The Kentucky Derby Festival is pleased to announce that it has received the Grand Pinnacle Award - the special event industry's highest honor - at the International Festivals and Events Association's 54th Annual Convention and Expo held this week in Indianapolis, Indiana. Finishing runner-up to the Derby Festival in the Grand Pinnacle Awards were Gemeente Den Haag (Netherlands) and 500 Festival Inc. (Indianapolis). In addition to the Grand Pinnacle Award, which is a recognition of the best overall festival program among the IFEA's membership, the Derby Festival received a record 34 Pinnacle Awards in individual categories - 16 Gold, 13 Silver and 5 Bronze.

"To be honored by your peers with this prestigious award is truly humbling and rewarding," said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. "This really is a reflection of all the tremendous support we receive from our sponsors, patrons and volunteers, and the community as a whole. With the economic challenges that surfaced over the past year, it's particularly gratifying that the Derby Festival and its supporters were able to step up and provide two weeks worth of world-class entertainment at a very affordable cost."

The International Festivals and Events Association has more than 2,400 member festivals from around the world. The 2009 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, Portland Rose Festival, Memphis in May, Fiesta San Antonio, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Milwaukee World Festival and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

See below for a complete list of awards, sponsors and collaborators. For more information, visit www.ifea.com.

The Festival won GOLD awards for:
   

• BEST SPONSOR SOLICITATION VIDEO.  KDF Sponsor Recruitment Video. Produced by Big Sky Digital Media, Inc.
• BEST TV PROMOTION (Ad spot or PSA). Thunder Over Louisville. Produced by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST EVENT VIDEO (for sale). Thunder on FOX.  Produced by FOX 41 WDRB-TV.
• BEST COMMEMORATIVE POSTER. 2009 KDF Official Poster. Created by Jeaneen Barnhart and Doreen Barnhart DeHart.
• BEST COVER DESIGN. They’re Off! Luncheon program. Produced by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST SINGLE MAGAZINE DISPLAY AD. Derby Festival Basketball Classic. Produced by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST EVENT INVITATION. Derby Festival Basketball Classic invite. Produced by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST SPONSOR SOLICITATION PACKAGE. Papa John's Pizza. KDF Marketing Team.
• BEST SPONSOR FOLLOW-UP REPORT. McDonald's Restaurants of Kentuckiana. KDF Marketing Team.
• BEST SPONSOR. E.ON U.S.  KDF Marketing Team.
• BEST PRESS/MEDIA KIT. "Road to Fun." KDF Communications Team.
• BEST MEDIA RELATIONS CAMPAIGN. "Managing Media & Maternity."  KDF Communications Team.
• BEST T-SHIRT DESIGN. Official Poster T-shirt. Designed by Jeaneen Barnhart and Doreen Barnhart DeHart.
• BEST OVERALL MERCHANDISING PROGRAM. KDF Merchandise Team.
• BEST VENDOR/SUPPLIER. All Pro Championships.  KDF Merchandise Team.
• BEST PROMOTION PUBLICIZING A PINNACLE AWARD WIN. Pinnacle Parkway.  KDF Communications Team.

SILVER Awards:

• BEST EVENT PROGRAM.  American Founders Bank WineFest Program. Designed by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST PROMOTIONAL POSTER. Thunder Road. Designed by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST STREET BANNER. Thunder Road street sign. Designed by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST SINGLE NEW SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. Friends of Coal (Ky.). KDF Marketing Team.
• BEST OVERALL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. Kroger. KDF Marketing Team.
• BEST SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUAL SPONSOR. University of Louisville Healthcare. KDF Marketing Team.
• BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM. Go Green! KDF Event Team.
• BEST EVENT/PROGRAM WITHIN AN EVENT TO BENEFIT A CHARITY. Silver Horseshoe Award.
• BEST COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM. Derby Festival Basketball Classic and Five-Star Camp.  KDF Event Team.
• BEST NEW EVENT. Illumination Derby Ball.
• BEST PUBLIC SAFETY/SECURITY PLAN. Marathon and miniMarathon presented by Walmart. KDF Event Team.
• BEST PIN OR BUTTON. Chairman's Theme Pin. KDF Merchandise Team.
• BEST HAT. Almond Cap. Designed by Jeaneen Barnhart and Doreen Barnhart DeHart. KDF Merchandise Team.

BRONZE Awards:

• BEST FULL-LENGTH TV PROGRAM.  Stock Yards Bank Great Bed Races. Broadcast by WAVE TV.
• BEST EVENT/ORGANIZATION NEWSLETTER. "Festival Times."Produced by KDF Communications Department with design by CurrentMarketing.  Sponsored by Bluegrass Family Health.
• BEST MISCELLANEOUS PRINTED MATERIALS (Single page). Republic Bank Parade Preview Program. Designed by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST SINGLE NEWSPAPER DISPLAY AD. Thunder Over Louisville. Designed by CurrentMarketing.
• BEST CREATIVE/EFFECTIVE NEWS STUNT. Great Steamboat Race:  Renewed Rivalry on the River.