The 150th Kentucky Derby is this weekend, a time for dressing up, looking swish in a fabulous hat and drinking mint juleps. The big party is at 700 Central Ave in Louisville, KY, a place called Churchill Downs. This is a tickets only event. The average ticket price in 2024 is $1254, which seems like a lot to go to a party. That explains why people around the country will be having their own Derby Day parties. Who needs to spend $1254 to dress up and drink cocktails when you can do it in the comfort of your own home and not have to wait in line for the ladies room?
Apparently, there is also a horse race in addition to the party, something people call “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” You would think that for $1254 you would get a race that’s more than two minutes long.
Because we at Vintage Unscripted are fans of vintage traditions, fabulous hats and frugal but festive celebrations, we’re here for you with some beverage recipes as well as awesome vintage items that will make your Kentucky Derby Day celebration sparkle.
Mint Julep Recipes
If your like your mint juleps spirited, here’s a recipe from The Calvert Party Encyclopedia (1960) noting that Calvert is an American whiskey. There’s also a recipe for a Mint Smash, if gin is more to your liking.
If you’d like a refreshing beverage without spirits, here’s a recipe for Mint Julep Syrup, which can be served with water and ice from Cooking with Mickey Around Our World (1987).
If these mint beverages excite your taste buds and spur you on to plant some actual mint plants, plant them in containers. Mint is sneaky and will quickly become invasive in your garden unless its root are contained. “Consider yourself warned,” said the voice of experience.
Kentucky Derby Vintage Picks
Like with all celebrations, adding vintage things makes it better. We did some window shopping on Etsy and found some picks that would be Derby Day stand outs.
This 1960s shirtdress with the screen printed horse by Vested Gentress would be awesome any day. But it would make you extra smashing on Kentucky Derby Day. Vested Gentress is a label I look for, some of the coolest vintage clothing I’ve ever found and sold were made by them. To make this even better, the dress ($60) is available from CraftUnionVintage, a vintage shop located in Louisville, KY.
Whether you’re serving cocktails or mocktails, either would taste incredible if served in one of these 1974 official Kentucky Derby highball glasses by Libbey. Per the seller, Vintagedesignerbar, these glasses are prized by Derby collectors as they are the first to list the legendary triple crown winner Secretariat. Glasses are $100 for a pair.
Add a rhinestone horseshoe pin to your lapel or collar. TuBirdsBoutique is offering one in pastels and one in clear rhinestones ($22 each). Get one for you and one for your bestie. Remember to wear it facing up so the luck can’t run out.
Bring the excitement of being at Churchill Downs home with this 1969 Whitman Kentucky Derby board game from TheGamesAreHere ($52). It’s got plastic race horses, a betting board, tip sheets and more. Bet playing this game lasts longer than two measly minutes.
You can’t have the Kentucky Derby without horses, and this 1988 trophy would absolutely win, place and show off. It would look amazing in a vignette with roses (like in the nicely staged product shot) on a buffet. Available from FiddleDeeDooDah for $40.
Enjoy your Derby Day Saturday. Here’s hoping it isn’t too windy for the hats, that the horses and the riders all have safe trips and that you never make the mistake of planting mint in the ground in your garden and not in a container.
