When you decide to take a vacation to participate in the Kentucky Derby Festival there is considerable planning involved to make the trip possible. One of the first things is ticket acquisition.
Most of the festival events are free with a $5 Pegasus Pin, but several key events require tickets or you need tickets for preferred seating. Of course the big event is the Kentucky Derby itself. Unless your plans are to party in the infield, you will need to acquire reserved seating at Churchill Downs and they won’t be cheap and they won’t be around for long. Once it sells out, the tickets will only get more expensive on the aftermarket sites. Tickets start becoming rare in February. Since many packages also include Kentucky Oaks tickets as well, even that event sells out quickly. If you want on the Belle of Louisville for the Great Steamboat Race, you need to hop on that early too as well as reserved seating for the Pegasus Parade.
In addition to your a tickets, you need to plan your travel as well. Airline tickets to fly in and out of Louisville will be one of the most expensive flights you will find and perhaps the hardest to find. Getting into Louisville, if your planning to attend many festival events, will be less problematic, but everyone is going to be leaving on Sunday and that makes travel tough. If you can leave a on Monday you will find better rates and seats available. Hotels will also fill up quickly, so factor that in as a well. If you can drive, it might be worth arriving that way so that you can have your car at your beckon call.
Once you have your travel and tickets booked, it’s on to planning your wardrobe. Weather in Louisville can run the gamut from snow to blistering heat and sun with a good mix of thunderstorms threatening your fun. Plan to bring wet weather gear, warm gear and your hot weather gear.
Derby day isn’t just about horse racing and enjoying a cold Mint Julip. It’s also about style. It is a gala where patrons dress to the nine’s. Men are dressed dapper and for the Ladies, its all about the hat. Of course hat styles come and go from Derby to Derby, but there really is no such thing as a bad Derby hat. Just make sure you’re stylin’ and profilin’ if you are headed to the Derby, with the caveat of the infield. That is too much of a beach party for dressing your best. Bikini’s, board shorts, and sandals will be just as prevalent as tea-shirts and jeans there.
Back up one day to the Kentucky Oaks. It’s all about pink on the day for the fillies. The Oaks is becoming as fashionable as the Derby, of course you can’t wear the same outfit both days. Time to go to the mall. Most of the rest of the festival events are pretty casual unless you’re heading to one of the celebrity parties or other gala’s going on. Jeans and your official Derby Festival shirt are prefect for chasing balloons or hanging out at the Chow Wagon.
Finally, if you are going to the Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby, please be aware of the rules for what you can and cannot bring in. This year, leave your selfie-sticks and drones at home.
Be prepared and enjoy the fun!