It's on. Derby week is here and there are loads of family-friendly events this year. Bygone are the days of adults-only fun or languid boat races; this year, the entire family can celebrate the week-long party that shows our city in its finest. See the listing below for a few ideas.
Discovery Day [4]--Monday, May 2nd from 11-1:30 PM, head to the Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront for a free educational and interactive event for kids. Stage One will perform Junie B. Jones at 11:30, Zoo animals will be on display, there will be a hot-air-balloon tether, an inflatable playground, obstacle course, carousel, super-slide, Frazier Museum historical interpretations, and much more. Too bad there's that whole school-thing going on at that same time…
Battle of the Bounce [5]--Patrick Henry Hughes will trumpet the official "call to the post" and local businesses will make their way through inflatable obstacle courses and run in those hamster-ball-things. Should be interesting to say the least. The event begin at 11:30 on Wednesday, May 4th on the Waterfront and is free with a pegasus pin.
Pegasus Parade--The annual parade begins on west Broadway from Campbell to 9th Street at 5:00 PM. Bleacher tickets are $9 or bring your own chair and stake your claim along Broadway for free. Everybody loves a parade.
Check each night's musical feature at the Fest-a-Ville while you chow down on some fried delights.
I'm a day late and a dollar short on this one, but I thought it is worth mentioning for next year. Camp Hi-Ho [6], an outdoor camp that offers fishing, arts & crafts, zip-lines, rope swings, sports, and horseback riding, also offers an Oaks & Derby camp from 9:00-7:30 p.m. on the big days. The best part is they will deliver your children safely and worn-out back to you after you've lived it up at your grown-up events. Brilliant. Keep it in mind for next year as registration ended last Friday for this year's session.
Happy Derby Louisville!
Photo: SydneyDerbySkates.com