Derby WEEK?! What, I thought it was just one day? Nope! The Kentucky Derby celebration technically is several weeks when you're local to the Louisville area, but racing events at Churchill Downs start a week before the big race. As a reminder, the Kentucky Derby race is always the first Saturday in May, and racing at the track starts the Saturday before. We will break down every day of Derby week, as well as all the events leading up to the fastest two minutes in sports.

Let’s start with Derby week itself.

Derby Week

Opening night

‍Opening night at Churchill this year is Saturday, Apr 26, 2025. One week before the Kentucky Derby race. This year's opening night is Great Gatsby inspired event. Why the Great Gatsby? Well this year the Great Gatsby turned 100 years old and Louisville is a primary location referenced several times in the iconic novel. The Seelbach hotel in downtown Louisville was also the inspiration for Tom and Daisy’s famous wedding.

Race details: The gate opens at 4pm with the first race starts at 5pm. There will be 10 races total.

Tickets: Tickets range from general admission ~$30, reserved seating ~$40 to dining options and suites. See all ticket options here.

What to wear: Your best 1920’s glam inspired by The Great Gasby.

Where to park: On opening night, you are able to park on the grounds of Churchill Downs, but make sure you purchase a parking pass! The parking situation is typically a nightmare so we typically opt to park at the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center where they will have free parking and free shuttles going to Churchill Downs. This is FREE! So a great option if you are not taking some other sort of transportation like Uber or Lyft, and choose to try to park close by.

Dawn at the Downs

‍Dawn at the Downs is truly a unique behind the scenes experience. Each morning from April 24-April 30 you can watch the Derby and Oaks horse contenders train during their morning workouts. Go and watch the horses or upgrade your experience and purchase a ticket to the breakfast buffet on Millionaires Row and the Stakes Room. Breakfast options are only available April 27th & 28th, make sure to get your tickets in advance!

Time: 7am-10am

Tickets: FREE, Upgraded Buffet tickets purchased here.

What to wear: This is very casual and is a more relaxed day. Business casual is ideal.

Where to park: You are able to park on the grounds of Churchill Downs.

502’sDay

‍502’sDay (Play on Tuesday) is the new “locals day”, Thurby used to be when all the locals would go, however it’s gotten so big they added another day! No worries if you are traveling in, 502’sDay (502 is the Louisville area code) showcases Louisville and the community. During this year's 502’sDay event, Churchill Downs will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Muhammad Ali Center, honoring the legacy of Louisville’s own Muhammad Ali, the greatest of all time.

Race details: The gate opens at 11:30am with the first race starts at 12:45pm. There will be 9 races total with the last race starting just before 5pm.

Tickets: Tickets range from general admission $5, reserved seating with dining $100+ to suites and more. See all ticket options here.

What to wear: Ladies wear sundresses, fascinators or hats. Men wear nice shirts and slacks.

Where to park: See Churchill Downs website for on-site parking. We typically opt to park at the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center where they will have free parking and free shuttles going to Churchill Downs. This is FREE! So a great option if you are not taking some other sort of transportation like Uber or Lyft, and choose to try to park close by. There will be people letting folks park in yards around the Churchill Downs, do yourself a favor and opt-out of those options. Getting in and out of the area is very difficult and people are everywhere so just take the shuttle or have preset transportation drop you off.

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WinsDay

‍The Wednesday of Derby week is labeled as WinsDay. Focused on local nonprofit organizations, WinsDay is focused on unity, giving, and celebrating the impact of nonprofits.

Race details: The gate opens at 11:30am with the first race starts at 12:45pm. There will be 10 races total with the last race starting just before 5:30pm.

Tickets: Tickets range from general admission ~$27, reserved seating with dining $100+ to suites and more. See all ticket options here.

What to wear: Ladies wear sundresses, fascinators or hats. Men wear nice shirts and slacks.

Where to park: See Churchill Downs website for on-site parking. We typically opt to park at the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center where they will have free parking and free shuttles going to Churchill Downs. This is FREE! So a great option if you are not taking some other sort of transportation like Uber or Lyft, and choose to try to park close by. The line for the shuttle can back up, it goes through pretty quick but your best bet is to get there earlier in the day than later. There will be people letting folks park in yards around the Churchill Downs, do yourself a favor and opt-out of those options. Getting in and out of the area is very difficult and people are everywhere so just take the shuttle or have preset transportation drop you off.

