Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor Beshear, First Lady announce family-friendly activities at Governor’s Derby Celebration
FRANKFORT, Ky.– Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear today announced an array of activities available for all ages at the Governor’s Derby Celebration in historic downtown Frankfort on Saturday, May 7, 2011.
“Jane and I look forward every year to celebrating this wonderful tradition with families from across the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are also excited to hold this year’s event in historic downtown Frankfort. This new venue will save tax dollars while also supporting the local economy.”
Featured Artists
Visitors to Kentucky’s capital city will have an opportunity to view the artwork of artists from across the Commonwealth in the Governor’s Derby Exhibit beginning on April 6 through May 10, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda. The spring-themed show of paintings, lithographs, mixed-media works and photographs can be viewed during public visiting hours, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and during the Governor's Derby Celebration.
Along with the Governor’s Derby Exhibit, 17 artists participating in the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted Program will offer their work for sale on the lawn of the Old Capitol Annex in downtown Frankfort at the Governor’s Derby Celebration.
In addition, the Division of Historic Properties and the Fine Arts Committee of the Historic Properties Advisory Commission will be presenting an exciting new art exhibition, The Race is On: Equine Art from private and public collections, for display at the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion. The works will be on display from approximately April 15 to September 15, 2011.
Children’s Activities
The Kentucky Horse Park will be offering pony rides provided by Rockridge Stables. The pony rides are free and will be available in the parking lot of the First Christian Church at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway. Visitors can also take a horse-drawn trolley ride provided by the Kentucky Horse Park. Visitors can access the trolley from Ann Street beside the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.
The History Center is also offering a variety of activities. Children can take part in the traditional Derby Hat Making. The annual stick horse race will take place on the Old State Capitol lawn. At the History Center’s gardens, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salato Center will have live animals with The Birds of Prey show at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The center will also feature The Kentucky Experience exhibit, a smaller version of all things Kentucky that was displayed at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games last fall. The Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet will have a jockey simulator, the Equicizer, at the History Center and will also be offering face painting. The History Center’s History Mobile will be parked on Broadway Street in front of the center and will allow spectators to explore the life of Kentucky-native and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
In addition, hot air balloon rides will be available (weather permitting) on the State Capitol lawn.
Capital City Museum Attractions
The Capital City Museum’s main attraction will be Danthebluegrassman, a thoroughbred racehorse scheduled to run in the 2002 Kentucky Derby, but unfortunately scratched the morning of the race. He will be at the museum site from 8 a.m. to noon, giving visitors who are not attending the Derby a chance to see and have their photo taken with a true thoroughbred racehorse.
Other museum-hosted attractions will include performances by the Saxton’s Cornet Band, a Civil War brass band headquartered in Frankfort, and the opening of the museum’s newest facility, the Good Shepherd Center. The museum will also offer boat trips on the Nancy Wilkinson Kentucky River tour boat. Tours will begin at 9 a.m. The tour is free to the public, but reservations are required. For reservations or more information call 502.696.0607.
Entertainment
Downtown Frankfort Inc., along with Jim Beam Brands Inc., will be providing entertainment on the Jim Beam Stage in front of the Old State Capitol Building at the celebration from 8 a.m. to noon. Entertainment will also be provided on the Governor’s stage behind the Kentucky History Center.
Beginning at 7 a.m., Pink Out Zumba will take place downtown at the celebration. A $5 donation is suggested to partially benefit First Lady Jane Beshear’s Horses and Hope initiative, which provides breast cancer education, screening and treatment referral for the often overlooked members of Kentucky’s horse industry and their families.
A full schedule of entertainment can be found at http://www.governor.ky.gov/derbycelebration/entertainment.htm
Giving Back
To help restock the pantries of local food banks and soup kitchens, the Governor and Mrs. Beshear are inviting visitors to bring a nonperishable food item or make a charitable donation at the Derby Celebration. First Christian Church will have a drop-off location outside the front of the church building to collect canned goods and monetary donations for local food pantries.
Franklin County Farmers Market
The Franklin County Farmers Market features fresh, locally grown produce, breads, spreads, honey, canned goods, eggs, meats, herbs, perennial plants, vegetable plants and much more. The market is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
The market will be open during the Governor’s Derby Celebration from 7 a.m. to noon located at Riverview Park. Special entertainment and a coffee station will be offered during the event. The downtown trolley will be making stops at the market. For more information visit http://ces.ca.uky.edu/franklin/FarmersMarket.
Derby Breakfast
Recently, Gov. Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear announced the addition of new Kentucky-based food vendors. The Kentucky Pork Producers and Kentucky Beef Producers, along with a variety of unique downtown restaurants, will prepare and sell breakfast items to the public during the celebration.
This is a change from previous years when the Kentucky Parks Department has provided food for sale and is yet another way for the state to save valuable taxpayer money while supporting the local economy.
Governor’s Derby Poster
The 2011 Governor’s Commemorative Derby poster is the fourth in the series honoring Triple Crown winning thoroughbreds. The print depicts Seattle Slew crossing the finish line in honor of the 34th anniversary of his 1977 victories in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, making him only the 10th horse in history to win the Triple Crown. The photograph is courtesy of Churchill Downs Inc. and Kinetic Corporation.
The 2011 Derby Celebration poster will be available for purchase Derby morning at the Governor’s Derby Celebration in historic downtown Frankfort. The cost is $15. The commemorative poster is available online and may be purchased at http://www.governor.ky.gov/derbycelebration/poster.htm. An additional charge of $2.50 will be added to online orders to cover postage and handling.
General information
The 2011 Governor’s Derby Celebration marks the event’s 75th anniversary and will take place on Saturday, May 7 in downtown Frankfort from 8 a.m. to noon, and is free and open to the public. The Governor’s Mansion, Capitol and Old Governor’s Mansion will be open for tours during the celebration. Parking will be available in several public lots downtown, as well as at the State Capitol in the Annex Parking Structure, with shuttle services provided from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.governor.ky.gov/derbycelebration.
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