10 Fabulous Kentucky Derby Party Ideas (2024)

Looking for a few festive Kentucky Derby party ideas to celebrate the race with friends and family in style? There are so many sporting events to celebrate in a year, but most major ones can be out of the way and expensive. But whether you’re on-site at the live event or far, far away, you can still take part in festivities happening around the country thanks to television.

If you are having a watch party locally and need a venue spacious enough for all your guests, check out Peerspace venues in your area. Rent a cozy loft, a ranch, a mansion, or even book an entire local bar to bring your fun Kentucky Derby party ideas to life.

After all, only so many fans can dress in their Saturday best and watch the race live from the stands, but everyone else can still join in on the fun by watching the race on TV. Ahead, we’ll also include information about real-life event venues available through Peerspace that you can book by the hour for your Derby party. You’ll have such a great time, you might forget you’re not at the actual race!

1. Book a stylish Kentucky Derby-worthy venue through Peerspace

Forget spending a day in the racetrack stands! Your watch party venue can have the lavish style that is such a trademark of the race.

You can filter your search for the perfect derby party venue on Peerspace to find places with TVs so you can watch the race on a big screen or even on multiple screens. You’ll have your choice of comfy seating arrangements, too. Venues on Peerspace have everything from plush theater seating to cozy couches.

Here are a few of our favorite venue rental ideas:

• This unique barn venue on a 60-acre ranch in Blanco County, TX (pictured above) to channel some cowboy vibes.
• This Hollywood Hills mansion once owned by Rudolph Valentino that has plenty of room for all your Derby-cheering crew.
• This 2,000-square-foot botanical loft in Lower Manhattan, NYC with A/V equipment, a kitchenette, and lush greenery to rival any Kentucky garden.
• This Wild West-themed saloon with a bar in London, UK that looks straight out of 1875, the year the Derby started, with everything but the horses.
• This luxury Pilsen getaway in Chicago, IL with a sophisticated and airy vibe, a full kitchen, and two large-screen TVs.
• Cypress Cottage, a modern cozy cottage close to Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY that has two smart TVs, a game room, a fireplace, a private backyard with a grill, and plenty of comfy seating.

All of these venues would make amazing spaces to watch the Derby in total style and comfort! And when you book one of these or any other Peerspace venue, you have your venue’s local host at your disposal. They are dedicated to ensuring your time in their venue is perfect and can help with any part of party planning. Just reach out to them with questions or requests and they’ll be happy to help.

2. Set a dress code and rise to the occasion

Hats are the star of the show at the Kentucky Derby, so be sure to make them a part of your viewing party. If little ones are at the party, turn the festive hat-wearing tradition into a craft to keep them entertained. Buy plain floppy sun hats and supply the little hat designers with flowers, stickers, glitter glue, feathers, pom-poms, and ribbons. And don’t forget to take lots of photos when they model their creations!

For the rest of the outfits, let vintage Southern-style inspire your clothing choices. Think bow ties, brightly colored dresses, floral prints, sweater vests, pastels, colorful blazers, dress shirts, suspenders, dress shoes, and heels. Pinterest and Instagram can offer some fashion inspiration if you search “Kentucky Derby.” Be sure to include information about the dress code on the party invitations so that everyone gets the memo.

3. Munch on brunch items or appetizers

Appetizers are a great food option for any watch party because they are easy to eat and serve. Since the race is a Southern tradition, try some of these Kentucky Derby party dish ideas inspired by Southern cuisine.

Brunch is also a big deal in Kentucky, so you could make a spread of all kinds of breakfast food appetizers like mini quiche, egg bites, muffins, biscuits, sausage or mushroom gravy, grits, Bantam bagels, and hash browns.

Book a Peerspace with a stunning high-end kitchen to whip up the goods yourself. Or bring in a team of caterers. Either way, the food should be one of the party’s highlights!

One of our favorite options is this semi-private clubhouse with a full kitchen in Bellevue, WA. It has club seating, an outdoor area, and of course, several flat-screen TVs for Derby viewing. Its amazing amenities and sporty atmosphere is a perfect match for all of your Kentucky Derby party ideas.

“Beautiful room with large full kitchen,” shares a Peerspace reviewer. “We hosted 20 people for dinner and everyone was really comfortable and had a great time. Wonderful concierge that checked in on us and helped us immensely.”

Check out our creative themed brunch ideas to serve a meal your guests will never forget!

4. Serve the official Kentucky Derby drink

The official drink of the derby is the mint julep cocktail. It’s ultra-refreshing and super tasty, so you don’t want to miss out on it at your party! Buy plenty of fresh mints, limes, seltzer water, Kentucky Bourbon whiskey, fun red-and-white paper straws, simple sugar syrup, and ice (shaved or cubed). Mix all the ingredients together in a pitcher and store it in the fridge until you serve it.

Mint juleps are traditionally served in highball glasses, but that may not be accessible for your party, so normal party cups are okay. Continue with the theme by stocking up on these cute Kentucky Derby frosted party cups. Just remember to also make simple, nonalcoholic versions of the mint juleps for kids or teetotal guests using this recipe.

