Oaks Eve Bash Starts the Derby Weekend Early (and Well)
By Thursday of Derby Week, the city-wide party is well under way, and one of the hottest parties for Derby Eve Eve is the Oaks Eve Bash at the Seelbach Hilton. Organized by a philanthropic group the Good Guy Network, the Oaks Eve Bash offers great entertainment at an affordable price, according to organizer Barry Wooley. It benefits three charities -- the Dream Factory, Blessings in a Backpack and Racing for Corey.
“It’s a cocktail-casual event, and we focus on the fact that it’s a 'bash,' not a 'gala,'” says Wooley, a local interior designer. “It’s a great event for those who can’t afford a $500 ticket to a party. It’s a major Derby event for $100, so it’s something people can afford.”
The entertainment for the May 5 event is the Atlanta All-Stars, advertised as a dance band that features a mix of Motown, R&B, classic jazz and swing. Local bluegrass band the White Russians will entertain before and during the classic American cuisine served at dinner.
Like most charitable Derby events, this one has a silent auction where guests can bid on an array of goodies. Since it has a racing theme, classic and antique cars will be on display, and bidders will find NASCAR-related auction items, along with exotic-vacation packages and art.
This is the event’s fifth year, so it doesn’t have the history or formality of some of the week’s more traditional and pricey galas, including the Barnstable Brown party and the Julep Ball, both held on Friday, Derby Eve.
But just as the big local party at Churchill Downs has moved to Thursday, so too has the mindset of locals looking to get the weekend started early. The Oaks Eve Bash is growing in popularity. More than 500 people are expected to attend. And it is a Derby event, so there’s a good chance a few celebrities will show up.
Although it is not affiliated with the Kentucky Oaks or the Derby Festival, the Bash is getting plenty of attention on the local party circuit.
“It’s a combination of a downscale horseracing event and an upscale Indy Car Racing event,” Wooley says.
Posted on Apr 7, 2011 by Rick Redding
