KENTUCKY — Many Americans have waited more than a year to get together again.

51,000 people — many without masks — made Kentucky Derby 147 the largest gathering since the pandemic began. 10 days post-Derby, health director Dr. Sarah Moyer said only a handful of cases had been traced to the event.

"I think it’s a good sign that our cases didn’t increase again, where every week we’re getting more and more people vaccinated," Moyer said in a regular health briefing on May 11. "And the more people vaccinated means less places where COVID-19 can spread."

Derby was a massive test for things well beyond horse racing. May 21 marked the beginning of a new waterfront concert series put on by Danny Wimmer Presents, who mastermind festivals like Louder than Life which is returning in September with an A-list lineup.

"We’re just thrilled as a company that we’re gonna be able to produce a festival this year," said DWP spokesperson Chamie McCurry. "And we’re incredibly excited about doing it in Louisville — you know, a city that this company really truly loves."

Louisville City and Racing Louisville football clubs will have a chance to fill Lynn Family Stadium with 15,000+ fans for the first time more than a year after its completion. The first full-capacity game is scheduled to take place Saturday, June 12 when LCFC hosts Memphis.

As Louisville continues to add events to the calendar, capacity restrictions and mask mandates end on June 11. Weekly cases trend in a positive direction but, as mask mandates lift, vaccinations have slowed. Dr. Moyer feared a rise in cases if people don't think getting vaccinated was important.

"If people choose to go maskless before they are vaccinated we will see that number go up," she said.

Another test as we emerge from the COVID-19 wilderness.