Sunday, April 11, 1999
Thunder to rock, roll Louisville
70 events precede Derby
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOUISVILLE — For those Kentucky Derby fans who say they can't wait for the excitement of race day, they won't have to.
Organizers of the Kentucky Derby Festival have stuffed 70 events into the two weeks leading up to the 125th Run for the Roses that range from fancy to good old-fashioned fun.
“The festival offers something for everyone. There's indoor, outdoor, there's everything,” said Erin Dullaghan, festival spokeswoman.
The two-week festival officially kicks off Saturday with The Best of Thunder, the 10th anniversary of Thunder over Louisville.
In the six-hour event, 15 aerobatic flying teams and other planes such as the B-1B Lancer, F-14 Tomcat, F-16 jetfighter, and Apache Army attack helicopter will race across the skies.
A controversial 15-minute re-enactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor is also scheduled to continue.
“"Tora, Tora, Tora' is designed as a living history lesson to memorialize the American and Japanese soldiers who gave their lives for their countries at Pearl Harbor,” Mike Berry, the festival's president, said in a press release.
The FoodFest and airshow begin at 2:30 p.m., and 51 tons of fireworks will be set off at 9:30 p.m., all at the downtown riverfront.
Throughout the festival, attendants can expect old favorites such as the Great Steamboat Race that pits the Belle of Louisville against the Delta Queen, and some new attractions such as the ESPN X-Trials where top in-line blad ers, skateboarders and bicycle stunt riders gather for competition.
For sports fans there will be basketball, golf, volleyball and football activities. And for foot stompers, there will be plenty of concerts.
Other highlights include the Great Balloon Glow and the Great Balloon Race.
A field of 51 hot air balloons will lift off on the morning of April 24 at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center.
Balloons of all shapes — a giant clown, pink bunny, champagne bottle and syrup expert Mrs. Buttersworth — will play the traditional game of the hare and hound race.
The lead balloonist lifts off and then drops down shortly after takeoff to place a large, fabric X on the ground. The other balloonists — or hounds — try to throw a small bag of Kentucky bluegrass seed nearest the X without landing.
The pilot with the two most accurate tosses wins $3,000.
For those not-so-early risers, the Great Balloon Glow starts at 9 p.m. the night before the race at the expo center.
The balloons inflate to their launch position, but don't ascend. Spectators can watch as the glow of the balloons is synchronized to a Hollywood musical tune. Visitors can also walk around the field and talk to the pilots.
“It's amazing,” Ms. Dullaghan said. “There's usually about 60,000 people who go. So everybody come early.”
Another that's an all-time favorite — the event that started the tradition of the festival — is the Pegasus Parade April 29. Organizers promise 18 bands, 12 floats and country music legend Loretta Lynn as grand marshal.
“We hope she'll be singing,” Ms. Dullaghan said. “They're working on the logistics.”
The festival, which began in 1956, is produced by Kentucky Derby Festival Inc. — a private, nonprofit civic organization — and is touted to be the largest, single annual event in the commonwealth, bringing 1.5 million people together and $60 million to the local economy.
Here are some of the festival's highlights:
Saturday, April 17
Thunder Over Louisville: FoodFest and the airshow begin at 2:30 p.m. at the downtown riverfront. Fireworks are at 9:30 p.m. Parking is available at all public garages in the downtown area. For a complete list, call PARC at 574-3817. The best advice for parking is to arrive early and park as far away from the event area as you can comfortably walk.
Thunder Dock Party: From 3-10 p.m. on the Belle of Louisville. Tickets are $150.
Thursday, April 22
ESPN X-Trials: Competition is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Waterfront Park. Admission is free for spectators.
Friday, April 23
Great Balloon Glow: The event starts at 9 p.m. at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. It's free to spectators wearing a 1999 Pegasus pin. Pins cost $2 and can be bought at any festival event. Parking is $3.
Saturday, April 24
Great Balloon Race: Lift-off is at 7 a.m. at the expo center. Spectators get in free with a Pegasus pin, and parking is $3.
U of L Spring Game: The spring scrimmage football game starts at noon at Papa John's Stadium. Admission is free.
Tuesday, April 27
Float Preview: Private group tours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and open to the public from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Commonwealth Convention Center. Admission is free with a 1999 Pegasus pin.
Levee Art and Craft Fair: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Festival Plaza at Waterfront Park. It's free.
Wednesday, April 28
Steamboat Race Trial: Boarding is at 9:15 a.m. and the cruise on the Belle of Louisville is from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $11 and include a breakfast sandwich, beverage and entertainment.
Great Steamboat Race: The race begins at 5 p.m. and there is free viewing along the banks of the Ohio River.
Thursday, April 29
Pegasus Parade: The parade starts at 5 p.m. and travels west on Broadway Street from Campbell to Ninth streets. Bleacher seat tickets are $8, chair seating is $10 and review stand seating is $28. There is free viewing in all other areas along the route.
Philip Morris Festival of Stars: Features Sawyer Brown with Deryl Dodd. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Hall. Admission is free.
Friday, April 30
Derby Eve Jam: Starts at 7 p.m. at Freedom Hall. Features Sammy Hagar with the Waboritas and special guest Bare Jr. Tickets are $25 and are on sale at Fairgrounds Box Office and all TicketMaster locations.
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