Stop and Smell the Roses

Stop and Smell

Although our local garden walks take place in April, childhood rhymes taught us that May is the month for flowers. Colorful floral crowns and May poles festooned with blooms are traditional ways to welcome the month on May Day, but it’s the Run for the Roses that gets the big spotlight! The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby will take place at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 7, and the best way to enjoy it on St. Simons Island is to “stop and smell the roses” at Frederica Academy’s signature Derby Day fundraiser.

The 20th Annual Derby Day event will be held at Sea Island’s Retreat Clubhouse from 5:00-9:30 p.m. This highly anticipated evening of fun includes a race simulcast, raffle, online silent auction, and live auction. Ladies in their best Derby hats and fascinators and gents in seersucker suits will enjoy scrumptious fare, mint juleps, and other libations, on the scenic grounds where Beachview Event Rentals & Design has worked their magic to create a festive atmosphere with tents, tables, and outdoor seating areas. When the trumpet sounds for the race at 6:45 p.m., guests will gather to watch the horses and jockeys as they speed down the track, jostling for a spot in the Winner’s Circle. Following the simulcast, the excitement continues with lively bidding for fantastic experience packages and other live auction items. Once the live auctions conclude, patrons can dance the night away with music by local favorites Mason Waters and the Groove Allstars during the post-race band party. Last call will be at 9:30 p.m.

This year’s co-chairs Dana & Denny Carter and Katie & Jason Widener invite everyone to join the fun. “Derby Day planning began months ago, and we’re excited to say that thanks to a team of dedicated and inspired FA volunteers, this year’s event will be better than ever. We encourage patrons to dust off their hats and seersucker suits and join us on Saturday, May 7.”

Once enrolled for a sponsorship or registered for the online silent auction, Derby Day patrons will receive email and text communications, which will provide updates on the online auction and raffle. They can view, bid, and check-out via this the website. Derby Day attendees will need to have a smartphone accessible for the event. The items donated for this auction are always impressive and you’re encouraged to bid on as many items as you’d like! Remember the proceeds from this event directly supports Frederica

Academy’s mission, “To maximize the potential of each student and to prepare every student for college and adult life through the development of mind, body, and spirit.”

All details and updates regarding Derby Day, including sponsorships, silent auction, live auction, and raffle can be found on the Derby Day website, which can be accessed by texting FADerby to 76278 or by visiting FADerby.givesmart.com.

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