Thurby

Seeing a theme with the names of the days and week days?  All days at the track are fun, there’s no doubt about that. But Thurby, or the Thursday of Derby week, is when things really start picking up. The front part outside of Churchill Downs transforms into a party with food vendors, beverage and brand activations and more. This day showcases celebrating Kentucky, it’s history and heritage.

Race details: The gate opens at 10:30am with the first race starts at 12:45pm. There will be 12 races total with the last race starting just before 7pm.

Tickets: Tickets range from reserved seating for ~$60 to dining options, suites and more. See all ticket options here.

What to wear: Ladies wear sundresses, fascinators or hats. Men wear nice shirts and slacks. These are starting to get “nicer” or “crazier” as the week goes on. I would avoid heels if possible. No matter where you sit (or stand) there is a lot of walking.

Where to park: See Churchill Downs website for on-site parking. We typically opt to park at the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center where they will have free parking and free shuttles going to Churchill Downs. This is FREE! So a great option if you are not taking some other sort of transportation like Uber or Lyft, and choose to try to park close by. The line for the shuttle can back up, it goes through pretty quick but your best bet is to get there earlier in the day than later. There will be people letting folks park in yards around the Churchill Downs, do yourself a favor and opt-out of those options. Getting in and out of the area is very difficult and people are everywhere so just take the shuttle or have preset transportation drop you off.

Kentucky Oaks

‍The Longines Kentucky Oaks is America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies (girl horses). Kentucky Oaks is a celebration of breast cancer awareness. Oaks is always the day before The Kentucky Derby races, the Friday of Derby week.

Race details: The gate opens at 9am with the first race starts at 11am. There will be 13 races total with the last one starting just after 7pm.

Tickets: Typically for Oaks and Derby, you buy in a package of two tickets. One for each day. Price ranges vary pretty drastically but there are single ticket’s available. These sell out though, so make sure to grab yours ASAP. See all ticket options here. Want more specifics on tickets, where to sit, how to buy and more? Check out this post.

What to wear: PINK! Fans are encouraged to wear shades of pink to show break cancer awareness support.

Where to park: See Churchill Downs website for on-site parking. We typically opt to park at the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center where they will have free parking and free shuttles going to Churchill Downs. This is FREE! So a great option if you are not taking some other sort of transportation like Uber or Lyft, and choose to try to park close by. The line for the shuttle can back up, it goes through pretty quick but your best bet is to get there earlier in the day than later. Pretty much every parking lot around Churchill Downs will be available, including people’s yards. Most of these charge an outrageous price and require a long walk to enter. I can’t recommend the Expo center parking enough!

What to bring: Unless you are in a covered area, bring a poncho, just do it. And even not in a covered area, bring one anyway. Bring it from home or get a plastic one for $5 at a convenience store and stuff it in your purse. It’ll be worth it. I promise. And you will not regret it if it rains.

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The Kentucky Derby

‍The fastest 2 minutes in sports, the thrilling day is nothing short of amazing. Just as the days before it, it’s actually not just one race this day. Of course there’s the final Kentucky Derby race but there are races all day long.

Race details: The gate opens at 9am with the first race starting at 11am. There will be 14 races total. However, the Kentucky Derby Race is Race 12 starting at 6:57pm

Tickets: Typically for Oaks and Derby, you buy in a package of two tickets. One for each day. Price ranges vary pretty drastically but there are single tickets available. These sell out though, so make sure to grab yours ASAP. See all ticket options here. Want more specifics on tickets, where to sit, how to buy and more? Check out this post.

What to wear: Your Derby finest. Dresses, suits, jackets, hats, fascinators. Wear it all. The more over the top, the better. It can get SUPER hot out in the sun though, so take that in mind. Opt for a comfortable shoe, heel or not, you’ll be on your feet a lot. Need a hat, dress or suit for the big day. Check out this blog post for our favorite spots.

Where to park: See Churchill Downs website for on-site parking. We typically opt to park at the nearby Kentucky Exposition Center where they will have free parking and free shuttles going to Churchill Downs. This is FREE! So a great option if you are not taking some other sort of transportation like Uber or Lyft, and choose to try to park close by. The line for the shuttle can back up, it goes through pretty quick but your best bet is to get there earlier in the day than later. Pretty much every parking lot around Churchill Downs will be available, including people’s yards. Most of these charge an outrageous price and require a long walk to enter. I can’t recommend the Expo center parking enough!

