LOUISVILLE, Ky.  — The Kentucky Derby Festival hopes to get everyone in the spirit of celebrating spring as it travels around the community with the Zoeller Pump Company Touring Parade on Saturday, April 2. The KDF announced the route for the parade in a news release on Thursday.

What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky Derby Festival Touring Parade will return on April 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine

  • The route of the parade was released on Thursday

  • The traveling display will cover several miles and drive through over 30 neighborhoods around Louisville and Jefferson County, those who live along the route are encouraged to decorate their homes and neighborhoods

  • The touring parade will feature inflatable balloon characters, festival VIPs, specialty units and the KDF Spirit Squad.

With around a dozen units, the traveling display will cover several miles and drive through over 30 neighborhoods around Louisville and Jefferson County. The KDF encourages fans along the route to decorate their homes and neighborhoods.

“We want the entire community to feel a part of the Derby Festival celebration,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “Traveling around the city helps us reach fans in a whole new way. We hope to see everyone lining their sidewalks again this year as we kick off our month-long celebration.”

The parade will travel around the community on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will happen rain or shine. Below are some areas and neighborhoods where the touring parade will travel.

  • 9 a.m. - Leaves Kentucky Exposition Center (en route to Zoeller Pump Company)

  • 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. - Taylor-Berry, North Shively

  • 10 a.m. - Ribbon Cutting at Zoeller Pump Company (Official Start of Touring Parade)

  • 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. - Hallmark, Park DuValle, Parkland, Chickasaw, Shawnee, Russell

  • 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. - Parkland, California, Limerick, Old Louisville, Smoketown/Shelby Park, Germantown, Highlands, Tyler Park, Deer Park, Belknap, Hayfield Dundee

  • 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. - Bashford Manor, Newburg, Highview, Okolona, Auburndale

  • 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. - Kenwood Hills, Iroquois Park, Cloverleaf, Hazelwood, Beechmont, Highland Park  

The timing of when the parade arrives at each area will depend on traffic and logistics as it moves through the community. It will travel at about 15 mph to give residents a chance to see it.

A complete list of the streets and areas along the touring parade is posted online on KDF's website. 

“At Zoeller, we are looking forward to traveling around the community with the Derby Festival again and getting everyone excited for all the upcoming events,” said Dwight C. Newton, Zoeller Pump Company Chief People Officer. “For more than 83 years, the Zoeller Company has called Louisville home. We love this city and all of our team members, customers, suppliers and shareholders. The whole group is what makes this work. This partnership is just one way we can give a little back.”

The touring parade will feature inflatable balloon characters, festival VIPs, specialty units and the KDF Spirit Squad. 

Zoeller Pump Company is the title sponsor of the touring parade, joining contributing sponsor Kentucky Venues.

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