ENJOY CROWNS, COCKTAILS & CELEBRATION AT FILLIES DERBY BALL
March 20, 2025. Louisville, KY. – It’s the ball that starts it all! The first ball of the Derby season – the 67th annual Fillies Derby Ball® Presented by Courtesy Cadillac – is set for Saturday, March 22 at the Omni Louisville Hotel. The Fillies, Inc., a volunteer organization that works closely with the Kentucky Derby Festival, are hosts of this formal event. The Derby Festival Queen will be chosen by the traditional spin of the wheel, and the four remaining Princesses, four Handmaidens and Pages to the Court and three newly knighted and damed outstanding citizens of the community will establish the Royal Court.
This year’s theme, “A Toast to the Regency Era,” is inspired by the popular Netflix series, “Bridgerton.” Kick off the Derby season festivities with cocktails at 6 p.m.; a Call to the Post/Doors opening at 6:45 p.m.; the Queen’s Coronation at 7:15 p.m.; dinner at 8 p.m.; followed by dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight featuring live music and entertainment. The 2025 Fillies President Joanne Hurst will spin the wheel to determine the 2025 Derby Festival Queen.
The Royal Court is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity spotlighting the state’s most civic-minded and academically-achieving college students. The 2025 Court includes: Lilly Deljoo of Louisville, Madeline (Maddie) Duff of Prestonsburg, Ky., Elizabeth King of Georgetown, Ky., Erica McPheeters of Louisville, and Hanna Rager of Bremen, Ky.
The selection of the Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court is a self-nominating procedure. After submitting applications, the young women then go through a judging process before five are chosen to serve as Princesses and ambassadors to the community for the Festival. Along with the newly crowned Queen, the Court will attend nearly all events associated with the Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Derby itself.
The Fillies Derby Ball is the largest fundraiser for the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, KDF’s charitable arm. A portion of the proceeds from the ball benefit the Foundation.
Courtesy Cadillac is the Presenting Sponsor of the Fillies Derby Ball. Official Sponsor: Total Wine & More. Contributing Sponsors: Capital Access Corporation – Kentucky and Hectare’s. Official Bourbon: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Official Vodka: Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Supporting Sponsors: Class Act Federal Credit Union and Davis Jewelers.
