Experience the 2027 Kentucky Derby like an INSIDER!
Louisville, Kentucky is Home to America’s most prestigious and celebrated horse race in America! Often called the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports," the Kentucky Derby is held every year on the first Saturday in May at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack. People voyage from all over the globe to be a part of this spectacular event! So much excitement and tradition is built into the Derby, from the fabulous hats, to the pin-striped suits, to the famous bugle call - and everybody is sipping mint juleps! The roar of the crowd cheering as the horses make their "Run for the Roses" is electrifying!
Insider Packages for the 2027 Derby. Our 2027 tour takes place April 29 - May 2, 2026. Tour includes 3 nights hotel accommodations, Kentucky Derby Race Day, and a Day of Exciting Tours. Book a package today and get ready for the ultimate Kentucky Derby adventure!
Derby Insider Tours. Experience the Kentucky Derby like an INSIDER! We offer “total package” tours that include everything needed to make your trip to the Derby a complete success! From your Marriott hotel stay in the heart of Downtown Louisville’s Bourbon District, to your reserved seats at the Kentucky Derby, your premium food and beverage package at Churchill Downs, private transfers, and an exciting day of tours, including a tour, whiskey tasting and lunch at Jim Beam Distillery, a Louisville Slugger Museum Visit, Factory Tour and Bourbon Blending Class, and a stop at Stitzel-Weller Distillery for a Bourbon and Chocolate Pairing experience! And of course you can’t forget our welcome party, evening bourbon tasting, morning mimosa bar with breakfast, and more - your trip to the Kentucky Derby is going to be one for the history books!
We take care of all the details so you don't have to! Just show up, enjoy the show and create memories that will last a lifetime! Experience this bucket list adventure along with the sites, the music, the decadent cuisine, the southern hospitality - and do it all in style and at a great value with InsiderTours!
View Package Pricing Here
what’s included in my 2027 derby package?
2027 Packages Include All Items Below:
3-Night Stay Dates are April 39 – May 2, 2027
3 Nights Hotel Stay at Springhill Suites by Marriott, located in the heart of Downtown Louisville. This ideal Bourbon District location is just 1 block’s walk to Whiskey Row, where all the best restaurants, pubs, shops, and many distilleries and tasting rooms are located. Short walking distance to Fourth Street Live as well! A perfect home base for your Kentucky Derby stay!
Reserved Seats for the 152nd Kentucky Derby. This is what it’s all about, ladies and gentlemen: the biggest race of the year and you are SO THERE! Get ready for the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" and an incredible day of action and fun at Churchill Downs!
Unlimited Food and Beverage Package at Churchill Downs, including elevated cuisine and alcoholic beverages. We’ll cheers to that!
Private Transportation to and from Churchill Down.
Welcome Party with specialty cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music, a Derby Hat pop-up shop, and more! A spirited “Welcome to Kentucky” party to kick off the weekend’s events!
Louisville Slugger Museum Visit and Factory Tour.
Louisville Slugger Bourbon Experience – Partake in Louisville's only custom bourbon experience, a 45-minute class that teaches you how to blend your own bourbon recipe. Optionally purchase a bottle of your custom bourbon recipe and have it blended on-site.
Jim Beam Distillery Tour and Whiskey Tasting. Learn all about the history of this legendary whiskey label, see how the distilling process works. A fun and interactive tour with tastings along the way!
Lunch is served at Jim Beam Distillery’s Restaurant, the Kitchen Table.
Bourbon and Chocolate Tasting Experience at Stitzel-Weller Distillery (where Pappy Van Winkle was originally distilled).
Private Transportation and Insider Guides present at all events to lead the way.
Friday Evening Bourbon Tasting at the Hotel, after our exciting day of tours!
Daily Breakfast Buffet is included in your package.
Enjoy a Good Morning Mimosa Bar accompanying Breakfast on Friday and Saturday mornings, preceding the Kentucky Derby and our Day of Tours.
Welcome Goody Basket packed with Race Day Essentials, including a specialty laser-engraved bottle of Woodford Reserve’s Distiller Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 153rd Derby Edition, snacks, drinks and more (one basket per room).
Insider Guides present 24/7, at the hotel and all events, making sure you’re having the time of your life every second of the way!
Ticket Details! Info on Your Kentucky Derby Reserved Seats:
Your Reserved Seating for Derby will be located in the Starting Gate Courtyard at Churchill Downs. Seats are uncovered. Seats in the Starting Gate Courtyard provide an exceptional experience focused on the exciting moments at the start of the race, plus the homestretch dash, combined with premium all-inclusive food, drink and amenities.
Key Benefits Include:
Prime Starting Line Views: Enjoy an unparalleled, “front-row” view of the horses as they are loaded into the gate and break at the start of the race.
Trackside Location: This area is located directly next to the dirt and turf racetracks and overlooks the beginning of the homestretch, ensuring a close-up, "court-side” experience.
Horses Pass You Twice: Experience both the excitement of the start of the race and the homestretch portion of the race. In many of the races, the horses pass by the Starting Gate Courtyard seats twice for double the excitement and double the fun!
Comfortable Seating: Relax in the new, comfortable padded fold-down stadium-style seating that provides spectacular views of the racetrack. Easy access to food and beverage, and restrooms.
All-Inclusive Food and Beverage: Your ticket includes an all-inclusive food and beverage package, giving you access to a wide selection of food options, passed premium cocktails like mint juleps and lily cocktails, plus beer, wine and access to open bars where you can oder just about anything!
Facility Access: Ticket holders have access to the first-floor frontside and paddock viewing areas of the facility. See the horses and jockeys prepare for their big race! Guests have access to festive social and seating areas, live music and DJ’s. Browse merchandise shops, specialty and pop-up shops, as well as race-day events that are happening throughout Churchill Downs!
** Please note: Seating is uncovered. To upgrade to a covered seating option, please inquire for pricing.
Derby Fun Facts & Traditions:
The Race: The Derby is a Grade I stakes race for top three-year-old Thoroughbreds, run at a distance of 1 and 1/4 miles. The field is limited to 20 horses, which qualify through a points system in a series of preparatory races.
"Run for the Roses": The winning horse is draped in a spectacular blanket of over 400 red roses, a tradition that began officially in the 1930’s.
Fashion and Atmosphere: The event is a grand cultural and social spectacle known for its unique style. On race day, women typically wear large, ornate hats - every hat is unique and each hat is more grand than the next! Men typically wear colorful suits and bow ties. The atmosphere is electric, a lively mix of high fashion with an abundance of fancy food and drink, exciting race moments, and celebrity sightings!
Traditions: In addition to race day fashion, a few other long-standing traditions include mint juleps and the singing of Stephen Foster's song "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses parade to the starting gate.
Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby is followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. A horse must win all three races in the same year to achieve the prestigious Triple Crown title.
The trademarks Kentucky Derby®, Churchill Downs®, “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports®” and “Run for the Roses®” belong to Churchill Downs Incorporated. Their usage here is solely for description purposes only. Festival Insider Tours and Derby Insider Tours is not affiliated with, endorsed by or associated with Churchill Downs Incorporated in any capacity. Churchill Downs Incorporated has not granted Insider Tours licensing or authorization to sell products or services related to the Kentucky Derby. For official Kentucky Derby ticket information, please visit www.kentuckyderby.com.
