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139th Kentucky Derby Festival Videos and Pictures

Published On May 3, 2013

The Kentucky Derby Festival provides an exciting array of events, entertainment, and activities for the people of Louisville – all for the low cost of a simple Pegasus Pin. This horse racing focused organization is actually a separate entity from Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, but no one represents the spirit of the race quite like the Kentucky Derby Festival. Listed below are the best videos taken of the 2013 celebration.

2013 Pegasus Parade pictures and videos

While the Pegasus Parade occurs a couple of days before the Kentucky Derby, fans of this event are quick to upload their experiences online. Within 24 hours of the 2013 Pegasus Parade, photos and videos have emerged that highlight a lot of local entertainers.

Good weather for the Great Balloon Race

It can be a little bit tricky for amateurs to capture good video and photographs of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Balloon events. However, fans were lucky this year because the weather permitted great media coverage from the 2013 event. Here are some uploads that highlight amateurs using professional filming techniques with music or commentary.

Everyone’s favorite food photos at the Chow Wagon

More Derby FoodLouisville represents a wide array of fine taste buds, and festival food takes on a lot of meanings during the Kentucky Derby. In addition to food truck gourmet and local five-star restaurant talent, there are also once-a-year BBQ booths that show up at the Chow Wagon on the Riverfront during Derby. Pictures of this event are always rather hard to find, but food fans and major news sources in Louisville are definitely representing their 2013 favorites this year.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/22072396/krogers-fest-a-ville?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8809476

http://www.wdrb.com/story/22072396/krogers-fest-a-ville

http://screen.yahoo.com/chow-wagon-on-the-waterfront-brings-good-eats-music-32003497.html

Kroger’s 2013 Fest-a-Ville music highlights

The week before the Kentucky Derby, music is performed live for free at Louisville’s Waterfront Park. The event is one that most locals make a point of attending, and it is sponsored by Kroger groceries. The 2013 headliners at this event included the Velcro Pygmies, Jefferson Tarc Bus, Jacob Dylan and his father Bob Dylan.

 

 

2013 Kentucky Derby for Kids

Published On May 3, 2013

There is a lot of focus on betting during the Kentucky Derby, but this does not mean that this is solely an adult-oriented event. Instead, kids are at the heart of Kentucky Derby celebrations all over America. To get an idea of how Kentucky annually incorporates horse racing with festivities for kids, take a look at the May 4, 2013 Kentucky Derby events below.

Kids welcome at the racetrack for the 2013 Derby

Kentucky Derby for KidsDo you live outside of Kentucky and want to take your kids to celebrate the 2013 Derby? Your city may not have an organized celebration that focuses on this event, but it is highly likely that your local racetrack does. Interestingly, Portland Meadows and Golden Gate Fields are hosting a 2013 Kentucky Derby party and children are welcome to attend. In addition to hanging out in the lounge and eating from the buffet, kids can also visit the stables and participate in child-oriented organized activities.

Frankfort Kentucky’s Derby Celebration

Locals in Frankfort, Kentucky’s capitol want to ensure that kids have a safe space to celebrate the Derby in 2013. For this reason, the Historic Society will host an event during The (Kentucky) Governor’s Downtown Derby Celebration that will have several exhibits for kids on display. One is a mobile exhibit sponsored by Toyota called “A Kentucky Journey.” This celebration will also host Hobbyhorse Races at the Old State Capitol, derby hat making for kids, carriage rides, pony rides, and give kids a chance to visit retired racing Thoroughbreds.

Louisville’s pre-Derby festival events for kids

Kids in Louisville enjoy three weeks of Derby events each year that welcome them at every turn. With the exception of the marathon, all of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s events have a place set aside for children. However, some of this entertainment features children as performers. For example, the Louisville Youth Orchestra performed at the Iroquois Amphitheater and children signed up to run in the Children’s Marathon. Other kid-centric activities in Louisville are the “Children’s Tea with the Kentucky Derby Festival Princesses” and the Great Bed Races.

Kids Zone in the Kentucky Derby Infield on Derby Day

The Kentucky Derby is well-known for the wild party that happens in the center of the track at Churchill Downs. If you watch videos recorded in the infield on Derby Day, you might feel that it is not very child-friendly. Interestingly, recent headlines confirm the fact that someone at Churchill Downs has decided to take charge of the situation and create a child-friendly Infield area.

According to the Kentucky Derby’s website blog, the Infield is being divided into three parts. In one area, it will be the “Young At Heart Party” where adults can get a little buck wild without kids around. In a third area, the grassy first turn of the infield will have a picnic environment for well-supervised children and their parents.

 

Top 10 Best Pegasus Parade Videos

Published On Apr 24, 2013

Each year, thousands of tourists flock to Louisville to watch the Pegasus Parade. Held in the week before the Kentucky Derby, the parade has been ongoing for decades. Although some years are sparse, most of the time you can expect to see a celebrity leading the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Pegasus Parade as the Grand Marshal. For example, comedic pop singer Cyndi Lauper have more than a few funny moments when she led in 2012.

Sadly, it is not easy to find great Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade videos. However, our staff took the time to compile 10 of the best Pegasus Parade videos that show all of the best dancing, horses, marching bands, celebrities and excitement found that this event.

