Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology

2027 will mark the third annual Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology. It is on Friday, April 23 and it kicks off a full weekend of racing with the traditional Humana miniMarathon and Marathon on Saturday, April 24!

“The Kentucky Derby Festival 5K will offer a unique experience race weekend with an evening run over the Ohio River just before sunset,” said Chris Martini, Kentucky Derby Festival Race Director. “Festival fans and families at all fitness levels can participate. It’s also an opportunity for runners to get a warm-up in ahead of their half or full the next day.”

The 5K will start at 7 p.m. on Friday evening. Participants will run a looped course that starts and finishes at Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park and includes a lap on the Big 4 Bridge. The 5K is open to participants age 10 and up. All 5K Participants will receive a medal and shirt.

Looking for a challenge? Complete the 5K AND miniMarathon or Marathon to receive a special challenge medal to commemorate both runs!

The registration fee is $45. (Late registration is $50.)

When is the Festival 5K Presented by First Urology?

Friday, April 23 at 7pm  

 

What is the course for the Festival 5K Presented by First Urology? 

The Festival 5K Presented by First Urology course will start and finish at Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park and take runners across the Big Four Bridge. 

 

How do I register for the Festival 5K Presented by First Urology ?

You can register now by heading to our RunSignUp registration page, here.

 

Will you offer refunds for registration?

Currently, we do not offer refunds for any of our races. However, we encourage you to take advantage of the following options for normal race occurrences:

  1. Purchase Race Insurance through Regsheild: Race day insurance is offered through RegShield and has to be purchased at the time of registration. Use the policy number you received when you completed your insurance purchase to make the claim here to file a claim.*For all questions about your Insurance policy, please contact RegShield.
  2. Race Bib Transfer: You will have the option to transfer your race bib to another runner of your choosing for a $20 transfer fee. This must be done by April 13, 2026. Log into your RunSignUp account to edit or transfer your race registration. Go to your “Profile” page, click the “My Registered Races” and view a list of your registrations separated by race, event,  date  and registrant. Next to each registrant, you will be able to “View/Edit Registration,” which is where you will need to go to transfer your registration to another participant.

 

Are there time limits for the course?  

This year’s course will close at 8:30 PM.

 

How do I get my Race Bib & Participant Shirt?  

We’ll have the Race Expo and Packet Pick-Up inside Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center on April 22 and 23. We’ll be sending more information about this in early Spring to the email you registered with. (We will also have more information here and on our social media channels). 

 

What is the KDF Race Challenge? 

Runners who complete both the Festival 5K Presented by First Urology and the Humana miniMarathon or Marathon will receive a 3rd medal to commemorate this accomplishment.

 

How do I Register for the KDF Race Challenge?  

  • If you are already registered for the miniMarathon or Marathon, all you need to do is register for the Festival 5K Presented by First Urology and you will be able to see you are registered for both events.
  • If you are not yet registered, please sign up, here, using the KDF Race Challenge Button.

 

Where do I park on race day? 

Street parking is available near the Start and Finish Line areas. There are also multiple surface lots in the vicinity as well.