Hail the Derby Queen at the 2011 Fillies Derby Ball
It’s almost Kentucky Derby time again, and this special season wouldn’t be complete without tickets to the famed Fillies Derby Ball, which doubles as the coronation ball for the Derby Queen and her elegant court of royal princesses. Step back into time and play Cinderella for a night as the Fillies Derby Ball kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival on April 15. This year’s theme: Celebrating Kentucky.
The first Derby Queen coronation ball was held in 1958, and one year later The Fillies Inc. was founded to organize the ball. Today, The Fillies Inc. enjoys more than 250 members and is responsible for the selection of the five Derby Festival princesses, coronation of the Derby Queen, planning the Fillies Derby Ball and the Fillies Children’s Tea with the Derby princesses. Together, the five princesses will attend almost 70 Derby Festival events throughout the spring.
This year’s ball will take place in the Grand Ballroom at the Galt House East, and will be presented by LG&E with Brown Forman as a contributing sponsor. The ball will feature a live performance by the Endless Summer Band, a nine-person band based in Indianapolis that performs danceable hits from the '60s through today.
The Fillies Derby Ball is an important fundraiser for the Derby Festival Foundation, a non-profit that furthers the festival’s educational and charitable mission through exhibitions and performances. Tickets range from $150-$175 for singles and $300-$350 for couples (members of the Fillies get the lower prices). Corporate tables are also available and include a listing in the official program and reserved seating.
Cocktails begin at 7 p.m. and the doors open at 7:30 p.m., followed by the coronation of the Derby Queen and dinner. Dancing will continue until 12:30 a.m.
Posted on Apr 8, 2011 by Jenn McGuire
