LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Derby Festival has canceled this year’s Pegasus Parade and fireworks display known as Thunder Over Louisville, saying it would not be responsible to let the events go on in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The festival’s events were originally postponed until August and September leading up to the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Other events canceled for 2020 include the miniMarathon, the festival said Thursday.
“As an organization that always puts public health and safety first, we know it would not be responsible for the Kentucky Derby Festival to put on events that attract crowds with not just hundreds, but hundreds of thousands of people,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO.
This is the festival’s 65th year and the first time its traditional events have not been held in the spring.