Erin Andrews + They’re Off! Luncheon, The Kentucky Derby Festival announced Friday that ESPN reporter Erin Andrews will be the keynote speaker for the 56th annual They're Off! Luncheon. About 1,800 Derby Festival supporters and patrons will attend the community tradition which will take place on Friday, April 20 in the Grand Ballroom of the Galt House East Hotel.

Andrews joined ESPN in 2004 as a reporter for the network's National Hockey League coverage. She has also served as a reporter for College Football Saturday, Saturday Primetime College Basketball, Big Ten college basketball and Major League Baseball.

Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry said Andrews will return to Louisville two weeks after the luncheon as a guest at the annual Derby Eve party benefiting the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center in Lexington.

Since 1957, the They're Off! Luncheon has served as the kick-off to the Kentucky Derby Festival.

This year's luncheon will feature the presentation of the Kentucky Derby Festival's Volunteer of the Year Award and the AT&T Silver Horseshoe Award for service to the community.

Tickets for the event cost $76 each or $608 for a table of eight and are available on a very limited basis.