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Derby Day 2026

🌹  MAXIE'S KENTUCKY COMFORT 🌹

It's Derby Day, Darling.

May 2, 2026 | Maxie's Milwaukee | Hats Strongly Suggested. Good Times Guaranteed.


The roses are red. The bourbon is cold. And Milwaukee's most festive party is galloping back to Maxie's for Derby Day 2026.

Whether you're a die-hard horse racing fan or you just really, really love an excuse to wear a fabulous hat (honestly, same), Derby Day at Maxie's is the place to be on May 2nd. We're talking Mint Juleps, Southern hospitality, the thrill of the race — and a prize package so loaded you'll want to start picking your outfit right now.

👒  Dress to Win — Literally

This isn't your average 'wear whatever' Saturday brunch situation. At Maxie's Derby Day, your look could win you some seriously spectacular prizes. We've got multiple Best Dressed categories — so there's truly a crown for everyone:

  • Best Dressed Man: A $100 gift certificate to Skeare Barber Services for a cut and shave. Look sharp.
  • Best Dressed Woman: A $100 gift certificate to Roots Salon. Because looking this good deserves a follow-up.
  • Most Elegant Hat: A $100 gift certificate to Nourish Spa. Pure luxury.
  • Most Creative Hat: A Float MKE gift certificate. Because the most creative minds deserve to float.
  • Best Dressed Couple: $100 in gift cards. Date night, sponsored.
  • Best Dressed Group: A Blue's Bakery PIE PARTY — five pies! — for your whole crew. Squad goals: achieved.

Pro tip: coordinate with your group. Five pies is a very good reason to show up in matching fascinators.

🏇  Pick Your Pony — Big Prizes Up for Grabs

Think you've got the eye of a seasoned handicapper? Put your racing instincts to the test. Everyone who correctly picks the Win, Place, AND Show horses gets entered into a raffle for these jaw-dropping prizes:

🥇  Win (1st Place Horse): A 4-Course Whiskey Dinner for four at Maxie's — a $560 value. We're talking serious Southern indulgence with hand-selected whiskey pairings. This one's a bucket-list meal.

🥈  Place (2nd Place Horse): A Maxie's Catered Delivery — a $500 value. Bring the party home. Ribs, sides, and all the good stuff delivered right to your door.

🥉  Show (3rd Place Horse): A 4-Course Wine Dinner for four at BKC — a $440 value. An elegant evening out that starts with a lucky pick.

🎟️  Even More Ways to Win

As if the prizes above weren't enough — we've also got a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and dozens of raffle prizes generously donated by some of Milwaukee's best local businesses, including:

Transfer Pizza • Black Twig Bakery • Aggies Bakery • Float MKE • Cousin Subs • Double B's BBQ • Bunzels • Fred's Frozen Custard • Oro Oil • MKE Film Festival • Badger CrossFit • Bensons • Nourish Skin Studio • Roots Salon • Best Place • Bars & Rec • Milwaukee Public Museum • 3rd Coast • Lucky Joe's • Lac La Belle • Sanford • Egg & Flour • Five O'Clock Steak House • WAC • Bark & Scratch • Tosa Toga • Valentine Coffee • The Neighborhood Draft

That's a lot of Milwaukee love in one room — and every ticket you buy goes toward supporting a fantastic day.

📍 Maxie's Milwaukee  •  May 2, 2026  •  Dress the part. Bet on a winner. Make memories.

Derby Day at Maxie's is one of those afternoons that turns into a full evening before you even notice. The energy is electric, the bourbon is flowing, and there's nothing quite like watching the race with a room full of people in their finest hats.

Grab your crew. Dust off your best fascinator. And start studying those racing forms — because this year, the prizes are worth showing up for.

We'll see you at the finish line. 🌹

— The Team at Maxie's

Maxie's is part of 2X James Beard Semifinalist Black Shoe Hospitality group, alongside Story Hill BKC and Blue's Egg + Bakery.



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