LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The weekend is upon us, and there are plenty of things to do and see across Kentuckiana.
Here are a selection of events, markets, concerts and more happening the weekend of Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26.
Pegasus Parade
The Pegasus Parade, the Kentucky Derby Festival's oldest event, is set for Sunday, April 26.
This year's theme is "Festival on the Move: A Year of Milestones, Memories and Movement." KDF organizers said the theme celebrates everything that moves — from American history and technology to sports, dance and community spirit.
Nearly 100 units including dance teams, marching bands and large floats make up the parade.
Road closures for the parade start as early as 8 a.m. and run through 8 p.m.
The parade starts at 3 p.m. at Broadway and Campbell, and heads west on Broadway for 17 blocks to 9th Street.
For a list of road closures and no parking zones for the parade, click here.
KDF Great BalloonFest, Glow and Race
The Kentucky Derby Festival's BalloonFest started Thursday and continues this weekend.
The second night of the Great Balloon Glow is set for Friday, April 24, at 9 p.m. at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville at Waterfront Park. Colorful hot air balloons will fill the riverfront and light up the Louisville skyline.
Guests can walk around Waterfront Park to take in the glowing balloons and talk to the pilots about them. Balloons will be lit in sync with a special musical score. Admission is a 2026 Pegasus Pin.
Saturday morning, hot air balloons will take to the skies for the Great Balloon Race at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 25, starting at Bowman Field.
The race is described as a "Hare and Hound Race," where all balloons launch from the same site. One balloon takes off first as the "hare" balloon, with the other balloons, the "hounds," launching about five to 10 minutes later.
Organizers say the hare balloon chooses a site to land and lays out a large fabric X. Hound balloons will attempt to drop their markers as close to the center of the X as possible, with the balloon that lands the closest earning the highest score.
The first Great Balloon Race was held in 1973, launching from Iroquois Park with just seven balloons.
To learn more about BalloonFest, click here.
Opening Day at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby Week and the Spring Meet kick off Saturday, April 25, with Opening Day at Churchill Downs, which includes the post-position draws for both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks races.
Officials say it's a day full of tradition, family fun, live entertainment and more, including RedBull Airforce Jumpers, an Opening Day poster signing with jockeys and trainers, VR horse racing, photo ops with a replica trophy, kids games and a Derby fashion contest.
Gates open at 11:30 a.m., with the first of 10 races starting at 12:45 p.m. The final race is set for 6:16 p.m.
Oaks and Derby contenders will learn their post-positions for the races during the post-position draw at 2 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
54th Annual Cherokee Triangle Art Fair
Art and handmade goods will fill the Highlands this weekend at the 54th annual Cherokee Triangle Art Fair.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, you can browse more than 200 artist booths in the historic Cherokee Triangle preservation district.
The art fair takes over Cherokee Parkway, between Willow Avenue and Cherokee Road, including Willow Park.
There will also be food, drinks and live entertainment, with the children's parade kicking off the event at 10 a.m. Saturday. The fair also includes a children's art tent, a gazebo with live music, a food court, a playground for kids and ATMs on site.
The event is free to attend and open to the public, but pets are not allowed. Weapons and outside alcohol are also prohibited.
To learn more about the event, or to look at a map and directory of artists and crafts, click here.
KDF Marathon, miniMarathon
The Kentucky Derby Festival's 53rd annual miniMarathon and 25th annual Marathon will race around the city this weekend.
Racers start at Slugger Field in downtown Louisville, venture through neighborhoods and take in the infield at Churchill Downs before finishing the race
Road closures for the races start at 8 a.m. Friday, April 24 for the KDF Marathon and miniMarathon. Preston Street from Main Street to River Road will be closed through 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25.
River Road from Preston to Witherspoon streets will close from 9 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Race day is set for Saturday, April 25. Registration is still open. The 26.2-mile marathon is $150 and open to ages 14 and older. The 13.1-mile mini is $135 to race and open to those ages 12 and older. There is also a virtual option for $50. To sign up, click here.
For a list of road closures and no parking zones for the races, click here.
These are just a handful of events scheduled for this weekend. Click here to look at what else is happening across Kentuckiana this weekend.
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