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Host a Winning Kentucky Derby Party
When a sporting event’s only two minutes long, that leaves more time for fascinators, florals, and a stylish photo finish. Off to the races!
May 2024 brings the 150th anniversary of the Run for the Roses. That's right, almost every year since 1946, the first Saturday of May has been dedicated to the beloved horse racing tradition known as The Kentucky Derby. The 2024 race, and all the festivities that come alongside it, will be held on May 4 at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. If you can’t make the trip or missed out on tickets, no problem at all! Invite over your friends and family and host a Kentucky Derby viewing party at home.
From traditional chocolate-walnut thumbprint cookies and bourbon cocktails to cute craft and decorating ideas (did someone say vintage trophies?), we’ve rounded up below our favorite Kentucky Derby party ideas to celebrate one of the most exciting days in horse racing—no matter where you’re watching. If you want to create a bigger spread, here are even more recipes for Kentucky Derby party food for a classic experience (Mint Juleps! Pimiento Cheese Deviled Eggs!).
If you’re used to participating in a little traditional gambling fun, we’ve even included a friendly wager game below, or you can visit KentuckyDerby.com to place virtual bets on the horses you think will run away with this year’s top prize.
For additional how-to-watch info, head to the Kentucky Derby website.
Alright, y'all, we’re off to the races!
Make a Horseshoe “Wreath”
Give your front door or buffet area an on-point decoration with a horseshoe-shaped wreath. To make: Wrap a foam horseshoe-shaped wreath form in green ribbon. Cut bundles of greenery from a green foliage garland using wire cutters. Using an awl, poke holes through the green ribbon into the foam and insert greenery. No wreath form? Simply cut a horseshoe shape out of a piece of cardboard and cover with greenery from your yard, using hot-glue.
Fill a Trophy with Fresh-Picked Flowers
Add champion charm to the buffet with an arrangement of tulips, ranunculus, daisies, and goldenrods (or any mix of freshly snipped blooms from your yard!) in vintage trophy “vases.”
Whip Up Bourbon Cocktails
Dust off the punch bowl and stir up a crowd-pleasing Derby cocktail of bourbon, club soda, orange curaçao, sweet vermouth, lime juice, and orange bitters.
Get the recipe for Bourbon Derby Punch.
RELATED: Prefer to serve a classic Mint Julep? Here's how to make a Mint Julep for the Kentucky Derby (Or Any Time).
Dress Up Your Drinks
Give your cocktail glasses a dapper embellishment with paper bow-ties. To make: Trace a bow-tie pattern on craft paper, cut out, and assemble. Cut a strip from a color-coordinated paper and wrap around the drink glass; tape in place. Tape the bow to the wrapped strip, and let the “tie one on” jokes commence.
Serve a Classic Benedictine Spread
Invented by Louisville caterer and tea room owner Jennie Carter Benedict, this cream cheese-cucumber dip is a century-old Kentucky classic.
Get the recipe for Kentucky Benedictine Dip.
RELATED: 26 Food and Drink Recipes for a Classic Kentucky Derby Experience
Bake Up Derby-Inspired Thumbprint Cookies
Featuring bourbon, homemade caramel, melted chocolate, and toasted walnuts, these butter cookies take inspiration from the famed Kentucky Derby pie.
Place Your Bets
Each year, 20 horses enter the big race. For easy betting, give each guest four of their own color of washi tape–covered clothespins. Let them pick favorites by clipping the pins to the tails of paper prize ribbons. Set a per-bet amount (say, $2), and place cash in a trophy then distribute winnings accordingly. If you prefer to forego cash bets, the outcome of the races might determine who does funny challenges or even household chores, such as unloading the dishwasher or folding socks!
Set Up a Photo Booth
Smile and say “Eddie Arcaro” (one of the winningest jockeys) with a turf-backed photo booth stocked with props like paper prize ribbons, trophies, riding crops, and hats.
Race spectators have sported fancy headwear since the Kentucky Derby started back in 1875. And, at Churchhill Downs, the more ornate the better. Continue the tradition at your own party with a statement headpiece, whether a traditional wide-brim hat or a more elegant fascinator. Here are some of our favorites.
Send Home a Souvenir Glass
In 1938, the Kentucky Derby had decorative water glasses made for the Churchill Downs dining hall, but the track’s management noticed that people were pocketing them as souvenirs. In 1939, they started producing patterned drinking glasses for profit and have continued since. While this year’s 150th-Derby souvenir mint julep glass will set you back $15, a circa-1939 sipper can now fetch as much as $5,000 at auction.
Charlyne Mattox is the Food and Crafts director with over 20 years recipe development, recipe editing, and crafting experience. Prior to starting at Country Living in 2014, she worked in the crafts department at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Kids before attending cooking school at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. She was nominated for a James Beard media award while a senior editor at Real Simple magazine and authored a cookbook Cooking with Seeds.
When not in the kitchen she loves to garden, focusing on growing flowers and kitchen herbs (of course), watering her 25 house plants, and knitting scarfs or hats she will never be able to wear in the always hot and steamy Alabama.
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