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Plan the perfect Kentucky Derby party with these decorating ideas, food inspiration, and free printables, all in classic red, black, and gold.
Not everyone gets to be at Churchill Downs on race day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t throw an incredible Kentucky Derby party at home. I’ve got you covered with Kentucky Derby party ideas for decorating your table, setting up a stunning bar, feeding your guests, and making it all look effortlessly put-together with free printables that work for any year.
The free printables have been updated so you can use them year after year — no reprinting required!
I teamed up with my friend Holly from Legally Crafty Blog to style a Derby dining table and bar setup, and honestly, we had SO much fun with it. We leaned into the most iconic Derby color — red, the color of roses — and layered in black, white, and gold for a look that feels elegant without being stuffy. The best part? A lot of what we used were things we already had around the house.
Keep reading for all the Kentucky Derby party details, including the tablescape, the bar, the food, and the free printables that pull it all together. Whether you’re hosting a big crew or keeping it small, these ideas will make your viewing party feel like a proper event.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
The Kentucky Derby Party Dining Table
The dining table is where this Kentucky Derby party really shines. We put the whole thing together in an afternoon. The printables were the longest part, and once those were done, everything else fell into place fast.
We started with a red sparkly tablecloth as the base, bold, festive, and totally right for a Derby party. Layered on top, a black and white striped table runner that I already know will get pulled out for so many future parties. Stripes are so versatile, and this one is a keeper.
For place settings, we used gold charger plates paired with classic white plates. The gold adds just the right amount of glam without going overboard, and white plates are a neutral backdrop that lets the rest of the table shine. Holly had red napkins on hand, and we tied them up with black and white ribbons she’d saved from a previous party. Proof that holding onto party supplies always pays off eventually.
We cut out little horses from glitter card stock with a Cricut, which we used on the napkins and on the glasses. Such a small detail, but it makes everything feel intentional and cohesive. We also added place cards, which give the table a lovely, formal feel, like you’re seating guests for an actual event rather than just watching TV in the living room.
The mason jars are a staple I’ve been reusing since a lumberjack birthday party years ago. I love getting mileage out of party pieces, and mason jars fit practically any theme. We dressed them up with black and white straw flags, one of my favorite printable details to include because guests always notice them.
Shop Table Details
Kentucky Derby Centerpieces
Every table needs a focal point, and Holly absolutely delivered with these centerpieces. The full tutorial lives over on her blog at Legally Crafty, but here’s the short version: she stained a wood box, filled it with dollar store faux roses, spray-painted a plastic horse gold, and added a rustic horseshoe. The result looks like something that took a lot more time and money than it actually did.
We used grass mats (the same ones I pulled out for a Carrot Patch Easter table, because reusing party supplies is always a victory) and added more gold-painted dollar store horses to the table. I love how they look like they’re just out to pasture. It’s such a charming detail.
The whole centerpiece costs just a few dollars once you factor in the dollar store finds and spray paint, which makes it a great Kentucky Derby party decoration idea even if you’re on a budget.
Pony Up to the Kentucky Derby Bar
Holly has a gorgeous bar area in her basement that we’ve styled for a few different events now. You might remember it from the March Madness party printables I created and the bar Holly styled with them. It’s the perfect setup for a Kentucky Derby bar, and we had a lot of fun transforming it.
For this look, we used a red tablecloth as the base, then added DIY paper roses I made from scratch (my first time ever making them!). I followed tutorials from The Craft Patch and The SITS girls and managed to make two flowers that we tucked into the bar display. They’re definitely a process, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to make them for everything.
We framed the Kentucky Derby printables in IKEA 4×6″ frames and used gold trophies (one from a vintage shop, a few from the dollar store) to add some height and personality to the display. The betting slips are the real star of the bar setup. We set them out with the mini trophies so guests could fill out their Win, Place, or Show picks for the race. What’s a Derby party without a little friendly wagering?
We also put together small favor bags (red and white, with a Thank You tag) as a little parting gift for guests. A small touch, but people always appreciate it.
