Most people know of the Kentucky Derby as one of the most famous horse races in the United States. Horses, bourbon, big hats, and bright colors fill Churchill Downs from noon to night on the first Saturday in May. In it's hometown, Louisville, Derby Day is celebrated like a holiday. Festivities start two weeks prior to the big race and it makes springtime in Louisville something to look forward to every year.
The kick off to the Kentucky Derby Festival is Thunder over Louisville. Crowds of people, this year nearly 700,000 strong, set up camp in the early morning on the great lawn along the Ohio River to enjoy the Blue Angels and many other fantastic planes in the air show. Music echoes through the city from massive speakers posted up around Waterfront Park. A circle of various food vendors and carnival rides make up the Chow Wagon under the interstate bridge where people file in to get a good corn dog or giant lemonade. Finally when the sun begins to set, rosy cheeks and tan faces turn their attention to the river as the music starts playing in sync to the start of the grandest fireworks show in America. By the end your heart beats to the sound of each crack and the night sky is lit up as bright as day with the magnificent explosions. After forty-five minutes of the overstimulating abundance of fireworks, the massive crowd begins to start the long trek to their car parked two miles away.
After the start of the Festival, there is something going on nearly every night in the two weeks leading up to Derby. The Pegasus Parade is led by the "Peggy Bank" pegasus inflatable and is carried through downtown. The parade features local musicians and marching bands, while promoting Kentucky's equestrian background along with other unique features Louisville has to offer. The Balloon Glow features a field full of hot air balloons showing off their unique colors and patterns that will race through the sky the following morning. I remember as a kid I could watch the balloons float through the sky as I rode the bus on my way to school. Along with the Balloon Race is a Steamboat Race where the well known Belle of Louisville and Spirit of Jefferson steamboats race for steamboat glory as week as a trophy. Not only can people watch these fun races, but Louisville also hosts a marathon and half marathon in which people from all over the world travel to weave through the city streets.
The Kentucky Derby is not just a simple horse race, but an important piece of the unique Louisville culture. Going to the Derby is one thing, but any Louisvillian knows the true way to celebrate is spending the Saturday at a Derby party. Corn hole, betting pools, plaid shorts, and Mint Julips are the keys to a successful Derby Party. Men sit outside drinking beer and smoking cigars, kids help their parents pick the horse with the funniest name or the jockey with the prettiest silks to bet on for the next race, and friends run around outside tossing frisbee or playing badminton. This is the one time a year hosts can break out their collection of Derby glasses collected annually for the past twenty years and hang up all their horse decor and wear funny hats. Derby Day in Louisville, Kentucky is a day that brings people together to have a good time throughout the city and the Kentucky Derby Festival is an incomparable celebration. If someone was to make a visit to Louisville, spring is the time to do it. "The sun shines bright on my Old Kentucky Home."
