Here are 11 ways to celebrate the Kentucky Derby in the Milwaukee area, from parties to a river rubber duck race

Milwaukee may be hundreds of miles away from Churchill Downs, but that doesn't mean we can't get our Kentucky Derby celebration on.

The 149th Kentucky Derby is May 6. Post time is 5:57 p.m. Central.

So, don hats, bowties and bright colors — and get ready for what's often called "the most exciting two minutes in sports."

Here's what restaurants, bars, hotels and venues across the Milwaukee area are doing this year, from Maxie's 16th annual Derby Day Party to a KenDucky Derby river rubber duck race.

Maxie's: Benefits Hunger Task Force, Kentucky Derby-inspired menu, live music, silent auction, contests

Happy sweet 16 to Maxie’s Annual Derby Day Party, which will benefit Hunger Task Force.

A Kentucky Derby-inspired menu will be available May 4-6 at the Milwaukee restaurant, 6732 W Fairview Ave., and will feature Kentucky hot browns, fried bologna sandwiches and bourbon barbecue salmon.

On Saturday, doors open at 2 p.m. Attendees can expect food, drinks, prerace coverage and an outdoor performance by the Jackson Park Jazz Orchestra, the event's Facebook page said.

There are three donation levels for admittance into the event:

In-field ($20 donation per person before Derby Day or $25 in-person on the day of):

• Entry into the building and outside tents.

• An outdoor bar and food truck with Derby food, beer, wine and cocktails.

• Limited seating outside on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Multiple TVs to view the race on.

Grand Stand ($40 donation per person):

• Tables of two to eight guests will be available for seating between 2 and 3:30 p.m. and is reserved until the race is over, around 6 p.m.

• Guaranteed view of televised race coverage.

• Full service provided by Maxie's staff.

Clubhouse ($80 donation per person):

• A buffet of Derby menu food from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

• A private cash bar away from the rest of the party.

• A dedicated port-a-let for Clubhouse guests only.

• The Clubhouse area is available until the race is over.

In-field tickets can be purchased at book.stripe.com/7sIbKFc05fWZcCcfYY, and tickets for Grandstand and Clubhouse are available via OpenTable, opentable.com/r/maxies-milwaukee.

A silent auction started online April 3 and ends at 5 p.m. on May 6. Winners will be awarded during the party. Items can be found on the BidBeacon app or website, bidbeacon.com, with the access code ULS6FB.

There will also be a prize raffle, a 50/50 cash raffle and best-dressed and best-hat contests during the event. A race winner's raffle will immediately follow the end of the race.

St. James 1868: Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Derby cocktails and bites, oversized projection of race, live music, photo ops

"Dress to impress" and don't forget those hats and bowties for the St. James 1868 Derby Party, a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Wisconsin. All proceeds from Saturday's event will benefit the organization, according to Matt Voell, the venue's event and entertainment manager.

Tickets, which cost $65, include a traditional Derby Day cocktail upon arrival and hors d'oeuvres by Noble Catering Company throughout the event. There will also be free samples and giveaways from event partners Woodford Reserve, Nosotros Tequila, Absolut Vodka, Canyon Roads Winery and Moët & Chandon.

The Derby will be played on multiple big-screen TVs throughout the venue, as well as a huge projection screen. Attendees can expect live music from Marrlo Parada, a 360 photo booth and other photo ops.

There will also be a raffle and a 50/50 raffle to benefit RMHC.

Both the venue's indoor and outdoor spaces will be used. The event, at 833 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, runs from 2 to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/43KBJDf.

NorthSouth Club: Shuffleboard, mint juleps, chance to win bottle of limited-edition Woodford Reserve

NorthSouth Club's Kentucky Derby celebration is one of the bar's favorite events it puts on, according to Cate Murray, Bars & Recreation's social marketing manager. Bars & Recreation is the parent company of several Milwaukee activity bars.

Attendees can reserve 1½-hour time slots for shuffleboard for Saturday's event. Those slots begin at 12:30 p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m.

What's included with the reservation? A mint julep cocktail and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a bottle of limited-edition Woodford Reserve, a news release said.

All races will be played on TVs adjacent to the shuffleboard courts. There will also be prizes for the fanciest hat.

To book a time slot at the bar, which also has ax throwing, visit bit.ly/derbydayNS. NorthSouth is located at 230 E. Pittsburgh Avenue.

The Iron Horse Hotel: Live entertainment, jumbo screens, additional bars, mint juleps, vendors, contests, ways to 'elevate' experience

The Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee will be throwing a "lavish" outdoor party, featuring live entertainment, additional bars, jumbo screens to watch the Derby on, food, vendors and more, according to the event's page.

Attendees are encouraged to dress in their "Derby finest." And, they can compete in "best hat" and "best bow tie" contests.

While the event is free and open to the public, there are ways to "elevate" the experience, the event page said.

At the door, people can purchase a limited number of souvenir mugs that come with three mint juleps for $45. There will also be three levels of VIP table packages available, which can be reserved by emailing talkderbytome@theironhorsehotel.com.

The event, at 500 W. Florida St., runs from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel: Live music, photo op, large projector screen, Derby cocktails, bites, contests, raffles

Milwaukee's Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel is hosting its annual "Run for the Roses" event in partnership with Woodford Reserve.

