by Kevin Lamb

Created on: April 14, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

The Kentucky Derby festival in Louisville Kentucky got its start back in 1935. This week long celebration included: a parade, riverfront regatta, and also an orchestral concert. The first director of the derby festival was Olympic gold medalist Arnold Jackson. Then came the flood of 1937 and the festival was discontinued until 1956 when the modern day festival was rekindled.

Now, the Kentucky Derby Festival has grown to over seventy events which precedes the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May. The first big event to kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival is "Thunder Over Louisville" on the banks of the Ohio River.

On April 18th, 2009 Thunder will again showcase the nation's largest annual firework celebration. A top 10 rated air show begins at 3pm the day of thunder as thousands of fans line the banks of the riverfront in downtown Louisville. Over 100 aircraft are featured as the military showcases some it's top aircraft.

But when night falls in Louisville Kentucky the granddaddy of all firework shows begin. Eight three hundred foot barges are lined up on each side of the Clark Memorial Bridge and explode with multitudes of color as Thunder over Louisville rocks the downtown area.

For nearly thirty minutes spectators watch in awe as fireworks are launched from the barges and the Clark Memorial bridge which completely fills the Louisville skyline. Music booms in synchronization as fireworks explode into the nighttime sky casting beautiful reflections on the Ohio River. Since 1991 the fireworks have been designed by Zambelli Fireworks International which is regarded as the "first family of fireworks."

The mighty "Steamboat Race" is another big event of the Kentucky Derby Festival. This time honored race on the Ohio River is between the Belle of Louisville and The Delta Queen of Cincinnati Ohio. This race first got its start back in 1963 and is another favorite of the Kentucky Derby festival. But, this race is not handicapped by anyone because steamboat racing has no rules; or so they say. So anything is possible which adds to the excitement of it all.

The steamboat race begins at the Clark Memorial Bridge and proceeds to six mile island before the two steamboats turn and race back down river to the finish line. The race usually takes an hour and a half to complete its 14 mile run. Who will win the coveted golden antlers this year in the race? Well, that's just about anyone's guess.

The Pegasus parade is also another event in the Kentucky Derby Festival. In fact,

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