KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL HONORS

2011-10-05

The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that it has received 31 Awards at the International Festivals and Events Association's 56th Annual Convention and Expo held this week in Ft. Worth, Texas. The Derby Festival received a Silver Grand Pinnacle Award in the Grand Pinnacle category, finishing runner-up to the Portland Rose Festival. The Grand Pinnacle is a recognition of the best overall festival program among the IFEA's membership. (The Derby Festival received the Gold Grand Pinnacle Award in 2009, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 1991.) The Derby Festival also received 10 Gold Pinnacles, 13 Silver and 7 Bronze in various other categories for events, media relations, advertising campaign, sponsorship and merchandise.   (Click here to see the complete list of awards.)

Alex Freeman, a former Kentucky Derby Festival board member and KDF volunteer for more than 40 years, was presented with the 2011 IFEA/Zambelli Fireworks Volunteer of the Year Award at this week's convention. She is the first Derby Festival volunteer ever to receive this international recognition.

"It's very gratifying for all your hard work to be recognized by other special events professionals," said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. "The Pinnacle Awards are a reflection of tremendous support provided by our board, sponsors, volunteers and the community as a whole. We were very excited to see Alex Freeman receive such a prestigious honor after more than four decades as a selfless volunteer for seemingly every event on our schedule."

The International Festivals and Events Association has more than 2,000 member festivals from around the world. The 2011 IFEA Pinnacle Awards competition honored the best special events, festival materials, promotions and ideas among the organization's membership. The Derby Festival competed with events among the ranks of the Indy 500 Festival, Seattle Sea Fair, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Memphis in May International Festival, Music for All, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Friends of San Antonio Commission, National Capital Commission (Ottawa, Canada), Dublin Irish Festival, World Gourmet Summit (Singapore), Boryeong Mud Festival (Korea) and the Ludwig Van Beethoven Association (Poland).