Louisville Science Center Even the beds race as the Kentucky Derby Festival celebrates the Run for the Roses
The Kentucky Derby itself takes just about two minutes -- only one horse, the legendary Secretariat, has ever run the mile and a quarter in less -- but the good folks at the Kentucky Derby Festival have arranged a dizzying schedule of events to surround those few moments, including concerts, fireworks, food, a parade, and every variety of racing.
The celebration kicked off Saturday with Thunder over Louisville, an opening ceremony topped with what festival organizers say is the country's largest annual fireworks display.
Meanwhile, music, theater, art shows, athletics and of course food are abundant, all setting the stage for the 124th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Here's a sampling:
Through April 26. $1 Million Hole-in-One Golf Contest. Sink it in one shot, qualify to win the big bucks.
April 25. Great Balloon Race lifts off at 7 a.m. from the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center grounds. The Mini-Marathon covers the distance on the same day.
April 27. Bedlam in the Streets. The beds parade at 6:30 p.m., and then they race at 7:30 at the Louisville Motor Speedway.
April 28. Run for the Rosé. Carry drinks on a tray and cross the finish line without spilling. The Ramble for the Roses, a 5-mile (8-kilometer) walk, is the same day.
April 29. Great Steamboat Race. Big party on the river starts early in the morning, with the steamboats racing at 5 p.m.
April 30. Pegasus Parade. "Hollywood on Broadway" is the theme for the 43rd annual event.
Admission to many events is free with special festival "Pegasus Pins," which may be purchased for $5 each. Tickets to some concert events are available through TicketMaster. Call the Festival information line at (502) 540-1127 for more information, or visit the Web site at http://www.kdf.org/
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