The Kentucky Derby stands apart as the most exciting two minutes of horse racing in the history of equestrian sports. Louisville welcomes race fans from all over the world for this horse racing event. With this horse racing on the first Saturday in May comes its tradition where we see thousands of people donning their most spectacular attire, a group of well-wishers enjoying a bowl of one of Louisville's traditional golden age dishes.
As we look forward to Saturday, May 6, 2023, let's talk about the abundance of beautiful scenes for one to see and also do in order to make the most of the exciting weekend at the Kentucky Derby.
The Firework Displays (Thunder Over Louisville)
If you will be arriving in Louisville a week or two ahead of the Kentucky Derby with your loved ones, you will have the chance to experience one of the largest firework displays in the history of North America also knowns as Thunder over Louisville. The firework displays is an event that takes place on April 21st and for this year, you should mark your calendar for Friday, April 21. The firework displays which will last 28 minutes from 9:30 to 10 pm set the pace for the Kentucky Derby celebrations and happen every year regardless of weather conditions.
The Beautiful Derby Hat Parade
One of the beautiful scenes you are sure not going to miss from the Kentucky Derby is the Derby Hat Parade. The scenes of beautiful hats which go on year after year resulted in becoming dubbed the 'Derby Hat Parade'. Traditionally, only the women are known to wear hats at the Derby, but in recent years men have been known to put their little touch on the trend as well. Hats on Derby Day is the one time many are allowed to make a bold statement of who they are and their status with their headwear. While this might not be a surprising thing to anyone, it's believed wearing hats bring good luck to the wearer, and so, if you're one of the many planning to make the most of the Kentucky Derby Betting Day, you might need all the luck you can get.
The Mint Juleps Cocktail
According to Wikipedia, "Mint julep is a mixed alcoholic drink, or cocktail, consisting primarily of bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is associated with the American South and the cuisine of the Southern United States in general, and the Kentucky Derby in particular" At the Kentucky Derby, however, the Mint Julep is way more than this. You can't be at the Derby for this event and not have in your hand, this Mint Julep cocktail. As stated in Wikipedia above, the cocktail has been renowned for its refreshing taste and for being the famous drink of choice for Derby-goers. And as such, a record of over 100,000 this cocktail will be poured over the weekend and expected to be served in a souvenir-style glass cup.
A Warm Bowl of Burgoo Dish
A warming bowl of burgoo is the perfect solution if you're starting to get peckish after a long day at the Derby. Burgoo, a spicy traditional Louisville dish with meat and veggies that is comparable to an Irish stew, will keep your belly filled all day. Our best advice? Before enjoying a few mint juleps cocktails as we've mentioned above, fill up on a hearty bowl of Burgoo.
The Run For The Roses Finale (Rose Garlands)
When the Derby ends, it's always a mixed feeling. The supporters' horse has either won or lost, and all the dresses are looking a bit worse for wear at the end. One last thing to see just before it all ends is the winning horse ceremony where the horse will be dropped in roses. The Rose Garlands moment has been a long-standing final Kentucky Derby tradition for the winning horse and was nicknamed 'the run for the roses'. The grand finale of the occasion is always made up of a whopping 400 beautiful roses and the scenes are always breathtaking which will make it an unforgettable moment for you.