Pre-derby festivities

I can't believe it was just a year ago that I lived in Louisville. In some ways it seems like just a week ago and in other ways a lifetime. I can't really define which is which. But these memories seem pretty far away for some reason. Hopefully I can remember it well enough to put in writing!

In the first weekend of May, Kentucky Downs host the Kentucky Derby but what most people don't know about is the month preceding: DERBY DAYS! It all kicks off with the most epic and beautiful fireworks display I've ever seen called Thunder over Louisville. A whopping 400,000 locals attend the show and before the "thunder," tons of air performers including the Blue Angels entertain in the sky.

Our first experience with Red Bull's RED, SILVER, and BLUE editions. We're unfortunately obsessed now...

This magical $5 Pegasus pin give you access to all the fun Derby Days events!

NOT the Blue Angels. But I like these flyers more... (can't remember their names!?)

Basically this day is exhausting because you eat funnel cakes and look at the sky for hours.  

These photos don't even remotely do the show justice. Also, the music was totally cheese ball....

Hundreds of festivities follow Thunder Over Louisville and we only made it to a few but they were all so fun and memorable. I LOVED this city so much because of Derby Days. It connected all the locals together in this very unique and old-timey cultural event.

Below are pictures from the hot air balloon race. We had to wake up at 6am on a Saturday (Trent almost didn't join me...). The coolest part was that most people only see either the take off or the landing because they move fast and usually land in really weird places. But! We were so lucky they landed just blocks away from our apartments.

Derby Days hosts tons of free concerts but this one was my favorite. It was so white trashy and hilarious. Definitely a throwback to my 90's summers. EVERCLEAR!

For year's Louisville has help a great mattress race. It's exactly like it sounds. Lots of the big companies from the city participate as contenders and they decorate the mattresses to a theme. This year was animals I believe?

The week of the derby is extra crazy and includes a "Pegasus Parade" down one of the main streets. It was a little underwhelming especially since the giant Pegasus was slowly deflating in it's left hind leg Poor Peggy!

Lil' Sebastian miniature horses!!!!!

Lots of local joints throw their own derby parties including a billiard room that invited me to be one of the many entertainers of the night.

All these pictures and I haven't even gotten to the actual derby celebration!?! Hang tight. It's coming...