♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

AND THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL.

ANYONE FROM AROUND HERE CAN TELL YOU THAT THE MOST EXCITING TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS ACTUALLY KICKS OFF FAR BEFORE ANY GUESTS ARRIVE FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL IS A MONTH-LONG SELL-- CELEBRATION OF MORE THAN 70 EVENTS KICKING OFF WITH THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE.

NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST ANNUAL FIREWORKS SHOW.

IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM MARATHON, HOT AIR BALLOON EVENTS AND BED RACING.

YES, BED RACING.

AND DON'T FORGET THE GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE.

BEFORE THE FASTEST TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS IS A TWO-HOUR LONG RIVER BOAT RIVALRY THAT HAS BECOME AS MUCH OF A LOUISVILLE TRADITION AS THE BELL OF LOUISVILLE HERSELF.

COMING UP LATER WE'LL TAKE YOU INSIDE THE HISTORIC BELL OF LOUISVILLE.

YOU WILL LEARN THE FASCINATING PAST AROUND THE STAR OF THE GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE, JUST ONE OF MANY TERRIBLE EVENTS KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL.

BUT FIRST, THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL, OF COURSE, IS NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST ANNUAL FIREWORKS SHOW, THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THIS MAGNIFICENT SHOW HAS ALL BEEN PRODUCED BY THE SAME GUY.

WAYNE HETTINGER AND HE IS HERE WITH US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG SHOW.

THIS IS YOUR 35th YEAR.

>> 35th AND I'M AS EXCITED AS I EVER HAVE BEEN.

IT'S LIKE BEING DAD YEAR AFTER YEAR GETTING READY TO GET THE KIDS EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS.

AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO EXPLAIN IT.

YEAH, THE ADRENALINE IS FLOWING.

>> I LOVE THAT!

I LOVE IT!

THUNDER HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THESE 35 YEARS.

>> INDEED IT HAS.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT FIRST SHOW, HOW DID IT EVEN COME ABOUT?

WERE YOU PART OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS?

>> OH SURE.

>> HOW DID IT COME ABOUT?

>> I'VE GO THE TO BACK UP BEFORE THAT BECAUSE MY BACKGROUND IS FROM PRODUCTION.

I OWN A PRODUCTION COMPANY.

I STILL DO.

AND OUR WHOLE IDEA-- WE WERE PRODUCING SHOWS AND CORPORATE SHOWS AND MEETINGS FOR CORPORATIONS.

SO OUT OF THAT BECAME THE CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE GRAND OPENING, TO KICK OFF DERBY FESTIVALS FOR THE YEAR.

SO WE ATTACKED IT FROM LIKE A PRODUCTION AND OF COURSE WE WERE LOOKING AT LIKE THE OPENING OF AN OLYMPICS AND IT WAS GOING TO TAKE FIREWORKS TO DO IT.

SO OUR FIRST YEAR AT THE FAIR GROUNDS, WE HAD A COUPLE OF SKY DIVERS THAT CAME IN AND DID AN ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK WITH LIVE MUSIC ON STAGE.

THEN WE WENT INTO THE FIRES.

WE PROMOTED IT, AT THAT TIME, THE LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW EVER IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY AND LOOKING BACK, IT REALLY WASN'T THAT MANY FIREWORKS.

SO WHETHER WE-- WHEN WE GOT TO THE FINALE, THE PLACE WENT CRAZY.

YOU COULD FEEL THE EMOTION.

AND IT WAS MY GOSH, IF THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE, LET'S GO AFTER FIREWORKS.

SO IT WAS POSTED TO ME WITH FIND OUT WHAT THE RECORD IS FOR THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.

SO THEN WE WENT DOWN ON THE RIVERFRONT AND THAT WAS A WHOLE, WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

AND I'VE GOT TO ADMIT, A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH MY IGNORANCE BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU COULDN'T DO THINGS.

WE WERE GOING TO INVOLVE THREE CITIES, TWO STATES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CLOSE THE RIVER DOWN, STOP THE RAILROAD, REDIRECT THE AIR TRAFFIC AND CLOSE DOWN STATE AND CITY ROADS.

AND I THOUGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO IT.

