8th Annual Hats & Horses Kentucky Derby Party 2025

The Two Most Exciting Minutes In Sports and BEST PARTY of the year is the Iron Fish Distillery 8th Annual Hats & Horses Kentucky Derby Party! Line up your pals, get your best hat and bow tie ready and come prepared for BIG fun and the chance to support a great cause—Hats and Horses is a fundraiser for the Conservation Resource Alliance

Saturday, May 3rd – 3:00-8:00 pm (21+ Only)
Arrival Time 2:45 p.m.

Arrive on time, to size up the Parade of Horses and get an up-close look at this year’s contenders racing the Iron Fish Dirt Road Derby. Review pedigrees of this year’s racing field and make your pick among Benzie and Manistee County racing legends. The track rounds the bend of Dzuibanek Road with the finish line directly in front of the distillery. Following the race, celebrate the crowning of the winning horse and jockey with the Garland of Roses. That’s just the beginning!

Included with your ticket:

• Event Admission
• Two Delicious Derby Drinks (N/A options available)
• Live Dirt Road Horse Race
• Pre-Dinner Hors d’oeuvres
• Southern Pig Roast with all the Fixins’
• Yard Games
• Hat & Bowtie Contest
• Live Music | Bootstrap Boys
  and much, much more…

Need Lodging?

Crystal Mountain Resort

Get 20% Off your room at Crystal Mountain Resort. Reference code: IRONFISH. Code valid 5/1/25 – 5/5/25. You must enter code IRONFISH under the special code tab, and in the box labeled Crystal Connect to view correct pricing with discount.
Call (855) 995-5146

Motel Bear Lake
Use code IRONFISH20 to save 20% off your stay. Valid for stays between May 1-4, 2025 Call (231) 224-6273

FOR A GOOD CAUSE – Conservation Resource Alliance

For our 2025, 8th annual Dirt Road Derby, we could not be more proud to have Conservation Resource Alliance as our non-profit partner.

“It makes us so happy to welcome the Conservation Resource Association, (CRA) as our nonprofit partner for the 2025 Iron Fish Dirt Road Derby,” said Iron Fish Partner Sarah Anderson. CRA’s nearly 40 years of community-led watershed restoration including the Betsie River near Iron Fish Distillery has led to the revitalization of our region’s rivers and habitats and fully aligns with our core values and community support priorities.”
-Sarah Anderson | Co-Founder Iron Fish Distillery

About Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA)
The Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) works to restore and revitalize northern Michigan’s streams and habitats through innovative, sustainable solutions and strong community partnerships. Through our River Care, Wild Roots, and Wild Link programs, we protect and restore over 700 miles of rivers, 5,000 miles of tributaries, and diverse forests across 4 million acres in Northern Michigan.
https://www.rivercare.org/about/

A percentage of proceeds from the sale of tickets will be donated to Conservation Resource Alliance. There will also be auction items on-site to help raise more funds for this incredible non-profit!

Auction Items for Conservation Resource Alliance include:

LOCAL EXPERIENCES
• Cherry Festival: 4 VIP Parade Tickets & Cherry Republic basket of goodies
• Kayak, Bike, and Brew: Tour for 2 (Includes 2 bikes and tandem kayak)
• ClaySpace Pottery Studio: Voucher
• Old Town Playhouse: Ticket Vouchers
• City Opera Club: Ticket Vouchers
• Yen Yoga: 5-class gift card valued at $115
• Nauti-Cat Cruises: $100 gift card
• Cherry Bowl Drive-In: 2 Tickets
• Inland Seas Education Association: Cruise for 2
• Suzie Knoll: Birding Tour
• West Michigan Whitecaps: 4 x Box Seat tickets

DINING CERTIFICATES
• Farm Club: $100 gift card, tshirt, and stickers
• Moomers: $20 Giftcard

OVERNIGHT STAYS
• Crystal Mountain Resort: Play & Stay Package – Accommodations + the winner’s choice of lift tickets or a round of golf

GIFT BOXES and ITEMS
• Mission View Farms: 5 Lavender Gift Boxes
• Jerry Gates: 2 x painting
• Nykamping: Original Piece
• Stormcloud Brewing: Gift Box
• The Cheese Lady

NO REFUNDS ON TICKETS AFTER APRIL 15th
For further information contact: events@ironfishdistillery.com