Festivities include live music from Bluegrass band Genesee Ridge Band and others in the lobby, a photo op with a step-and-repeat photo booth and a Derby viewing party with a large projector screen, a news release said.

There will be a special menu of select bites, as well as featured drinks from Woodford Reserve and Tequila Herradura. Each mint julep purchased comes with a raffle ticket for a chance to win various gift cards and bottles, per the event's page.

Attendees can enter a contest for best dressed and best hat, with a one-night stay at the hotel on the line, the event page said.

The event, at 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and is free.

Perspective Brewing Co.: Mint julep seltzer release, best hat contest with prizes, Benets BBQ food truck

Perspective Brewing Co.'s Kentucky Derby event will include a special mint julep seltzer release, according to the brewery's Facebook page.

Dressing up is encouraged, and there will be a best hat contest with prizes.

The Benets BBQ food truck will be serving food out front of the West Allis brewery, 7508 W. Greenfield Ave.

The event runs from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, per the brewery's website.

Matty's Bar & Grille: Jumbotron, food and drink specials, contests, tastings of the Derby's official bourbon

At Matty's Bar & Grille's Derby party in New Berlin, attendees can expect food and drink specials, and for the race to be played on the bar's "Big Backyard" 18-foot LED Jumbotron, the event's Facebook page said.

People can taste the official bourbon of the Derby from the Woodford Reserve family from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Space is limited and signups start at 1 p.m.

There will be prizes for the best-dressed male, female and couple, as well as for the best Derby hat. Nominations end at 4 p.m. and judging is at 5 p.m.

Live music from Borderline Reckless starts at 8 p.m. inside.

The event, at 14460 W. College Ave., starts at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Rebellion Brewing: KenDucky Derby river rubber duck race to support All My Friends Inc., Derby drinks, 50/50 raffle, entertainment

All My Friends Inc. and Rebellion Brewing are again teaming up for a KenDucky Derby river rubber duck race in Cedarburg to support the All My Friends organization.

Rebellion, N57W6172 Portland Road, will also have Derby-themed drinks, a 50/50 raffle, live music and entertainment, the event's Facebook page said.

While Rebellion opens at 11 a.m. Saturday, the rubber duck race will start at 4 p.m. at Rebellion/the Columbia Road Bridge. The finish line will be at the Cedar Creek Park Bridge.

It costs $5 per duck, five ducks for $20, 20 ducks for $60 or 30 ducks for $100.

Monetary prizes will be from percentage of sales, according to the event page. First place will win 10%, second place will receive 5% and third place will get 2.5%. There will also be other prizes.

Since there are a limited amount of ducks available, organizers recommend pre-purchasing them at AllMyFriendsInc.org/events. The ducks can also be purchased in-person at Rebellion until May 5. On-site duck purchases on the day of the event will be first-come, first-served while supplies last.

F.A.T.E. Group: Party geared toward youth with hors d'oeuvres, music, non-alcoholic cocktails, games, contests

Fashion Art Teen Empowerment, a Milwaukee youth arts and performing arts group, is hosting a Derby party geared toward youth in the community.

Attendees can expect hors d'oeuvres, music, non-alcoholic cocktails, games and prizes, raffles, a viewing of the race and voting for the best-dressed parent and youth, the event page said.

Tickets cost $10 per person and are available at bit.ly/40T0dHN. Attendees must be at least 8 years old and a parent's presence is required, according to the event page. The event, at 9175 N. 76th St., runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Brewhouse Inn & Suites, On Tap: DJ dance party, contests, prizes, over a dozen large-screen TVs, an overnight package option

The Brewhouse Inn & Suites and On Tap, located in Milwaukee's Brewery District, are hosting a "Get Down & Derby Party" featuring an all-day DJ dance party, drink specials, thousands of dollars in prizes, best-dressed contests and over a dozen large-screen TVs inside and outside to watch the races on, according to the hotel's website.

The event, on On Tap's patio, 1203 N. 10th St., is free to attend and starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.

For people who want to "make a night out of it," the hotel is offering an overnight package that includes access for two people to the event's "Winners Circle VIP area" with non-patio seating, a welcome glass of sparkling wine, a charcuterie and crudité display, a $100 food and beverage credit for On Tap, an in-room Derby surprise and complimentary valet parking. The package includes early check-in at 1 p.m. and a late check-out at noon. Reservations can be made at bit.ly/3oMQR2P.

East Troy Railroad Museum: Kentucky Derby Dinner Train

All aboard the Kentucky Derby Dinner Train at the East Troy Railroad Museum, 2002 Church St.

The train departs at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. During the experience, guests will chow down on a southern pimento cheese spread with petite toasts; southern sweet potato and spinach salad; small plates of Kentucky hot brown sliders; shrimp and smoked grits; and dirty derby bread pudding, according to the museum's website.

Soft drinks, beer, wine, and cocktails will be available for purchase.

Passengers will arrive back at the Depot at 5:30 p.m., in time for the big race, and will receive more appetizers including brown sugar southern chicken bites, bacon deviled eggs and andouille tart.

Prepaid reservations, which are limited, can be made at bit.ly/3Nop8jr or by calling 262-642-3263. Tickets cost $99 per person.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kentucky Derby 2023: Celebrations, parties, events in Milwaukee area