IT WAS JUST A LOT OF TALKING AND A LOT OF PLANS.

BUT THE ONE THING I HAD IN MY FAVOR, I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT IT, I WAS ABLE TO FOR EXAMPLES PLAIN THE EXCITEMENT TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THAT'S HOW IT TOOK OFF.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

YOU ARE SUCH AN AMBASSADOR FOR THIS.

IT WOULDN'T BE HERE OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT YOU.

AND THE AIR SHOW PART OF IT, TOO.

HOW DID THAT GET TO BE A PART OF IT?

>> THAT WAS THE THIRD YEAR, SECOND YEAR DOWN ON THE RIVERFRONT.

AND WE THOUGHT BOY, WE NEED TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE WERE COMING EARLY TO FIND THEIR PLACE TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS SHOW.

SO WE THOUGHT, WE NEED TO ENTERTAIN THESE PEOPLE.

SO WE LOOKED AT POSSIBLY DOING SOMETHING ON THE RIVER, BUT THAT TIME OF YEAR, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE RIVER CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO BE.

SO THAT KIND OF RULED OUT DOING ANYTHING WITH BOATS BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH DEBRIS IN THE WATER AND EVERYTHING.

SO WE THOUGHT WELL, WHAT ABOUT GETTING SOME AIRPLANES IN.

SO THAT FIRST YEAR WE GOT ALL HIRED AIRCRAFT TO COME IN AND DO SOME STUNTS.

AND THEN ONE OF THE GUYS THAT I GREW UP WITH IN MY CHILDHOOD WAS BILL LESLIE.

THE WING COMMANDER AT THE KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

I HADN'T TALKED TO HIM SINCE WE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

I CALLED HIM AND SAID BILL, HOW CAN WE GET THE MILITARY INVOLVED?

HE SAID YOU BETTER COME OVER.

SO I SAT DOWN WITH HIM AND THERE WAS A STACK OF FORMS LIKE THIS TO FILL OUT.

AND HE GUIDED ME THROUGH ALL THAT.

AND WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE MILITARY.

AND THAT HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.

IT'S SUCH A HIGHLIGHT OF THE AIR SHOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY IT IS.

AND SO I'M JUST SO CURIOUS ABOUT YOU AS THIS BIG IDEA GUY.

WHEN YOU CAME ON BOARD AND YOU SAID I GOT A VISION AND IT'S THIS.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND-- YOU MENTIONED SOME OF WHAT WHAT GOES INTO THIS.

BUT IT IS A HUGE UNDERTAKING.

>> IT'S BEYOND HUGE.

IT'S MASSIVE.

IT REALLY IS.

I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH INCREDIBLE PEOPLE.

THERE IS NOT MUCH I REALLY KNOW.

I'M THE DREAMER.

I CAN COME UP WITH ALL THESE IDEAS AND FORTUNATELY I HAVE HAD THE GOOD WILL TO BE ABLE TO TURN TO PEOPLE THAT REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET IT DONE AND GO WORK WITH ME.

HOW DO WE DO THIS.

I MEAN I WAS REALLY-- I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FIREWORKS.

BUT I'M A GOOD LISTENER.

>> YOU'VE LEARNED A LOT.

>> AND I KNEW WHO TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH TO GET IT DONE AND THAT'S TRUE TODAY.

I MEAN EVERYBODY THINKS I'M UPSIDE DOWN THE DAY OF THE SHOW.

AT THAT POINT, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I DO.

I GET TO SIT BACK AND WATCH THIS MARVELOUS TEAM HAND OFF ONE TO ANOTHER AND YOU GOT TO KEEP IN MIND, I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEM ALL YEAR LONG.

AND THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER THAT DAY AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND THEY KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO HAND OFF TO.

AND TO WATCH THIS MACHINE HAPPEN IS INCREDIBLE.

THAT'S MY THRILL OF THE SHOW, IS WATCHING THESE TEAM PLAYERS JUST DO WHAT THEY TWO AND HAND OFF TO THE NEXT GUY, HAND OFF TO THE NEXT GUY, WITHOUT A REHEARSAL.

THAT IN ITSELF IS REMARKABLE.

>> IT IS AND IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR.

HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEAS?

>> A LOT OF THEM, IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, LET'S HANG TO THAT ONE AND HOW DO WE ENHANCE IT.

IN THE MEANTIME LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT A LOT HAS CHANGED.

THE TECHNOLOGY OVER THE YEARS HAS CHANGED.

I MEAN FROM THE SOUND TO EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING, COMMUNICATIONS LINKS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE WHAT IS GOING O.

AND OF COURSE NOW THE SIMPLE ONE THAT EVERYBODY CAN RELATE TO IS THE DRONES.

WELL, WHEN WE STARTED THIS, THERE WAS NO SUCH THING.

RIGHT.

>> BUT THAT COULD BE COOL SO THAT HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AND A LOT OF THEM ARE ICONS OF THE SHOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO YOU JUST LEARN AND KEEP GOING AND BUILD AND SOME OF THE STUFF WORKS.

SOME OF IT DOESN'T.

SO YOU GET RID OF THAT ONE AND TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

>> YEAH, IT IS CERTAINLY EVOLVED.

TELL ME WHAT THIS HAS MEANT TO YOU AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN THIS WAY?

>> IT MEANS THE WORLD REALLY BECAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LOUISVILLE.

AND I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF FARMERS.

AND THIS IS A LONG WAY FROM THE FARM.

BUT IT'S A BIG SOURCE OF PRIDE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR MY OWN COMMUNITY.

AND OVER THE YEARS, I'D LOVE TO HAVE, SO THAT PEOPLE LEAVE THE SHOW WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY, SENSE OF PRIDE FOR OUR MILITARY, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE THRILLED TO DEATH THAT THEY CAME TO SEE THE SHOW.

THAT'S ALWAYS THE ULTIMATE THOUGHT THAT YOU'VE GOT.

WE HAVE TO GET IT TO THAT POINT SO IT HAS BEEN A BLAST.

BUT, YEAH, WHEN WE STARTED IT, I THOUGHT-- I KNEW IT WOULD BE A GOOD SIZED SHOW.

THE DRIVING FORCE WAS, WHEN I GREW UP AND IN THE PRODUCTION WORLD AND PEOPLE WERE GOING, CAN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THEY DO IN ATLANTA?

CAN WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THEY DO IN ST. LOUIS?

I THOUGHT, I WANT TO BUILD A SHOW THAT TOPS ANYTHING.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE LIKE WHAT WE DO IN LOUISVILLE.

AND I THINK WE'VE REACHED THAT POINT.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE MORE THAN 70 EVENTS IN THIS MONTH LONG CELEBRATION.

WE COME BACK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ MATT GIBSON NAMED PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL IN 1999, BUT HE HAS BEEN WITH THE DERBY FESTIVAL FOR 26 YEARS NOW.

AND IS A LOUISVILLE NATIVE.

SO DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST FESTIVAL EVENT?

>> ABSOLUTELY I DO.

IT WAS-- I WAS LITTLE BITTY AT THAT TIME AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LATE 70s AND IT WAS THE GREAT BALLOON RACE THAT I CAN REMEMBER GOING OUT THERE WITH MY FATHER AND PARENTS AND SIBLINGS AND SITTING ON THE HOOD OF THE CAR WATCHING THE BALLOONS INFLATE AND TAKE OFF.

WHO KNEW-- A LOT LATER-- THAT I WOULD BE INVOLVED IN IT.

>> HOW DID YOUR INVOLVEMENT START?

>> SO I WAS ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PATH IN LIFE AT THE TIME AND HEARD ABOUT THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS AN EVENT MANAGER AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL.

DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT WAS.

AND INTERVIEWED AND THOUGHT I WOULD BE THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN FELL IN LOVE, ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE I ALWAYS SAY I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

EVERY SINGLE JOB I'VE HAD IN THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN IT'S REALLY PARTICIPATING IN THE MAGIC IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT SPRING RITE OF PASSAGE.

IT HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

>> IT IS SO SPECIAL TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND EVERYBODY, I FEEL LIKE, HAS THAT MEMORY, OF SOME KIND OF EVENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL KIND OF YOUR MISSION TO MAKE IT A COMMUNITY EVENT, RIGHT?