What to bring: A poncho, just do it. Bring it from home or get a plastic one for $5 at a convenience store and stuff it in your purse. It’ll be worth it. I promise. And you will not regret it if it rains. If you are in the infield, for my ladies, fold up some toilet paper and put it in your purse. Again, you’ll have to trust me on this one. I have a whole blog post dedicated to the infield here and you can read about ALL the tips and tricks. It’s a different ball game. I know, I’ve done it four times :)

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Now you know what day’s you want to attend! Now to prepare for your visit. Check out 20 Must-Know Tips for The Kentucky Derby. This blog has everything you need to know about your visit to Churchill Downs and what to expect!

But what about the other events you mentioned?

I mentioned Derby technically kicks off several weeks before the actual race, we kick things off in March and April. It’s truly the most fun time in Louisville. If you are traveling to Louisville earlier, you’ll want to check out these amazing events leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

The Kentucky Derby Festival is basically several weeks chalked full with events, live entertainment, races, food and so much more. Here’s what to expect:

Derby Festival Admission: First things first, the majority of Kentucky Derby Festival events are free admission with a pegasus pin. The pins are $7 from any local store like Kroger, Walgreens, etc. You can literally get them anywhere in Louisville or online. But don’t fret if you can’t get one ahead of time, they are always available for purchase at the gate of the events.

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Events: There are so many events, make sure to visit the Kentucky Derby Festival website for the full list. But here are our favorite and most popular events:

• Thunder over Louisville: This is when things really kick off. An all-day airshow and the largest firework show in North America, Thunder over Louisville, happens in April each year. This year it falls on April 12. You truly do not want to miss this event. You can find all the details you need here. Your guide to Thunder Over Louisville
• Taste of Derby Festival: Happening April 15th, the Taste of Derby Festival is held at Louisville Slugger Field. With local restaurants and beverage vendors setting up tables and handing out delicious bites, treats and cocktails…it’s an amazing event. This event supports Dare To Care Food Bank so does have additional admission to support the cause. Purchase tickets here.
• Chow Wagon: Live music and so much food! This is the ultimate fair food extravaganza. From fried cookie dough, creamy ice cream, delicious corndogs, greek food, barbecue, turkey legs, funnel cakes and more, this is a great spot to hang out, grab a bite and enjoy live music. The Chow Wagon is open Thursday, April 24 – Friday, May 2, 2025 from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM: Daily and 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Sunday on Louisville’s Waterfront Park.
• Krogers Fest-A-Ville: Running the same dates and times as the Chow Wagon, Krogers Fest-A-Ville host several Festival events, including the L&N Federal Credit Union Great Balloon Glow, Chow Wagon, Ken-Ducky Derby and more. The Fest-a-Ville offers a wide variety of activities for children, including merry-go-round, ships ahoy, a giant slide, inflatables and much more. Also located at Waterfront Park on the Great Lawn.
• L&N Federal Credit Union Great BalloonFest & Great Balloon Glow: Held over several days, April 24-26, Colorful hot air balloons will light up the Louisville skyline during one of the Kentucky Derby Festival’s signature and most picturesque events.
• Ken-Ducky Derby: The 22nd Annual Ken-Ducky Derby will drop 46,000 rubber ducks into the Ohio River for a chance to race and compete for prizes. Cheer your duck to victory as they race to the finish line! Adopt your duck beforehand, get details here.
• Zoeller® Pump Company Pegasus® Parade: Heading down Broadway in Downtown Louisville on Sunday, April 27! This family-friendly annual event showcases some of the nation’s finest marching bands and equestrian units, along with inflatable characters and colorful floats. The theme of the 2025 Pegasus Parade is “Happy Derby: Pink Out Party!” and will celebrate spring and one of the Festival’s favorite colors. Participants and spectators are encouraged to come decked out in pink and help us paint Broadway in one of the signature colors of the Festival! The parade marches west on Broadway for 17 blocks and lasts approximately two hours.

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Phew, so there it is. The events of Kentucky Derby week(s) in a nutshell. Want more Kentucky Derby fun. Check out these posts for more information on The Kentucky Derby:

18 Must-Know Tips for The Kentucky Derby

10 things to do in Louisville while visiting for the Kentucky Derby

What ticket to buy for the Kentucky Derby (coming soon)

Best hotels and places to stay for the Kentucky Derby (coming soon)

The Kentucky Derby: A Guide to the Infield (coming soon)

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