Alternatively, you can book a lounge, bar, cafe, or restaurant through Peerspace and let them do all the work for you while you and your guests watch the races! For instance, you can rent out this entire multilevel SOMA craft beer sports bar in San Francisco and enjoy its incredible ambiance, delicious drinks, and huge-screen TVs!

5. Add color and elegance by decorating with roses

The red rose is the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. The emblem exists because of the tradition of draping roses onto the winning horse after each race. You can sprinkle roses throughout your party space by placing bouquets on tables, scattering petals (fake petals from craft stores work best), incorporating edible roses or rose designs in your food (like radish roses), or buying tableware and napkins that feature rose patterns.

If you don’t feel like going to the extremes to decorate, rent a Peerspace party venue that’s already decorated. This beautiful flower loft studio in Los Angeles, CA is one such example, with a massive rose wall that is already set up and perfect for selfies!

6. Play lawn games, whether you party indoors or out

Catch some fresh air during commercial breaks and get outside to play croquet, cornhole, horseshoes (of course!), badminton, or giant Jenga. If you are using a Peerspace venue with an outdoor space, be sure to ask the host ahead of time if they are okay with certain games being played in the yard. They may even supply these for you!

You can even book an indoor event space that brings the outdoors in, in case of bad weather. For instance, check out this Bronx garden loft event space. It is a 3,000-square-foot lounge complete with turf, grass walls, and cloud ceilings to replicate the outdoors. And that’s only its aesthetics! While here, you can also enjoy its arcade games, basketball hoops, jumbo Jenga, and 60″ TV.

7. Engage in friendly betting

A major part of the Kentucky Derby is waging bets on different horses. You can invite the spirit of competition to your party with a few fun (and legal!) betting ideas. If there are kids at the party, give them change, chocolate coins, homemade cookies, or M&Ms (you can order custom ones for the party!) to bet with for other fun prizes.

Here are some betting game ideas from the official Kentucky Derby site. This is one of those Kentucky Derby party ideas that are even better at a sleek and atmospheric Peerspace venue!

Our lovely garden party ideas will add that Derby elegance to your gathering!

8. Serve derby-licious desserts

Pies are the obvious choice when it comes to Kentucky Derby party ideas, but you can mix up the traditional Southern dessert by serving variations like mini pies, pie pops, and pie bars. Bourbon-infused desserts are also a festive treat because Kentucky Bourbon is a staple at the derby. Bourbon blondies, chocolate bourbon balls, a simple Bourbon cake, or cupcakes are all delicious, unique, and festive options your watch party guests will love.

Don’t have the kitchen space or equipment to whip up incredible treats like these? That’s okay! Remember, you can book a Peerspace venue with a kitchen and make good use of the additional space and high-tech gadgets! We love this modern industrial loft in Ballard, Seattle for this idea. Its 2,000 square feet of space includes a chef’s kitchen, a sound system, and a large-screen TV, perfect for watching the race.

A Peerspace user who booked an event here shared the following review: “Oh my stars! We will be renting this space again. The location, architecture and all of the great furniture, music and chefs kitchen was perfect. Thank you again for letting us share your space”

9. Host your Derby party at LA’s other polo lounge

If you love the idea of hosting a Kentucky Derby party that’s horse-adjacent, then we have one of the best Kentucky Derby party ideas for you! If you’re partying in the LA area, consider booking this polo club in Lakeview Terrace. It is an actual polo club, complete with horse stables, a lighted arena, an office, and decks. Host your party in the clubhouse, where you and your guests can watch the Derby while enjoying the food, drink, and party games we mentioned earlier.

The club also has a mechanical horse on-site(!), in case your party reaches that “time to ride a mechanical horse” level! Check out all of the photos of the polo club on its Peerspace listing and imagine all of the fun you and your guests can have here.

10. Send everyone home with Derby-perfect favors

Everyone feels like a winner when you hand them a party favor as they’re leaving. For Kentucky Derby party favors, give out Kentucky Derby memorabilia like mint julep glasses, official race shirts, painted horseshoes, fake roses with pens attached for a useful office or school tool, or toy horses for the kids. You can also search Etsy for Derby gifts to hand out to your guests. We love these personalized aluminum can coolers, as one fun example. It can be part of a thoughtful tradition your guests look forward to year after year!

Kentucky Derby party ideas are better with Peerspace

Not everyone has the chance to make it over to the historic Churchill Downs racetrack for the biggest annual event in horse racing. But everyone can still join in on the fun with a Kentucky Derby watch party. Celebrate this American tradition with food, wagering games, cocktails, and sweets, all from the comfort of your home or a cozy private party venue through Peerspace.

And don’t forget, your helpful Peerspace host can offer help if you need anything extra along the way. Let Peerspace and these Kentucky Derby party ideas be your guide to hosting the most incredible Kentucky Derby party ever! 

Find unique party venues on Peerspace