Derby Day at Mother's to bring race-day excitement

Seersucker suits. Spring dresses. Fancy hats.

Join in the fun at the first-ever Derby Day at Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co. starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

The event will serve as a fundraiser for the Friends of Buck Creek, which is a non-profit organization created to improve outdoor recreation in the community. And, it’s being organized by Greg Rogers, an agent with Springfield’s Link Hellmuth Insurance, and his wife Kathryn. The couple also partners with the brewery to host the annual SantaCon event in December.

“We love activating and engaging people, especially Downtown with all the cool stuff happening as far as all the restaurants, bars, shops, condos, and new businesses,” Rogers says. “When you can be a part of coordinating an event that brings thousands of people Downtown, that directly affects the venue and it indirectly affects all the businesses around – that’s a pretty sweet feeling.”

Entrance to the event is free and includes happenings both inside and outside Mother’s with a variety of different entertainment options throughout the day.

“Without an entrance fee, it gives people the opportunity to bounce around Downtown, have a drink or two, and explore around town and come back if they want,” says Kevin Loftis, co-owner of Mother Stewart’s.

DJ Chill be playing music starting at 2 p.m., followed by live performances from The Buttermilk Biscuit Boys at 4 p.m. and Kyle Eldridge & The Kentucky Cowhands at 7:30 p.m.

To add to the family-friendly nature of the event, families with little ones can join in the Crawl for the Roses – otherwise known as a baby race. Babies can be signed up to compete in a crawling race from one end of the outdoor lawn area to the other. The race kicks off at 3 p.m.

Horse races will be streamed both inside Mother’s and outside on a large LED screen, Rogers says, with The Kentucky Derby race starting at 6:30 p.m.

Mother’s will be hosting a special bourbon bar, serving Mint Juleps, Kentucky Mules and Rose City Lemonade, in special edition, 149^th anniversary Kentucky Derby cups, Rogers says.

“We believe it does make a difference, and its just really cool to be a part of that,” Rogers says. “And, the most awesome part of events like SantaCon and what we see Derby Day at Mother’s becoming is when you see all the new faces every year.”

A bourbon auction also be part of the event, featuring specialty bottles, including E.H. Taylor, Willett, Blanton’s, and a specialty Secretariat edition bottle of Woodford Reserve, all donated by the Friends of Buck Creek as another fundraising element. The auction will be at 7 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to wear their “Sunday best” – think Derby hats, seersucker suits, bowties, floral, dresses and spring colors – to participate in the Best Dressed contest, which will also take place at 7 p.m.

Additionally, there will be festive photo booth and betting tables throughout the day.

“The Downtown needs more events. We need to give people a reason to come Downtown, and there need to be events all the time,” Loftis says. “It’s important that there be more activities and everts to participate in, whether its here to somewhere else.

“Having events all the time attracts people locally and from afar, and there needs to be events that both  attract people and get them to return again and again.”