Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor, First Lady invite visitors to the Capitol for the Governor’s Derby Celebration
Event is free and open to the public
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear invite citizens and visitors to Kentucky to join them for the 2010 Governor’s Derby Celebration on Saturday morning, May 1. The celebration on the Capitol grounds will include arts and crafts vendors, a food drive for the needy and the same scaled-down style of the previous year.
“Jane and I are delighted to host Kentuckians and visitors on the Capitol grounds for our third official Derby Celebration,” said Gov. Beshear. “Featuring breakfast, entertainment and the hot air balloons attendees have come to expect, the event will also offer new attractions and performances, all of which celebrate the spirit of the Commonwealth in a festive yet economical way.”
“For many Kentuckians, the Derby Celebration is an eagerly awaited event during one of the most exciting times of the year,” said Mrs. Beshear. “Steve and I encourage everyone to take part in this special annual tradition and to come support our Kentucky artists and vendors.”
Derby Breakfast
The annual Derby breakfast will primarily feature Kentucky Proud products. Items will be prepared by Kentucky Department of Parks employees. The following items will be sold for $1 each: a freshly baked biscuit with choice of country ham, sausage or chicken; homemade muffins; and apple and orange juice. Hot coffee and ice water will be free.
Giving Back
While visitors enjoy their breakfast, it is also important to remember those in need. At the celebration, Access Soup Kitchen, God’s Pantry and Dare to Care will have volunteers on the Capitol grounds to collect canned goods and monetary donations for their food pantries. All nonperishable food items donated will be divided among the three food banks. Monetary gifts not specifically designated for one of the participating food pantries will be equally divided among the three.
Volunteers and staff for Build-A-Bed will also be in attendance at the breakfast. Build-A-Bed is a service program that provides beds and bed accessories for children in need across the state. Visitors can view a fully constructed bed and the makings for a ‘bedtime bag,’ and they will have the opportunity to register for a May 8 volunteer event.
Featured Artists
There will also be an assortment of artistic attractions. Gathered along the back Capitol lawn in tents will be arts and crafts vendors from across Kentucky. Artists who have been accepted into the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted® program will offer a variety of wares, such as jewelry, pottery, photography, paintings, basketry, handmade brooms, stained glass, gourd art, woodwork, sculptural pieces and much more.
The “Governor’s Derby Exhibition,” an art exhibit coordinated by the Kentucky Arts Council on behalf of Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear, will be featured in the Rotunda of the Capitol, which will be open for tours during the celebration. The art exhibit will feature Kentucky-themed art and photography by artists from across the state who responded to an open call to artists. Many works are available for purchase.
Participating artists in the Governor’s Derby Exhibition include:
- Trent Altman, Louisville
- Brett Bentley, Martin
- Gary Bertram, Georgetown
- Linda Fugate-Blumer, Lexington
- Beth Browning, Richmond
- Tom Cannady, Louisville
- Elizabeth Dryden, Lexington
- Judith Egerton, Louisville
- Laura Eklund, Olive Hill
- Timothy J. Gold, Independence
- Christopher Hill, Louisville
- Lisa Hurst, Cynthiana
- Melody Farris Jackson, Winchester
- John Lackey, Lexington
- Sallie Clay Lanham, Frankfort
- Lauren A. Milliken, Franklin
- Luci Mistarov, Louisville
- Michael Reibel, Simpsonville
- Judy Rosati, Louisville
- David Toczko, Elizabethtown
- Fran West, Lebanon
Governor’s Derby Poster
The 2010 Governor’s Derby poster will be available to purchase at the celebration for $15. This year’s poster depicts an image of Affirmed crossing the finish line in honor of the 32nd anniversary of his victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown in 1978. Made of 50 percent recycled paper, the poster is the third in a series honoring Triple Crown winning thoroughbreds.
A portion of the proceeds of the Governor’s Derby poster will benefit First Lady Jane Beshear’s Horses and Hope program and the Equine Health and Welfare Alliance Inc. Horses and Hope provides breast cancer education, awareness, screening and treatment referral to uninsured and underinsured employees of Kentucky’s thoroughbred industry. The Equine Health and Welfare Alliance Inc. directly supports efforts addressing equine health and safety in the Commonwealth.
Children’s Activities
This year, in classrooms throughout Kentucky, students decorated bookmarks that support literacy while celebrating the 2010 Kentucky Derby. The bookmarks will be distributed free to guests attending the Derby Celebration. Each bookmark has the outline of a jockey and the quote “Readers are Winners!” from First Lady Jane Beshear.
The 2010 Derby Celebration will feature a host of activities aimed at children and a wide range of entertainment for the whole family. For kids, activities will include face painting, an architectural treasure hunt, an inflatable obstacle course and a rock-climbing wall. Children may also enjoy Rebecca Ruth candy, hot air balloon rides (weather permitting) and pony rides.
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) will offer its popular Derby hat-making activity and hobby horse races again this year. In addition to these activities, families can visit the KHS History Mobile, which currently houses “Kentucky’s Abraham Lincoln,” an exhibit that explores Lincoln’s frontier childhood, his career from a log house to the White House and his struggles to end slavery and lead the nation through the Civil War.
Interactive Experiences
The Kentucky Experience Tent will preview what international guests will see in September at the Kentucky Horse Park as part of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In September, it will be an interactive hands-on experience just across the fence from the games that will showcase all of Kentucky’s beauty and splendor. At the breakfast, see artistic concepts of The Kentucky Experience, find out how to purchase tickets to the games, view just a few of the many Kentucky Proud products that will be available and learn more about tourism in Kentucky.
To promote safety, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety will stage demonstrations with a rollover simulator and “fatal vision” goggles. The simulator demonstrates the importance of seat belts by showing what can happen to unbelted occupants in a rollover crash. The fatal vision goggles are used to simulate drug and alcohol impairment while participants attempt to shoot a basketball.
The cabinet’s booth will also include hands-on activities to introduce kids to basic concepts of highway engineering, plus activities related to the Safe Routes to School program. Information will be available on the cabinet program known as KEEN – Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network – in which KYTC engineers bring their expertise into the classroom. Visitors can receive information about Safe Routes to School, seat belts, impaired driving, teen drivers and child passenger safety.
Entertainment
Entertainers from throughout the state will perform on two stages near the Capitol. They will include the Frankfort Christian Academy Chorus and Band, Carla VanHoose, Alyssa Meece, Curtis Vickers, Stephen Foster Singers, Raison D’Etre, Frankfort Children Singers, Collins Lane Elementary School, Kentucky State University Marching Band, and bluegrass bands Royal Blue and Dix River Crossing. Dancing groups will include the Clogging McClain Clan, Wildcat Cloggers, Wheeler Dealers, Chinese dancers with Cheryl Pan and performers from the Frankfort School of Ballet.
General Information
The traditional Governor’s Derby Celebration will take place on the state Capitol grounds from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 1, 2010, and is free and open to the public. The Governor’s Mansion and the Capitol will be open for tours during the celebration. Continuous shuttle service will be available beginning at 7:45 a.m. from the parking area located at Juniper Hill Park to the Floral Clock at the Capitol. Shuttles and the Frankfort Trolley will also provide transport from the Floral Clock to downtown Frankfort. For more information, visit www.governor.ky.gov/derbycelebration.
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