The Governor’s Derby Breakfast is more than country ham, sausage, scrambled eggs, biscuits, baked apples and cheese grits. There are artists, music, hot air balloons and displays with a robust Kentucky flavor.
And celebrities. In days of old, some of America’s top Hollywood stars made it to Kentucky for the Derby. Not the case this year at least for the breakfast. This year, breakfast goers who want their cholesterol with George Clooney, Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Michael Jordan, Barbra Streisand, Tiger Woods and Bob Dylan can only dream.
In other words, don’t waste time looking for any of those folks Saturday. They’re invited like everybody else in the world but none will be on hand.
When asked Friday if any big celebrities were coming to the Derby Breakfast this year, Jodi Whitaker, the governor’s press secretary, said she didn’t know of any.
"I wish George Clooney would come," she added, smiling.
Typically, 10,000 people attend the breakfast.
Bennie Massey, singing with a gospel a cappella quartet from Harlan County on the Capitol grounds last year on Kentucky Derby morning, said the breakfast food was "much better" than his last visit two years earlier "when it was handed out (downtown) in a paper sack."
Nothing against downtown. It’s just that the warm food seems to taste better under the massive white tent on the Capitol grounds where the big breakfast tradition started.
The free breakfast will be served from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
For the 25th year, Kentucky artisans will be a part of the festivities. There will be 38 exhibitors 10 more than last year from the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted and Visual Arts at the Market program. Their booths will be lining both sides of Capital Avenue, approaching the Capitol grounds.
Exhibitors will offer guests a variety of high quality contemporary and traditional handmade ceramics, baskets, jewelry, clothing, wooden furniture, glass, metal works, organic and mixed media, plus seven unique two-dimensional painters and photographers.
Celeste Susany, recognized as one of the premier equine artists in the world, created the 7 Governor’s Kentucky Derby Poster.
Susany will be signing posters in a booth next to the breakfast tent for the duration of the breakfast, according to Jodi Whitaker, press secretary for Gov. Ernie Fletcher.
"It’s the first time in this administration the poster has been an oil painting," Whitaker said. "They were photographs before."
Posters from past years also will be available to purchase.
Kentucky Department of Agriculture will have a specialty food sales area featuring Kentucky producers with free samples.
Rides in tethered hot air balloons will be available until 9:30 a.m., weather permitting.
Shuttle buses will be running to and from the Capitol, from 6:30 a.m. to noon, from the Human Resources Building and the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.
Sen. Julian Carroll, a former governor, said he started the first tent breakfast in 5.
"The Governor’s Derby Breakfast had been held in the Governor’s Mansion prior to that," Carroll said.
Carroll recalled during his administration having Bob Hope and his wife, Kojak, Lee Majors and evangelist Pat Robertson as guests at the breakfast.
"The breakfast is nice because it gives people an opportunity to enjoy a special event during Derby week," Carroll said. "They can put on their best hat and clothes, see old friends and feel a part of the Derby without having to buy a ticket to the Derby."