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT END OF TOWN YOU GO TO, YOU MIGHT GO A GROCERY STORE OR DOCTOR'S OFFICE, YOU MIGHT SEE AN IMAGERY, POST-YEAR PROGRAM OR MURAL OF BALLOONS OR SOMEBODY HAS A STORY OF BEING IN THE PARADE WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER.

OR WHAT PEGASUS MEANS TO THEM.

ON AND ON AND ON.

AND WHEN IT REALLY IS ABOUT PROGRAMMING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, IT'S HARD TO MISS IT.

IT'S HARD NOT TO RUN INTO SOMEONE THAT JUST DOESN'T FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.

>> IN FACT, IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1956?

>> IT HAS.

>> AND SO IT HAS ITS OWN HISTORY NOW.

>> IT REALLY DOES.

ONE OF THE NEATIST GIFTS WHEN I STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

IN 2019 WAS A POSTER THAT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST POSTERS, PROMOTIONAL POSTERS FOR THE PEGASUS PARADE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST EVENTS THAT WE HAD.

IT REMINDS ME OF WHY WE STARTED AND THAT IT REALLY WAS TO CREATE THE DERBY EXPERIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND IT HAS BEEN PART OF OUR MISSION FROM EVER SINCE THEN AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH NOW AND EVEN AS WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, WE ARE DOING A BIG RESEARCH PROGRAM ON WHAT PEOPLE WANT, WHAT WE DO THAT THEY LOVE, WHAT WE DON'T DO THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT 75 YEARS OF THE ORGANIZATION LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S HERE, NOT ONLY AS AN ENTERTAINMENT OUTLET, BUT AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR AS WELL.

WE GENERATE A LOT OF DOLLARS FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

AS A PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT THAT RAISES ALL THOSE FUNDS, 94% WHAT HAVE WE RAISE STAYS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHICH WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT HAS CHANGED.

>> IT HAS.

>> IN THAT TIME.

AND THAT HAS COME WITH CHALLENGES.

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.

>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST I WOULD THINK IS 2020, RIGHT AFTER YOU TOOK OVER AS PRESIDENT.

>> WHAT A GREAT TIME TO TAKE OVER ONE OF THE LARGEST MASS GATHERING COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND TO REALLY STEP IN, BUT WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT-- SOCIETY AS A WHOLE LEARNED A LOT.

BUT WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO, WHAT OUR PRODUCTS WERE CAPABLE OF DOING.

WHAT IT MEANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO AS WE REALLY STARTED TO MOVE WITH THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT REALLY DID EXTEND ALL THE WAY INTO THE 2022 SEASON.

IN 21 WE GOT CREATIVE, WE TOOK THUNDER TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE DID THE G.E.

APPLIANCES MINI MARATHON TO GIVE OUTLETS.

IT TAUGHT US A LOT ABOUT OUR PRODUCT, THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THEM IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO THINK ABOUT THEM.

SO WE HAVE REALLY STARTED TO USE THAT AGAIN AS AN OPPORTUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE.

JUST DOESN'T HAVE TO ALWAYS BE WHAT IT WAS.

AND WE STARTED THE EVENT AND TALKED TO WAYNE ABOUT THUNDER AND YOU EXPERIENCE A GREAT EVENT LIKE THAT.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

THAT'S THE EXCITING PART.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE?

>> I TEND TO BE THE TYPE THAT LOVES TO LEAN INTO LOTS AROUND ME.

IF I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, I KNOW SOMEONE AROUND ME DOES.

WAYNE TALKS ABOUT THAT A LOT, TOO, YOU KNOW, TAP INTO THE EXPERTS.

SO HEARING BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, I THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS AND WE FOLLOW UP EVEN AFTER THE FESTIVAL.

WHAT THEY DID LIKE, REALLY AS ITS FRONT OF MIND WHAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE.

SO WE ARE BEING VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO PLAN IT WITHOUT THAT FEEDBACK.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE NEATEST PARTS OF IT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE A VOICE ON WHAT THE FUTURE, WHAT THEIR FESTIVAL LOOKS LIKE.

>> YEAH, THAT IS VERY INTERESTING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT YOU ALL FACE?

