LEXINGTON, Ky. — The second annual Railbird Festival is kicking off at Keeneland this weekend. As cases and hospitalizations continue to rise, fans will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter.

Dozens of cars were rolling into the University of Kentucky's twelve hour testing facility on Thursday. It's less than 48 hours before the Railbird Festival kicks off, and festival staff is requiring all attendees not fully vaccinated to obtain a COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to attending.

Katelynn Farless is a former healthcare provider from Tennessee. She has the job of giving COVID-19 tests but also turning away festival-goers needing a test if they do not have an appointment.

“Always make sure to make an appointment and make sure you come in on the right day, it is just protocol. It is so hard to keep up with the people that we are already have on that day anyways,” said Farless.

Moving to Kentucky less than a week ago, today is only her second day on the job. She wants people to know getting tested is important and no one is exempt from catching COVID-19.

“It is really one of those, ‘Oh man I will not get it’. Well I had it three weeks ago, I was really dizzy and I even fell. After having that realization this is not even the worst it can be,” Farless said.

Getting the upper hand on the pandemic requires testing and vaccinations, according to University of Kentucky pharmacist Frank Romanelli.

“We need to do what we can do to bring the risk down as low as possible," Romanelli said.

Romanelli continues to say he does not think the UK COVID-19 testing facility will have an overwhelming amount of festival-goers needing COVID-19 tests post festival.

“So not all of those folks are Fayette County folks. I do not think we would expect Monday morning there would be 40,000 people in that line. I think the University has done an awesome job of meeting the needs of the community,” Romanelli said.

Farless is thankful to be helping the needs of the Kentucky community even if that means waking up before the sun rises.

“I am glad to be here helping, my mom is a nurse. It is nice to help people, you always get it back somehow,” Farless said.

For festival goers still needing to get tested, UK's COVID-19 testing facility is available by appointment. Walk-in rapid COVID-19 tests will be available at Medix DX Labs and Urgent Care Centers.

COVID-19 precautions in place are subject to change in accordance with state and local guidelines.