1. Muhammad Ali in the crowd

As a Louisville native, Mohammed Ali has maintained presence in the city in several ways. However, what is interesting is that you can often find this celebrity in the most unlikely places. A good example is this 2008 footage of Ali signing autographs before the Pegasus Parade.

2. Prince Charming at 2012 Pegasus Parade

Josh Dallas is a current TV heartthrob in his role as Prince Charming in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time.” He also had a funny interview during the 2012 Pegasus Parade with an over-excited journalist that you will not want to miss.

3. The 2nd Marine Division Band

One of the best live acts in America, a performance by the 2nd Marine Division Band is considered a real treat. These musicians make regular appearances at the Pegasus Parade, and there are several excellent videos online that prove this point.

4. An entire Pegasus Parade in a nutshell

Strangely, a roundup of all the major parts of a single Pegasus Parade is difficult to find. One exception is a great video of the 2010 Pegasus Parade. If you are looking for a way to show someone what this parade is all about and why they should go, this is the video you will want to show them.

5. Horses at the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade

One of the best parts about watching the Pegasus Parade is seeing mini-horses, working horses, and winning Thoroughbreds. As an official horse-oriented event, there are also other equine-based demonstrations during the Pegasus Parades that cannot be found anywhere else.

6. Vintage 1990s Pegasus Parade footage

Are you curious about what the Pegasus Parade looked like years ago? Footage of the Grayson County Middle School Band and the South Oldham High School Band from the early 1990s gives you a chance to take a trip down memory lane. Along with the bands, there are also shots of the crowd.

7. Downright silly whimsical music acts

Often called one of the greatest shows on Earth, the eccentric multi-person marching band called Mucca Pazza made an appearance at the 2008 Pegasus Parade. Although their performance was toned down compared to their usual gigs, it was still in the spirit of weirdness that Louisville is known for.

8. Extraordinary marching band performances

If you enjoy live music performances in the style of marching bands, the annual Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus parade is one that you will not want to miss. This footage was recorded by an attendant and has some of the best sound quality for Pegasus Parade marching band footage online.

9. The Derby City Rollers

Louisville, Kentucky absolutely adores the annual demonstration by the Derby City Rollers at the Pegasus Parade. There are many fans that have produced brief clips of their acts, but few are as clean or lengthy as this one from the 2011 parade.

10. Willard Scott’s 1992 Pegasus Parade coverage

NBC has a history of covering the Kentucky Derby and other related events. While most are of high quality, few are as a funny as Willard Scott’s appearance as a commentator at the Pegasus Parade in 1992. Perhaps Willard had a few too many mint juleps? Judge for yourself in this video.

Kentucky Derby Festival: Balloon Race

Published On Apr 22, 2013

One of the biggest baby and child-friendly happenings of the Kentucky Derby Festival is the balloon events. Sponsored by U.S. Bank, there are five ways to celebrate spread out over three days. This year the 2013 Great Balloon Fest will be held from April 25 to 27. While it seems very straightforward, the truth is that many tourists get lost because they forget the times and which location they need to be. To avoid those issues, we have compiled the essential information below. With a little bit of insight, you will have your facts straight, and you can use this article to see all of the action that the 2013 Kentucky Derby Balloon Fest has to offer.

US Bank Balloons

Did you get a Pegasus Pin?

In order to attend any of the Great Balloon Festival events, you will need to have a Pegasus Pin. This pin helps pay for events related to the Kentucky Derby Festival and is the only ticket you will need at the Balloon Fest sites. If you are a tourist, you may not be aware that corporate grocery stores and gas stations in Louisville are the place that you can buy the pins for $5 each. Parents will need to wear a Pegasus Pin for each child present. Although there are often Pegasus Pins available at the gate, you do not want to be caught in a situation where they have sold out for the night.

Balloons, Music, and the Waterfront

The first to events of the Balloon Fest will be held at Waterfront Park on April 25. One event begins at 5:00 PM and the other is at 8:30 PM. However, these dates are not concurrent with the Chow Wagon. In other words, you will not be able to expect to eat Chow Wagon food when you watch the balloons at Waterfront Park. Nevertheless, Kroger’s Fest-A-Ville will be sponsoring entertainment during the Waterfront Balloon Festival events.

2013 Balloon Fest schedule of events

Kentucky Derby BalloonsOne of the most important things to remember is that the Balloon Festival will be held in three different locations. Another thing that is confusing is that the times can vary drastically. For these reasons, be sure to recheck your information carefully before you drive all over town.

To stay organized, the complete 2013 Great Balloon Fest schedule is listed below. For more information or a last minute changes due to the weather, check with the Kentucky Derby Festival website.

Schedule for the 2013 US Bank Great Balloon Festival:

  • Thursday, April 25, 5 PM, Waterfront Park: Crew Challenge with Kroger’s Fest-A-Ville
  • Thursday, April 25, 8:30 PM, Waterfront Park: Great Balloon Glimmer with Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville
  • Friday, April 26, 7 AM Bowman Field: Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race
  • Friday, April 26, 6 PM, Kentucky Exposition Center: Great Balloon Glow (Note: $8 KEC parking fee)
  • Saturday, April 27, 7 AM, Bowman Field: Great Balloon Race

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