>> ONE OF THEM IS THE EVER GROWING COMMUNITY AND THIS FESTIVAL GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER.

WE HOST ANNUALLY ABOUT 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND EVEN ON A BAD WEATHER YEAR, THAT DOESN'T DROP BY MUCH.

PEOPLE WILL COME OUT RAIN OR SHINE.

THEY'RE VERY WELL PREPARED TO BE AT AN OUTDOOR FESTIVAL IN KENTUCKY IN THE SPRING.

YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

SO THOSE CHALLENGES WILL ALWAYS EXIST ABOUT ACCOMMODATING WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE AS YOU PUT ON EVENTS LIKE THUNDER, THE MINI MARATHON.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC THAT THE G.E.

APPLIANCES FULL MARATHON IS ON THE KENTUCKY SIDE.

WE HAD SPLIT IT AND WE ARE GOING BACK OUT TO THE TRADITIONAL COURSE.

THAT COULD BE IMPACTFUL FOR PEOPLE ON A SATURDAY.

WE LEARNED, BY NOT HAVING IT THERE FOR A FEW YEARS, THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED IT BACK.

>> THEY REALLY LIKED IT.

>> OTHER CHALLENGES, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

DOWNTOWN, WE AS COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FUTURE OF OUR DOWNTOWN IS.

AND WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN PRIDE IN-- OVER THE LAST 30 TO 35 YEARS-- OF INTRODUCING THE COMMUNITY BACK TO ITS DOWNTOWN.

WHEN THUNDER STARTED, THERE REALLY WAS NO WATERFRONT.

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT HAD JUST BEEN DEVELOPED AND NOW LOOK AT IT.

AND IT IS A PREMIER VENUE FOR US TO DO WHAT WE DO.

AND PEOPLE WOULD REALLY ATTEND THEIR BROADWAY.

AND WE'VE MOVED THE EVENT, THE ZOLLAR PUMP PEGASUS PARADE FROM TRADITIONAL THURSDAY TO SUNDAY.

WE HAVE SEEN HUGE GROWTH.

AND GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THAT ROUTINE OF WHAT THAT DAY LOOKS LIKE CAN PROVE ITS OWN CHALLENGES BECAUSE THERE IS LOTS GOING ON SUNDAYS DOWNTOWN AS WELL.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING SMALL GOING ON ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE PRODUCING 70 EVENTS AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU KNOW, THAT CAN STACK.

BUT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH RESOURCES IN THIS COMMUNITY ALWAYS THAT IF SOMETHING LARGER COMES, THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO HELP US MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> LIKE YOU MENTIONED DOWNTOWN STILL RECOVERING FROM 2020.

>> IT IS.

>> AND IS THE FESTIVAL BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS?

>> WE ARE REALLY GOING INTO 2022 WAS A CAUTIOUS YEAR FOR US, BECAUSE WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE GOFF'S OFFICE AND WE DIDN'T REALIZE WE HAD PRODUCED A RESTRICTED FESTIVAL AND AN UNPREDICTED FESTIVAL SIDE BY SIDE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THREE WEEKS BEFORE AND WE HAD THIS GREAT PICTURE WHEN THE GOVERNOR, WE WERE AT AN EVENT TOGETHER AND HE WAS TURNING THE MIC OVER TO ME AND SAID PUBLICLY, IT'S MY HONOR TO TELL YOU, OR MY PLEASURE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN DO IT UNRESTRICTED.

CROWD WENT NUTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

22 AND 23 WERE US GETTING BACK INTO THE FULL SCALE SPACE, WHICH IS WHY WE DELAYED THE RESEARCH PROJECT UNTIL THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE WANTED PEOPLE TO GET THEIR STRIDE IN FIRST.

AND NOW IT SHOULD BE A GREAT TRANSFORMATIVE DISCUSSION.

>> YEAH, AND BACK TO THE ROOTS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AHEAD TO MAYBE A DIFFERENT LOOK IN THE FUTURE.

>> EXACTLY.

WE ALWAYS KNOW THERE WILL BE THOSE CORE PIECES THAT, YOU CAN'T GO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY REALLY AND SEE BALLOONS LIKE YOU SEE HERE.

