The Black Lillies featured in Paddock Concert Series

A Paddock Concert Series performance by The Black Lillies on Friday evening

kicks off a festive four-day holiday weekend at Churchill Downs that includes a

special Memorial Day racing program on Monday, infield fun

Saturday-through-Monday with the first Bluegrass Art Experience, and another

"Family Fun" Sunday Presented by Kroger.

The long holiday weekend kicks off Friday with the Twilight Racing program

that will be followed by the third and final installment of Churchill Downs'

popular Paddock Concert Series featuring

The Black Lillies.

The Knoxville, Tennessee-based band brings its special blend of rock, country,

bluegrass, jazz and blues that has made its members fast-rising stars in the

genre of music known as Americana.

Admission gates will open for Friday's Twilight Racing program at 1:30 p.m.

(EDT) and post time for the first race will be 2:45 p.m. Happy Hour drink

specials in the paddock garden area include a $3 Stella Artois Draft Beer (16

oz.) from 4-7 p.m. The concert begins immediately after Friday's final race at

approximately 8  p.m.

The Black Lillies have appeared at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival,

"Mountain Stage," the Country Music Association's (CMA) Festival & Fan Fair and

are currently touring in support of a new album, "100 Miles of Wreckage," that

was released in April.

The first 850 people in attendance for The Black Lillies concert will be

allowed free access to the paddock to watch the concert up close in a VIP

viewing area. Outside of the paddock there is ample space to enjoy the concert

from the Paddock Garden and balcony areas. Admission to the Paddock Concert

Series performance by The Black Lillies is free with the $3 general admission to

Churchill Downs before 7 p.m. Admission to the concert is $10 after 7 p.m and

gates 10 and 17 will be open for late admissions.

Saturday's racing program, headed by the Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville

Handicap, will be accompanied by the Bluegrass Art Experience, which will run

Saturday-through-Monday in the infield.

The Bluegrass Art Experience is a family-friendly, multifaceted arts festival

provides a unique environment to showcase the vast variety of artistic

expression in Kentucky and the surrounding region. Designed to entertain as well

as enlighten, this event will also be used as a platform to raise money and

create public awareness of nonprofit charities that include Home of the

Innocents and Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.

Nearly 50 artists and several galleries will display and sell works in tents

located in the infield. Works by local independent filmmakers will be available

for viewing in a special "movie tent."

The Bluegrass Art Experience will be open from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday

and Monday, and admission to the infield on all three days is free with paid

general admission of $3. Saturday's Churchill Downs racing program features 11

live races, with post time for the day's first event at 12:45 p.m. Admission

gates open at 11 30 a.m.

Sunday's Churchill Downs racing program will again be accompanied Family Fun

Days activities Presented by Kroger.  Family Fun Days promise a very

special day for the entire family, with attractions that include HorseRacing

Bingo, Junior Jockey Club activities; story time; a walking tour of the Kentucky

Derby Museum to visit with Winston, its resident miniature horse; visits with

Churchill Charlie and more.  More information is available at

ChurchillDowns.com.

Family Fun Days activities are scheduled from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in the

Paddock Pavilion on Sundays throughout the meet.

Monday's special Memorial Day racing program, which includes the final day of

the Bluegrass Art Experience in the infield, also has a post time is 12:45 p.m.,

with admission gates opening at 11:30 a.m.

Seating and tickets for Churchill Downs racing and special events throughout

the Spring Meet can be purchased through the

track's online box office or by calling 502-636-4400. Tickets can

also be purchased at Churchill Downs' on-track box office, located at Gate 1 off

Central Avenue. The on-track box office is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11

a.m. to 2 p.m., with the exception of Friday hours of noon to 6 p.m. The box

office will be open on "Downs After Dark" night racing Saturdays on June 2, 16

and 30 from noon to 9 p.m.

Bet the Belmont Stakes at TwinSpires.com