Kentucky Derby Party

Growing up I lived in Kentucky for 10 years and each year the Kentucky Derby was a big deal!  The city of Louisville turns into a big party prior to the the Derby!  The two week party kicks off with a huge firework display called Thunder Over Louisville and then there is the Chow Wagon, the Pegasus Parade, and the Great Balloon Fest just to name a few events. 

I moved from Kentucky almost 10 years ago and this is the time of year that makes me miss Kentucky the most.  This year Dan and I decided to host a Kentucky Derby Party...it was our goal to show our friends what the Derby was all about! 

I'll first start with my hat. Oh the hats at the Derby...got to love them and the bigger, the better.  People spend hundereds to thousands of dollars for hats to wear to the Derby, unfortuantly for me that wasn't an option so I made mine.  I purchsesd just the plain pink hat and added some "jazz" as I called it.  I think it turned out pretty well!  We had a hat contest and the winners got to take home a vase of red roses since the Kentucky Derby is called the Run for the Roses!

Below are some random pictures that I snapped.  As usual I was rushing around right before the party and didn't get as many photos as I would have liked but here are a few.  I found all the great free printables here! 

I made this centerpiece by covering an old box with scrapbook paper, adding some ribbon that I had in my scrap ribbon box.  I hot glued a horse from the Dollar Tree and some red silk roses from Wal-Mart. 

The wreath that I made uisng a Dollar Tree wreath base, wired ribbon, silk red roses, and a wooden fence and horse which I got from Michaels.  To make the jockey silks, I printed, colored and glued them to foam board and then cut them out. 

Run for the Roses...

My Mom made Derby Pie and in the madness of the party I forgot to snap a picture of it so I borrowed one from here!  This stuff will send you on a sugar high but is so tasty! 

We also had an adult and kids pool and people drew horses which gives everyone a reason to cheer for a horse and makes the party even more exciting! 

We had a great turn out and everyone seemed to have a great time!