KENTUCKIANS, I THINK, ARE VERY, VERY LUCKY.

YOU GO TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND ON A GORGEOUS DAY LIKE YESTERDAY, YOU WILL SEE BALLOONS LIFT OFF IN LOCAL PARKS.

YOU DON'T SEE THAT EVERYWHERE.

THAT AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THIS SIZE HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ASTRONOMICAL.

BUT THE ABILITY TO START TO KEEP MOVING IT FORWARD.

AND SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE BECAUSE CONSUMER PREFERENCES HAVE CHANGED A LOT, TOO, ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE.

HOW THEY WANT TO SEE IT.

EVERYBODY LOVES A V.I.P.

EXPERIENCE.

SO IT WILL BE NEAT TO SEE WHAT WE LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, VERY EXCITING.

>> FUN.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE EVENT?

>> SO MY FAVORITE HAS ALWAYS BEEN-- IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE THUNDER AND THE BALLOON RACE, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ICONIC ONES AND WHAT A LOT OF MY ROLE HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS ROLES.

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE IS THE GREAT BED RACES THAT HAPPEN ON THE MONDAY OF DERBY WEEK.

YOU CAN'T LEAVE THAT EVENT WITHOUT EVERY LAUGH MUSCLE IN YOUR HEAD IN YOUR FACE-- IT HURTS BECAUSE IT'S SO FUN AND THE CROWD GETS SO INTO IT.

SO DO THE TEAMS.

I MEAN SOME OF THESE BED TEAMS ARE RUMORED TO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THE HYDRAULICS ON THE BED OR THE LIGHT SYSTEMS AND THE COSTUMES ARE JUST-- IT IS A GREAT START TO DERBY WEEK.

AND IT CONTINUES TO BE MY FAVORITE.

IT IS A GOOD TIME.

>> IT IS VERY UNIQUE.

>> TO SAY THE LEAST.

>> TO SAY THE LEAST.

WELL, THE GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST TERRIBLE EVENTS KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL THAT STARTED IN 1963, HEAD TO HEAD BATTLE THERE WITH THE DELTA QUEEN AND CINCINNATI AND THE BELL OF LOUISVILLE, OF COURSE, ALONG THE OHIO RIVER, NOW THE BELL THOUGH HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE HISTORY AND CHRISTIE DUTTON WENT ON BOARD TO GIVE US A LOOK INSIDE.

>> BEFORE THE FASTEST TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS IS A TWO HOUR LONG RIVER BOAT RIVALRY.

IT HAS BECOME AS MUCH OF A LOUISVILLE TRADITION AS THE BELL OF LOUISVILLE HERSELF.

>> STEAM BOAT RACE AND IT'S VERY COLORFUL EVENT AND EVERYONE REALLY ENJOYS IT.

I KNOW OUR CREWS DO.

IT'S A FUN TIME FOR ALL.

>> THE FIRST GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE HELD IN 1963, BUT THE HISTORY OF THE BELLE BEGINS LONG BEFORE THAT.

THE STEAM BOAT WAS ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED IN 1914 WITH THE NAME IDLE WILD.

>> SHE WAS ORIGINALLY A BACT BOAT AND FERRY.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTING CARGO OWE.

SHE HAS HAD ALL KINDS OF THINGS ON BOARD.

ANYTHING YOU CAN PUT ON A STEAM BOAT, YOU CAN PUT ON BOARD.

>> IT PITCHED IN FOR THE WAR EFFORT.

>> DURING WORLD WAR II, SHE WAS OUTFITTED TO PUSH OIL BARGES, ALTHOUGH SHE WASN'T, LIKE I SAID, SHE WASN'T GREAT AT THAT BUT SHE WAS OUTFITTED TO PUSH OIL BARGES AND SERVED AS A NIGHT CLUB FOR OFFICERS DURING WORLD WAR II ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

>> EVENTUALLY TRAVELERS LOADED IT FOR LEISURE AND EXCURSION CRUISES.

IN 19147, IT WAS SOLD AND RENAMED THE AVALON.

THE PASSENGER CRUISER WENT ON TO COVER MANY RIVER MILES.

