Mishawaka kicks off Biergarten season with Derby Day event to watch the 'Run for the Roses'

Greg Swiercz, South Bend Tribune
Patrons watch the Kentucky Derby at the Derby Day watch party in 2023 at the Ball Band Biergarten in Beutter Park. The city Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring the May 4 Derby Day party for the 2024 race.
Patrons watch the Kentucky Derby at the Derby Day watch party in 2023 at the Ball Band Biergarten in Beutter Park. The city Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring the May 4 Derby Day party for the 2024 race.

MISHAWAKA — Beutter Park may not be Churchill Downs, but on Saturday it will show the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at its Derby watch party at the Ball Band Biergarten.

Phil Blasko, parks superintendent, said the Jumbotron showing of the "Run for the Roses" will again be the highlight of an evening of cornhole, ax-throwing and other activities from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is free and for all ages.

Blasko said prizes will be awarded for the best Derby hats. There also will be food and drinks available for purchase at the event.

"We figured out that we could use a Jumbotron for live events," Blasko said of the first watch party. "We took a stance that we'll try it and see it sticks, and we saw a lot of dress-up hats."

The post time for the Kentucky Derby on May 4 is 6:57 p.m. EST. The race is televised on NBC and Peacock from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka kicks off Biergarten season with Kentucky Derby watch party

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