LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby Festival Block Party is one of the first events on the KDF calendar. and it was filled with togetherness and connection on Saturday.

What You Need To Know

  • The block party at Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center helps kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival

  •  The event features 60 vendors who highlight black entrepuenership 

  • The event also features 20 minority-owned local nonprofit groups that aim to meet the needs of the west Louisville community

Saturday’s festivities come less than a week after the fatal shooting at Old National Bank.

Tianna Barnes with the Louisville Urban League spoke about the bigger need today for a sense of community.

“This is all about love and unity,” Barnes said. “Through tragedy, this is a symbol of love and unity in a community.”

Kentucky Derby Festival Chairman Ken Selvaggi said the Kentucky Derby Festival is underway at a time when the city needs it most. 

“Wrap our arms around everybody better, listen to people and really engage with people and that’s what we do. That’s what the Kentucky Derby Festival does,” Selvaggi said. 

The all-day celebration featured 60 vendors and merchants who highlighted Black entrepreneurs.

“We are bringing life, regarding Derby, right here to West Louisville,” Barnes said. “So that’s how we hope this is going to engage the community to celebrate the Derby Festivities and to celebrate West Louisville at the same time.”

The event also features 20 minority-owned local nonprofit groups that aim to meet the needs of the west Louisville community.

“We really should be proud that we live in a city that does this right and we do it because of all the volunteers in the community that help us do it,” Selvaggi said. 

The event helped to heal and bring out the best Louisville has to offer after the city experienced one of its darkest days. 

The Kentucky Derby Festival will host more than 70 events to celebrate the run for the roses.

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