>> SO SHE IS VERY WELL TRAVELED AND IS PROBABLY BOARDED PASSENGERS IN MORE TOWNS AND MORE CITIES AND SMALL VILLAGES, HAMLET AS LONG THE WAY THAN ANY OTHER BOAT IN WESTERN HISTORY.

>> SHE HAS BEEN ON PRETTY MUCH EVERY WATER OR NAVIGABLE WATERWAY ON THIS SIDE OF THE COUNTRY FROM THE GULF ALL THE WAY UP TO CANADA.

>> BUT THE AVALON ENDED UP IN TROUBLED WATERS.

IN 1962, THE STEAMER WAS ON THE AUCTION BLOCK IN CINCINNATI.

JEFFERSON COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE MARLOWE COOK PURCHASED THE STEAM BOAT FOR THE COUNTY FOR $34,000 AND RENAMED IT THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE.

AT THE TIME, THE PURCHASE WASN'T THE MOST POPULAR DECISION.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE UPSET, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY DID WE SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY TO BUY AN OLD BOAT.

>> COOK NEEDED A WAY TO FIND A WAY TO CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT THE BELLE AND RAISE MORE MONEY TO MAKE REPAIRS AND RESTORE THE STEAM BOAT.

SO THE IDEA OF THE GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE WAS BORN.

HOWEVER, IT WAS TRICK TOE PULL OFF.

>> THEY COULDN'T QUITE GET HER UP TO COAST GUARD STANDARDS FOR HER LICENSE.

SO, THEY ENDED UP GETTING CLEARED FOR JUST ONE CRUISE.

THAT WAS THE FIRST GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE IN 1963.

>> BUT IT WASN'T SMOOTH SAILING.

>> THE BELLE'S FIRST CRUISE WITH PASSENGERS ON BOARD AS THE BELLE OF LUFL.

LOUISVILLE.

AND THE BELLE WAS SO LADEN DOWN GETTING UP THE RIVER WITH PASSENGERS AND THAT, AND JUST GETTING HER OPERATIONAL AS SHE WAS GOOD TO GO, BUT BY THE TIME THE BELLE WAS MAKING HER TURN, IN THE SIX-MILE ISLAND, THE DELTA QUINOAS-- QUEEN WAS CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AND THEY WERE PLAYING THE OLD GRAY MARE AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE LIKE, HEY, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

SO THE BELL COMES BACK, FINALLY CROSSES THE FINISH LINE.

THERE WAS A HUGE CROWD.

SHE BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE CRUISE.

SHE MADE IT BUT BARELY.

>> THEY SATE AT THAT TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SORT OF WONDERING ABOUT THIS OLD BOAT AND SHOULD THE COUNTY HAVE GONE OUT AND BOUGHT THE BOAT WITH TAXPAYER MONEY.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT?

SELL IT IN OPERATION.

AND THEN WHEN THEY PLAYED THE OLD GRAY MARE AIN'T WHAT SHE USED TO BE, THEY SAY THAT CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE; THAT HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

>> SO SPECIAL THAT THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE IS NOW A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AND THE OLDEST RIVER STEAM BOAT IN OPERATION, WORTH FAR MORE THAN $34,000.

>> IT'S PRICELESS.

SHE IS ONE OF A KIND.

SHE IS A GEM.

SHE WAS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

SHE IS A GEM NOW.

>> FROM A FLOATING MILITARY NIGHT CHUB TO CONTENDER IN THE GREAT STEAM BOAT RACE.

THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE HAS LIVED MANY LIVES IN HER 110 YEARS AND HAS MUCH MORE LIFE AHEAD OF HER TO KEEP HER ROLLING ON DOWN THE RIVER.

>> WANT TO TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO THE BELLE?

WE LINKED YOU UP TO KET ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIP TO THE BELLE OF LOUISVILLE.

YOU CAN DISCOVER MORE ABOUT HOW THE BELLE WORKS AT KET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

PLUS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES - CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM.

THUNDER DOESN'T ALWAYS GO OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.

YOU CAN FOLLOW AND SHARE AT KET IN LOU.

AND SHARE YOUR DERBY FAVORITE MEMORIES.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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