Kentucky Derby Party Food and Drink Ideas
Now let’s talk food. No Kentucky Derby viewing party is complete without something delicious to snack on while you’re watching the race.
Kentucky Derby Pies
We served individual mini pies that we picked up from Walmart for 50 cents each. Honestly, 50 CENTS. They come in apple, peach, cherry, blueberry, and pumpkin flavors. We stuck to the fruit options, popped toothpick straw flags into each one, and arranged them on a bed of dollar store moss. Absolutely adorable, and guests loved them.
Pineapple Mint Julep Sangria
A Kentucky Derby party practically requires a Mint Julep, but I’ll be honest: the traditional recipe just isn’t my thing. Holly found this Pineapple Mint Julep Sangria recipe from A Farmgirl’s Dabbles, and it is genuinely one of the best party drinks I’ve had. It’s refreshing, it’s festive, and yes, it’s made with Kentucky Bourbon.
Of course, we used Kentucky Bourbon!
Charcuterie Tray
A grazing board is always a good idea when guests are sipping on bourbon drinks. We put together a simple charcuterie tray: cheese, crackers, meats, nuts, and grapes. Nothing complicated, but always a hit.
We also wrapped water bottles in custom printable labels to pull the party theme all the way through to the drinks.
Download the Free Kentucky Derby Party Printables
Okay, here’s the part I know you’ve been scrolling for!
The free printable set includes everything you need to style your Kentucky Derby party from the table to the bar. The best part? They’ve been updated to work for any year, so you can download once and use them for Derby parties for years to come.
The printable set includes:
- Signs for the bar and table
- Betting slips (Win, Place, or Show)
- Win, Place, Show Banner
- Straw flags
- Place cards
- Water bottle labels
- Thank You tags for favor bags
To access the free printables, sign up for my newsletter via the form below. You’ll receive the printables in your inbox and you’ll have access to all of the free printables on the blog!
Already a subscriber? Head to the free printable library and use your password to download.
SHOP THIS LOOK
Not all items may be available since the original posting, but we do our best to keep this list updated.
- Red table cloth — the base of the whole table
- Black and white striped table runner — so versatile, you’ll use it again and again
- Wood box for centerpiece
- Faux rose bouquet — similar to what we used from the dollar store
- Plastic horses — dollar store find, or grab these from Amazon
- Gold spray paint — for the horse figurines and centerpiece
- Horseshoe
- Grass mats — great for the centerpiece base
- Mason jars — reusable for every party theme
- Gold charger plates — adds that pop of glam
- Red napkins
- Black and white ribbon
- Gold glitter card stock — for the DIY horse cutouts
- Moss (or find at dollar store)
- Black and white straws — a party staple
Hope you enjoyed this Kentucky Derby Party using traditional red roses and pops of black and gold for a dramatic style.
Don’t forget to check out Holly’s post over on Legally Crafty Blog to see what she has to say about this Kentucky Derby event. It was such a delight to collaborate with her on this event. She’s definitely one to follow.
We had a ton of fun putting this party together, and are excited to share these free printables with you to style your own event.
If you like what you see, please COMMENT, PIN, SHARE, or TWEET! I’d appreciate the love!
What a great party post! Thanks for sharing. Do you still have the link to the Walmart pies?? So creative!
This is just awesome! Thank you so much for sharing and your generosity!!
I wanted to cut out the horse with my cricut. I didn’t receive the file when I opened the download. Is there another file that I am missing?
The horse SVG is not included in the free printables.Hope you enjoy the rest of them in the set.
Thank you so much for sharing these awesome printables! This will be our first year having a derby party. Since we can’t go any due to the pandemic, I’m trying to plan more at home fun events for my girls. We can’t wait to celebrate. Thank you.
How Dow I sign up for your printable downloads
Hi Betty! Fill out the form on the page and this set of printables will be sent right to your inbox. The form is near the bottom of the page. Or you can also fill out the form in my sidebar and you will receive the password to the free printable library. Either form will provide you access to everything!
Love the ideas would love the printable for our Kentucky Derby party.
Thanks