The countdown to Derby season is on! Gather your girlfriends and don your feathered fascinators, larger-than-life hats, and sparkling jewels for a race day showcase and Sunday brunch at Louisville’s Kentucky Derby Museum 2023 Hat Show, March 26.
From extravagant fascinators to couture chapeaus, the artful designs of five milliners will dazzle alongside the jewelry of sponsors David Yurman and local purveyor Davis Jewelers. Shop all the glitz and glamour right off the runway for an ensemble worthy of the Run for the Roses. It’s the perfect reason to plan a spring getaway to Louisville, where the fabulous shops and restaurants, historic charm, and lively arts scene are sure to inspire a tip of your cap.
Stay a few days in the heart of downtown at the storied Brown Hotel, which blends luxe comforts and Old-World opulence. Marvel at the property’s ornate architectural features that date to the 1920s, as you relish the original Hot Brown and sip local bourbon.
Exploring the stately historic homes around town is a must. Tour gems like the 18th-century Locust Grove estate and the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (above), a Victorian icon of the St. James–Belgravia Historic District (below).
Whether you’re hunting home décor or browsing stylish wears, eclectic emporiums and art galleries abound. The Nulu neighborhood’s lineup of specialty shops includes storefronts of two milliners featured in this year’s Hat Show, Jenny Pfanenstiel of Formé Millinery Co. and Melissa Huff of Mad Hatter 502 and Mamili boutique.
As you work up an appetite, grab a bite from vendors at the bustling Logan Street Market or pull up a seat at Please & Thank You eatery for coffee, sandwiches, and award-winning baked goods. Chef Bruce’s flavorful Latin-inspired small plates make for a dinner to remember at Mayan Café (above). Stop by Muth’s Candies for a box of chocolates or their famous modjeskas—marshmallows dipped in caramel. The sweet treats will kindle memories of your fun-filled trip as you look ahead to the May fanfare at Churchill Downs.
Purchase tickets for the Kentucky Derby Museum 2023 Hat Show here.
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