and one of the Festival’s favorite colors. Participants and spectators are encouraged to come decked out in pink and help us paint Broadway in one of the signature colors of the Festival!
The parade marches west on Broadway for 17 blocks and lasts approximately two hours.
Samtec Great Bed Races
- Monday, April 28, 6:00 p.m.
- Broadbent Arena - 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 pretty much sums up the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Bed Races.
Each year, thousands of enthusiasts gather to cheer on more than 30 teams, while on-air personalities from WAVE TV anchor the live coverage from every angle, from the crowd to the parade of beds, to every last heat.
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Admission is free with a 2025 Pegasus Pin and parking is $15. The tailgate party starts at 1:00 p.m.
Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race
- Wednesday, April 30, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
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. Ask any local, this event has become a Louisville tradition in the leadup to Derby weekend!
The event pits vessels against each other, including the Belle of Cincinnati, as they compete for bragging rights in this race on the river!
The Belle of Cincinnati was declared the winner in 2024. Come see if our beloved local steamboat reigns supreme and takes back the coveted Silver Antlers in 2025.
The race lasts about 2 hours, finishing back at the Wharf. Following the race, the victor is awarded the pair of Silver Antlers during an Awards Ceremony on the Belle of Louisville.
- 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Boarding
- 5:45 p.m. Departure
- 6:00 p.m. Race Begins
Belle of Louisville tickets are $200, which includes a cruise on the Ohio River, dinner, beverages, an open bar and live entertainment.
Tickets are $85 on the Belle of Cincinnati for the cruise only, and $130 for dinner and the cruise.
Louisville Urban League Derby Gala
- Wednesday, April 30 6:00 p.m.
- Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center
This festive affair features Grammy-nominated artist Janelle Monáe. Dinner, live concert, dancing, auction, bourbon pull and more are all part of the festivities. Produced by the Louisville Urban League, with all proceeds benefiting the Louisville Urban League. For tickets and more info, lul.org, or (502) 585-4622.
For a full list of Kentucky Derby Festival events, click here.
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