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Step 1
The Kentucky Derby Festival kicks off with Thunder Over Louisville, usually held in mid April. Get to downtown Louisville early to watch the air show. When the sun goes down, prepare to witness the largest fireworks display in the U.S. explode over the grand Ohio River.
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Step 2
Learn to make a mint julep, the official alcoholic drink of the Kentucky Derby. What you'll need: bourbon, water, sugar, and the most important part of the cocktail, fresh mint. Over 100,000 are sold at Churchill Downs every Derby day, but if you learn to make them yourself, every day of the festival will be Derby day.
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Step 3
If you are a female, you have to start preparing your Derby hat for race day. Besides the horses, the extravagant wide-brim Derby hats are one of the main attractions.
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Step 4
Check out the Great Steamboat Race, three days before the Kentucky Derby. The race is between two steamboats, the Belle of Louisville and the Delta Queen, as they putter on down the Ohio River.
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Step 5
The Pegasus Parade is the official parade of the Kentucky Derby Festival and is normally held on the Thursday before. Pick a spot around downtown Louisville and watch celebrities, floats and giant character balloons put on a great show leading into the Churchill Downs events.
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Step 6
The Friday before Derby is another day at the races, the Kentucky Oaks. If you want to avoid the Derby crowds, head to Churchill Downs the day before, get a patch of grass in the infield, and bet on the fillies (as apposed to the colts). Then spend Saturday hosting your own Derby party, or tailgating outside Churchill Downs.
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Step 7
And now for the main event. The Kentucky Derby is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. If you're not lucky in snagging Derby tickets, buy your way into the infield where you're bound to have a blast with spectators from all over the world. Put on lots of sunscreen and be ready to stand in line but, remember, the infield is the ultimate Derby party.
