The Vince Carter Team Real Estate Blog

It's finally that time-the week we've all been waiting for! The state of Kentucky and the city of Louisville  are known worldwide thanks to the fastest and greatest two minutes of sports that takes place every year at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby horse race.  Dozens of festivities have led up to this race, and now here we are 5 days away, anticipating the results of a 120-second race!

Continue your celebration of the Kentucky Derby this week through a plethora of events right here in Louisville.  Check it out, show up, and get psyched for the Kentucky Derby!

Monday, April 26

Great Bed Races,  Broadbent Arena, 6pm Free admission with Pegasus pin. $6 KEC parking fee. $130 per race team.

ATT Derby Festival Morning Line,  Kentucky Derby Museum,  Monday & Tuesday from 6-11am
Local stations broadcast live from the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Don Fightmaster Golf Outing for Exceptional Children,  Shawnee Golf Course,   9am-12pm
Free admission for spectators. Activities include a lunch and awards ceremony featuring local celebrities.

Discovery Day, Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront,  11am-1:30pm
Free admission with Pegasus pin. No coolers, cans, bottles, or pets allowed. Educational and hands-on activities featuring Stage One: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," Radio Disney Crew, Louisville Lightning Soccer Clinic,& an  inflatable playground. Plus interactive activities with YMCA Healthy Actions Team, Frazier International History Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, etc.

Happy Tail Hour at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville,  5pm-9pm
Free admission with Pegasus pin. PETS ON LEASHES WELCOMED! Adoptable animals will be available.

Knights of Columbus Charity Dinner,  Galt House Archibald Cochran Room,  6pm cocktails & 7pm dinner
Dinner tickets $30. Post-dinner reception tickets $10. Raises money for mentally handicapped. Presentation of Dean Eagle Memorial Award toward person who has excelled in promotion & coverage of Thoroughbred Racing.

Tuesday, April 27

$1 Hole-in-One Finals, Seneca Golf Course Hole #8, 6pm Free for spectators.

Parade Preview Party,  Kentucky Exposition Center South Wing C, Private Group Tours 9am-1pm and open to public 5-9pm
Free admission with Pegasus pin. $6 KEC parking fee. Preview all floats, complete with costumed characters and equestrian additions.

Run for the Rose,  Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront,  11:30am
Free admission with Pegasus pin. Contestants must compete to make it through an obstacle course.

Winefest,  Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront,  April 27-28 5-9pm
$35 per ticket. Includes free valet parking (with ticket purchased at The Melting Pot ), a complimentary wine glass, event pin, and samplings of great wines from over 20 Kentucky wineries.

Texas Hold'em Tournament, Belle of Cincinnati at Kroger's Fest-A-Ville on the Waterfront, 4pm boarding & 6pm tournament
Includes 1 hour cruise. $15 per person. Entry is $125 buy-in, which includes $10,000 in chips and a commemorative pin. Limited to 325 participants.

Ramble for the Roses, Iroquois Park, 4-8pm
Walk begins at 6pm. Non-competitive 5K walk. Playground, cookout selection of food, drink, & children's games. Rain or shine. Free commemorative t-shirt with registration.

Anthem Healthy Lifestyle Showcase,  Jefferson Mall, 8am-2pm Health screenings provided. Aimed toward senior citizens.

Rhythmfest Featuring En Vogue with Midnight Star,  Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, 8pm Midnight Star  & 9pm En VogueFree admission with Pegasus Pin.

Wednesday, April 28

Great Steamboat Race,  4:45 boarding, 5:45 departure, 6pm race
$130 Belle of Louisville tickets. $75 Belle of Cincinnati tickets.

Battle of the Bounce,  Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, 11am
Free admission with Pegasus pin. $75 per person (four person teams) to enter. Incredible obstacle course competition.

James McMurtry Concert, Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront, 7pm Will Hoge & 8pm James McMurtry
Free admission with Pegasus pin. No coolers, cans, bottles, or pets.

Don't miss out! There is still time to participate in this year's Kentucky Derby Festival 

Experience all the other great festival offerings, varied enough for every budget. Only a city as fantastic as Louisville could serve up such a month full of festivities! Check back Wednesday right here with The Vince Carter Team for a complete list of the final Kentucky Derby Events, and again on Friday to learn about the horses that make it all happen! See you then!

