Downtown Derby Day

Downtown Derby Day Activities

Downtown Fond du Lac Beer & Bourbon Crawl:
1:00pm – 5:00pm

Make a toast to 150 years of the Kentucky Derby during Downtown Fond du Lac’s first annual Beer and Bourbon Crawl!

During the Beer & Bourbon Crawl, Fond du Lac’s downtown businesses become “tasting rooms” where ticket holders can sample a variety of beers, bourbons, and non-alcoholic beverages. Each location will serve a unique mocktail recipe or N/A option, and a beer or bourbon selection, so you’re sure to find something for your whole group!

For more information visit: www.downtownfdl.com/beer-bourbon-crawl/

Free Horse and Carriage Rides
11:00am – 3:00pm

Enjoy Free horse and carriage rides from Breezy Hills, sponsored by Beauty Republic & Co., Bird’s Eye View Optical, Cujak’s Wine and Spirits,. and Lillian’s of Fond du Lac.

Poses With Roses – Downtown Derby Day Best Dressed Photo Contest by Beauty Republic & Co.!
11:00am – 4:30pm

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in style! Hosted by Beauty Republic & Co., this Best Dressed Contest celebrates the glamourous, high-fashion threads that have been a part of the Kentucky Derby experience since the very beginning!

Don your biggest, brightest and most glamourous ensembles, headwear and accessories to be a part of the fun! Who knows? Maybe you’ll be chosen as one of the Best Dressed winners!

Hosting two categories: Best Dressed Couple & Best Dressed Single

How to Win:

1. Get a fabulous Derby outfit!
2. Get your butts inside Beauty Republic & Co. (131 S. Main Street, Suite 100) anytime between 11:00am and 4:30pm on Saturday, May 4th to take your picture at “Churchill Downs”
3. Like and follow Beauty Republic Salon & Co & Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership on Facebook
4. Check Beauty Republic Salon & Co’s Facebook Page for your photo on Sunday, May 5^th and share, share, share!
   Beauty Republic staff will choose and post the top 3 entries for each category and the public will vote for their favorite!

Voting starts Sunday, May 5^th and closes Tuesday, May 6^th at 9:00am. Winners will be announced on Beauty Republic’s Facebook page Tuesday morning shortly after voting closes.

Hat-Making Workshop Presented by Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts
11:30am – 1:30pm

Join Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts for a fun and frilly hat-making workshop!

The bar in the Fountain City Ballroom will be open for a mimosas, Bloody Marys, Julips, and whatever else your heart desires.

$30 (hat included) or $15 (bring your own hat).

Tickets are sold by Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts and will be available soon:  www.ThelmaArts.org

Family Friendly Derby Day at Wonder!
8:00am – 1:00pm; 4:00pm – 6:00pm

• 8:00am – 1:00pm; Feeling lucky? Visit the Wonder Derby Betting Booth! Every child participating in play at Wonder during Downtown Derby Day will be given a gold coin upon purchase to use to “bet” on their favorite horse. With a spirit of friendly competition, they strategize and calculate odds, eagerly anticipating the thrill of victory.
  Following the 2024 Kentucky Derby, one coin will be randomly selected from the jar to receive a voucher for 60 minutes of play, redeemable during their next visit.

• 4:00pm – 6:00pm:  For just $20 each, kids will enjoy this extra special event filled with excitement, creativity, and friendly competition as they celebrate the thrill of the Kentucky Derby with a children’s hat and horse decorating activity, horseshoe toss, Wonder Derby “Betting” Booth, Derby themed photo booth, indoor parade, and a family-friendly watch party!
  Tickets are sold by Wonder and are on sale now! www.wonderfdl.com

In-house games, raffles, contests and more!

Beauty Republic & Co. – 131 S. Main St, Suite 100

• Jockey Photo Contest – Located just outside of Beauty Republic & Co.!
  Take a fun photo of you and/or your group “running with the horses” in Beauty Republic’s outdoor photo area. Then post, tag, and follow @beautyrepublicfdl on Instagram (make sure the post is public so we can see it!)!
  Each entry will be added to a drawing for a surprise bonus giveaway!
• Table Top Horse “Betting” Game: Place your bets on which horse will win each round of racing for a chance to win fun in-house prizes!

Fond du Lac Cyclery – 209 S. Main St.

• Electric “Horse” Test Rides – Test ride an “electric horse”/e-bike and be entered into a drawing for gear and accessories!
  *Fond du Lac Cyclery reserves the right to decline a test ride for any reason. We recommend coming down BEFORE the Beer and Bourbon Crawl.

Bird’s Eye View Optical – 19 S. Main St.

• Five fortunate people will be winners of Bird’s Eye View’s Kentucky Derby scratch-off game! Make sure to stop in to check out their great selection of frames and suglasses, and grab a scratch-off card for your shot at winning!

Main Street Fashion – 117 S. Main St.

• Kentucky Derby Scratch Off Game, raffles, play Plinko for great in-store prizes,  and more!

Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grill – 90 S. Main Street 

• Cornhole/Bag Toss and “Pony Races” in the park!

Brick House – 161 S. Main Street 

• Hat/Costume Contest

Check back soon! More details added daily! 

Kentucky Derby Watch Parties

Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – 51 Sheboygan St.
1:00pm – 3:00pm; 5:00pm – 6:00pm,  Fountain City Ballroom

Wonder – Family Friendly – 15 N. Main St.
4:00pm – 6:00pm (Tickets for children required: www.wonderfdl.com)

18 Hands Ale Haus & Biergarten – 18 E. Division St. 
Televised race-day events all day long on indoor and outdoor TV screens. Outdoor biergarten will be open.

Craft City Bottle Shop & Taproom  – 103 S. Main Street

Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grill – 90 S. Main Street

Check back soon! More details are added daily!

Live Music:

Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts – 51 Sheboygan St.
3:00pm – 5:00pm, Live Music by Sundae and Mr. Goessl, Fountain City Ballroom

18 Hands Ale Haus & Biergarten – 18 E. Division St. 
1:00pm – 4:00pm, Brent Bel
8:00pm – 11:00pm, The Local Favorites Band

Top Shelf Sports Bar & Grill – 90 S. Main Street 
1:00pm – 4:00pm, Midwest Radio Band
7:00pm, Until Dawn
10:00pm, Club DJ

Check back soon! More details are added daily!