Derby season is a whirlwind.
There are a plethora of events to attend and it’s hard to keep up! Luckily, I’ve made a guide for you for Derby week (April 29-May 4).
Louisville locals know Derby season is a multi-week cavalcade of happenings. This list is just focused on the final days before Derby.
Note; there are a lot of exclusive / invite-only events in Louisville around this time. I’ve left those off this list. I’ve tried to only compile events that are easily accessible for most people.
Monday, April 29:
- Dawn at the Downs – Churchill Downs
- Thursday April 25th — Wednesday May 1st, 7:00-10:00AM
- Samtec Great Bed Races
- Monday, April 29, 2024, Kentucky Exposition Center
- 1:00 PM: Tailgate Party Starts, 6:00 PM: Parade of the Beds, 7:00 PM: Races Begin
Tuesday, April 30:
- 502’s Day! – Churchill Downs
- Commonwealth Credit Union Kentucky Derby Festival WineFest
- 6:00-9:00PM, Mellwood Art Center (Van Gogh and Da Vinci Rooms), 1860 Mellwood Avenue Louisville, KY 40206
- Kentucky Derby: The Lucie and Thornton Film Gala
- 6:30-9:30PM, Roots 101 African American Museum, 124 North 1st Street Louisville, KY 40202
- HappyTail Hour – Kentucky Derby Festival
- 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Louisville Waterfront Park
Wednesday, May 1:
- Champions Day! – Churchill Downs
- Shepherd Insurance Great Steamboat Race
- Louisville Waterfront Park, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Boarding, 5:45 PM: Departure, 6:00 PM: Race Begins
- Derby Delights (A Classic Burlesque Show for Derby Week)
- 8:00-11:00PM, Hereafter, 119 S 7th St. Louisville, KY 40202
- Stitzel-Weller Distillery – Derby Week celebration
- Blade & Bow Trailer Serving Draft Drinks on the Lawn 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Live Music Jake Groves & Blakley Burger 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 2:
- Thurby! – Churchill Downs
- Taste of Derby
- 7:00pm, Kentucky International Convention Center
- Derby After Dark featuring Electric Avenue – The 80’s MTV Experience with special guest Mike Mills (R.E.M.) and More
- Headliners, Doors: 8:30pm, Show: 9:30pm
- Horses + Heritage: A Beam Bourbon Social
- Use code “thingstolou10” (lowercase) to save 10%!
- 6:00PM, James B. Beam Distilling, 568 Happy Hollow Rd, Clermont, KY 40110
- Stitzel-Weller Distillery – Derby Week celebration
- B&B Trailer Serving Draft Drinks on the Lawn 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Clayton & Crume vendor booth; Spend $150 and receive a free Blade & Bow leather key chain to emboss with initials on site. Embossing also available for other Clayton & Crume products purchased. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Live Music: Crabgrass Conspiracy 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Interactive 360 Photo Booth on lawn
- 5th Annual Derby “Club and Coterie” at Omni Louisville — Makers House
- Omni Hotel Louisville, Library Bar, 400 South Second Street — Louisville, KY 40202
Friday, May 3:
- Oaks! – Churchill Downs
- Oaks Day “Brunch & Bet”
- 9:00AM-12:00PM, 21c Museum Hotel Louisville, 700 West Main Street Louisville, KY 40202
- Silks Bash! by Operation Open Arms
- May 03, 2024, 7:30 pm, Historic Locust Grove
- Oaked: A Taste of Beam
- Use code “thingstolou10” (lowercase) to save 10%!
- 10:00-3:30pm, James B. Beam Distilling, 568 Happy Hollow Rd, Clermont, KY 40110
- Stitzel-Weller Distillery – Derby Week celebration
- Blade & Bow Trailer Serving Draft Drinks on the Lawn 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Brit and Blue vendor booth
- Live Music: Mike Schroeder and Steve Cooley and Blakley Burger, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Interactive 360 Photo Booth on lawn
- 5th Annual Derby “Club and Coterie” at Omni Louisville — Makers House
- Omni Hotel Louisville, Library Bar, 400 South Second Street — Louisville, KY 40202
- Mint Julep Mingle
- 7:00PM, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, 528 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
- B96.5 and YNPF Present: Roses on the Runway PreDerby Fashion Show
- 4:00-7:30PM, Mellwood Art Center, 1860 Mellwood Avenue Louisville, KY 40206
- DJ Pauly D with James Kennedy
- 8:00PM, FOURTH STREET LIVE!, 411 S. 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
- A Derby Eve Party – by Steve Wilson
- 8:00PM Dinner / 9:30PM Show, 21c Museum Hotel Louisville, 700 West Main
Saturday, May 4:
- Kentucky Derby! – Churchill Downs
- Copper & Kings Culinary Tour (offered most Fridays and Saturdays)
- Use code “ONESIPONEBITEKY10” to save 10%!
- Cinco de Derby tasting
- 11PM, 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen, 350 West Chestnut Street Louisville, KY 40202
- 5th Annual Derby “Club and Coterie” at Omni Louisville — Makers House
- Omni Hotel Louisville, Library Bar, 400 South Second Street — Louisville, KY 40202
- Paristown Derby Day Garden Party
- 12:00-7:00PM, Paristown, 731 Brent St., Louisville, KY 40204
- Derby After Party feat. Ryan Coxx
- 8:00PM, FOURTH STREET LIVE!, 411 S. 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
- KMAC Derby Art Brunch
- 10:00AM-12:30PM, KMAC, 715 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202
- Post-Derby Soiree with DJ Syimone
- 10:00PM-1:00AM, Hotel Genevieve, 730 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202