The state of Kentucky and the city of Louisville  are known worldwide thanks to the fastest and greatest two minutes of sports that takes place every year at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby horse race.  But many are unaware that the festivities leading up to this race begin even months before-a lot of energy goes into celebrating and anticipating the results of a 120-second race!

Even though the Kentucky Derby  is only 15 days away, you can begin your celebration this week through a variety of events right here in Louisville.  Check it out, show up, and get psyched for the Kentucky Derby!    

Friday, April 16

The AFB Fillies Derby Ball,  Galt House East Grand Ballroom,  6:30pm   $150/person                               

                                Corporate tables of 10 for $1,875
                                Features coronation of Derby Festival Queen

Saturday, April 17

Volleyball Classic,  Baxter Jack's  & Waterfront Park,  9am-9pm Country's largest outdoor vball tournament. Free admission with Pegasus pin.

Portland Thunder Block Party, 2000 Block of Northwestern Parkway, 2pm-12am Free admission with Pegasus pin.

Boomtown Presented by Tumbleweed, Tumbleweed on the Waterfront, 11am-11pm
Free admission

THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE, Downtown on the Riverfront
11am-Food & Festivities begin
3pm-Airshow begins
9:30pm-FIREWORKS BEGIN
Largest fireworks display in the area!
"Thunder Over Louisville is not only the official opening ceremonies for the two fun-filled weeks of the Kentucky Derby Festival, it is also the nation's largest annual fireworks show.

Rated as one of the top 100 events in North America, the Derby Festival's Opening Ceremonies is truly a sight to behold.  And each year, more than 500,000 eager thrill-seekers do just that.

The Thunder Air Show dazzles the crowd with more than 100 planes, aerobatics teams, daring sky diving teams and breathtaking stunts.  And the amazing technology of the United States Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines are always crowd favorites.  The assortment of military aircraft and demo teams in the sky and in the water make the Louisville waterfront come to life.

Other show features include Howitzers from Fort Knox, the latest humvee technology and M-1 Abrams Tanks.  Much like America's favorite pastime, Thunder salutes our country by waving the largest US flag ever flown.  It soars above the crowd via helicopter tow as the National Anthem provides a musical backdrop.

When it gets dark, the Thunder rolls.  The show will feature the latest in pyrotechnic power from Zambelli Internationale, America's "first family of fireworks".  Eight 400-foot barges assemble on both sides of the 2nd Street Bridge to form the stage from which the fireworks spectacular ignites.

The breathtaking and mind-numbing 28-minute show includes the Zambelli's signature one-mile "waterfall" effect off the bridge, making the fireworks seem to rain down forever.  And in the crowd's memory of the show, it does!

After more than a decade, the show remains the largest annual pyrotechnic display in North America.  Seen by millions worldwide via a July 4th rebroadcast on the Armed Forces Network to more than 150 countries, it is the state's pride.  A Discovery Channel documentary on fireworks shows says it best, ‘Thunder is the Grand-daddy of them all!'." http://kdf.org/events-Thunder-Over-Louisville.html

Sunday, April 18

Kentucky Derby Museum Launch Party,  at the Kentucky Derby Museum, 12pm-2pm  Free admission with Pegasus pin.

Children's Tea with the Derby Festival Princesses,  The Olmstead, 2pm  $25 per ticket, reservations required.

Monday, April 19

King Southern Bank Pro-Am Golf Tournament,  Audubon Country Club, Tee times begin at 12pm
$2,000 per team.

If you can make it to anything this weekend, make it to THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE. You will never forget this spectacular display of lights and sounds. Better yet, head out to enjoy all of this weekend's festivities, most of which are free with a Pegasus pin!

So this year, don't let the Kentucky Derby Festival be just about the

Derby.  Instead, take advantage of

the opportunity to experience the other great festival offerings, varied enough for every budget. Only a

city as fantastic as Louisville could serve up such a month full of festivities!

Check back each week right here with The Vince Carter Team to stay up to date on your Kentucky Derby Festival activities.