Schedule:

Kroger's Fest-a-Ville

The ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE featuring concerts with local and regional acts, family fun, food, kids’ inflatable playground, midway rides and more.

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.The 900,000-square-foot venue will host several Festival events, including the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Glow, Chow Wagon, Ohio Valley Wrestling Run for the Ropes, HappyTail Hour, Ken-Ducky Derby and more.

Fest-a-Ville also offers a wide variety of activities for children, featuring midway-area and attractions at Pegasus Play-Ville Presented by Norton Children’s, including merry-go-round, ships ahoy, a giant slide and much more.

From the opening day ribbon-cutting to Derby Eve, Fest-a-Ville will be the downtown destination at Kentucky Derby Festival time.

11:00 AM – 11:00 PM: Daily Hours
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Sunday Hours

Location: Waterfront Park

Chow Wagon

Happy Hour Weekdays from 4:00 – 6:00 PM
$4 Beer at the Beer Garden

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.

The Chow Wagon is food and fun! You can feast on everything from cookie dough to turkey legs and elephant ears. There’s something for everyone!

Where else can you find great food and live musical entertainment in a riverside setting for a 2025 Pegasus Pin admission? Meet your coworkers for lunch or come down for an evening concert. There’s no way to go wrong by making a visit to this great outdoor party.

11:00 AM – 11:00 PM: Daily
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Sunday

Location: Kroger's Fest-a-Ville

4:00 PM – 8:00 PM - Race Expo And Packet Pick-Up
GE Appliances Derby Festival mini, Marathon & Relay packets can be picked up at the Race Expo And Packet Pick-Up. Runner packets include race bib, timing chip, and important runner instructions.

Come for the packet pick-up, stay for activities like:

Picking up Race Day Gear from Swag’s Sport Shoes and other vendors
Chat with the Norton Sports Health Team about the Training Program and pick up your 2025 Race Magnet
Meet your Pace Team
Assisted stretch & pre-race body work with KORT Physical Therapy’s Rehab Team
Visiting the Official Derby Festival Race Day Merchandise shop
Other sampling and tasting opportunities

Location: Located at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Freedom Hall
2801 Crittenden Drive (Enter Through Gate 4)
Louisville, KY 40209

9:00pm - Great BalloonFest: Great Balloon Glow
One of the most anticipated events of balloon race weekend is the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Glow. This year, there will be TWO opportunities to see the Balloon Glow, as it returns to Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront on Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25.

The Great Balloon Glow is a companion event to the race, the balloons on the field, but do not ascend. As the pilots fire their burners, watch as the balloons glow against the blackness of the night sky, synchronized to a special musical score.

You are invited to walk around the field and talk to the pilots as they have more time to show off their balloons than on race morning.

Even if you plan on coming to the race, you don’t want to miss the unique beauty of the glow. It’s a one-of-a kind experience!

Location: Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville

7:00am - Great BalloonFest: Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race

The Kentucky Derby Festival Great Balloon Race is one of Louisville’s beloved family traditions, and this year, the Derby Festival will feature both Friday and Saturday morning races.  The multi-race docket gives spectators young and old more chances to take in the exhilarating view of boundless colors and shapes.

Just 7 balloons flew in the inaugural race from Iroquois Park in 1973.

The Great Balloon Rush-Hour Race is a Hare & Hound Race. This type of race is when all the balloons launch from the same site (Bowman Field). One balloon takes off first and is the Hare balloon. The other balloons are called the Hounds, and they will launch at a predetermined time after the Hare (usually 5 to 10 minutes after). The Hare lands at a suitable site and lays out a large fabric X, usually about 50 feet in diameter. The Hound balloons attempt to drop their markers as close to the center of the X as possible. The closest marker achieves the highest score.

Location: Bowman Field