NEW THUNDER PINS ARE HERE
2003-03-17T15:21:36
New this year – they come in five different designs
March 17, 2003. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival premiered the 31st installment of Pegasus Pins today at a gala event at the Kentucky Center. The public enjoyed free popcorn and treats at a circus-themed party for the pins from 5 - 7 pm. For the first time, the Pegasus Pin comes in FIVE different designs. Pin Envelopes will contain one of the five designs for a $3 sponsorship. Pins will start to appear at more than 1,000 participating banks and retail outlets beginning this week.
For the first time, the Pegasus Sponsorship Pins will be offered in five different designs – the traditional Pegasus icon, Great Balloon Race, miniMarathon, Thunder Over Louisville and Pegasus Parade. One of the five designs will be found in each Pegasus Pin Sponsorship Envelope, along with two coupons from area businesses. Any of the five pins will get their owner into Derby Festival pin-admission events such as the Great Balloon Race and US Bank Balloon Glow, Run for the Rose’, BB&T Great Bed Races, Republic Bank Parade Preview and 13 days of free concerts at two Chow Wagon locations.
The event gave Derby Festival patrons their first opportunity to purchase a Pegasus Pin sponsorship and begin another new tradition that was introduced – Pin Trading. Pin enthusiasts and collectors participated in the first Derby Festival Pin Trading Event. Many purchased a pin trading starter kit and began trading their metal Derby Festival pins with Derby Festival Princesses, volunteers and other Festival fans. Each kit includes a pin trading medallion, four 2003 Derby Festival metal Event Pins and an official Festival lanyard on which to display them for $20. They will be available at all Pin Trading events and a Taste of Kentucky. Derby Festival metal Event Pins will represent 21 events this year in addition to a metal Pegasus and are $6 each. For more information on pin trading, visit www.derbyfestival.org or call the BellSouth Derby Festival hotline at 540-1127.
Started as an awareness campaign for the not-for-profit civic celebration in 1973, the plastic pins are now one of four primary sources of funding the Derby Festival events. It has become a way for the community to have ownership in the Festival and show their pride in the region’s largest celebration.
In addition to a pin and coupons, each Pegasus Sponsor has the chance to win prizes if they find a gold pin in their envelope. There will be 15,000 instant prizes available. Gold Pin Winners can register their gold pins to win one of 13 grand prizes (including a Cadillac), which will be awarded at the Grand Prize Drawing on Monday, May 12, at Louisville Gardens at 5 PM.
The five designs of the 2003 Pegasus Pin and all metal event pins were created by local artist Risa Yussman. Yussman is also the official Derby Festival Poster Artist.
