LEXINGTON, Ky. — A historical mansion in Lexington is hosting a Derby Day Breakfast Saturday morning. It's a Derby Day Lexington tradition that takes place each year inside the Joseph Bryan mansion at Waveland State Historic Site.
What You Need To Know
- Waveland State Historic Site hosting Derby Day Breakfast
- Last year the event was in September with few participants
- This year the staff is using plastic silverware and spacing out tables
- Derby Day Breakfast is a tradition for some in Lexington
Kora Scott, a historical interpreter, said Joseph Bryan used to raise thoroughbreds for racing.
“Now that definitely wasn't his main cash crop but it was a very fun hobby of his,” Scott said.
Each year inside the mansion, the Waveland State Historic Site hosts a Derby Day Breakfast. Participants are encouraged to wear their Derby attire and celebrate before joining the race festivities.
“We do have regulars that will come to our tea Tuesday and this is a really big deal for a lot of families. They start their Derby out with our tea and all the time people will be like, Oh my gosh, and I'm so excited. This is how I started it, we've been coming here for generations with their family,” Scott said.
Last year, Waveland was able to host a version of the breakfast event in September with very few participants. Because of COVID-19, Scott says there have been many changes made this year to keep the annual event safe, like plastic silverware and spaced-out tables.
“Anything that you can think of that is to the standard of COVID, we will be doing so, and you kind of forget that it's happening when you are here because you still feel really close, you kind of forget that all of that's going on and it kind of feels like an afterthought but it is it is very much of there,” Scott said.
Scott says all of the workers at the event will be dressed in period gowns. Giving Kentuckians an experience that takes them back into the late 1800’s.
“It just takes you back, it's not like a tea where you're paying to sit and you're paying for obviously, the food is delicious, but it is such an experience and before my employment here you just immediately feel like you're at home and you're just having tea with family,” Scott said.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Waveland Derby Day Breakfast limited their seating this year to half of their regular participants.