'This is what I call a party.' Celebrities stun at star-studded galas on Kentucky Derby Eve

With its traditional sparkle and glam, the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby attracted a hotlist of sports, music, television, film, and other notables to Louisville again in 2023.

Black limos cruised through the city's streets as red carpets welcomed the who's who to the bucket list events that make up Kentucky Derby weekend.

With the typical Southern hospitality for which Louisville is best known, spectators lined up outside the two premier Derby Eve galas, which are held in different parts of the city, and erupted into cheers each time someone famous stepped into the limelight.

Here's what you missed at the Barnstable-Brown Derby Eve Gala and Unbridled Eve Derby Gala:

The 2023 Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala

Lousville's most famous Derby Eve party has been held for 34 years in the private home of Patricia Barnstable Brown. Conde Nast ranks this elegant event "One of the Ten Best Parties in the World" and for good reason.

"Now this is what I call a house party," exclaimed comedian Bill Bellamy pointing toward Barnstable Brown's hillside mansion in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville.

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Actor Justin Hartley agreed. "I think what it is you get out of a dark car, it's a long drive, and then you see all the lights and everyone is smiling and you get energized and excited," he told the Courier Journal as he made his way on the red carpet at the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala.

After entering the red carpet at the foot of the driveway, celebrity attendees, and anyone else lucky enough to snag an invitation to the exclusive party, made their way to Barnstable Brown's home up the steep and winding driveway and onto the dancefloor in the tented backyard.

"It's been a while [since I’ve been at Derby]," said Super Bowl Champion quarterback Peyton Manning. "I lived in Indianapolis and played for the Colts for all those years, so I would just drive over, so I am excited to be back."

Some, like NSYNC band member Joey Fatone, have been attending the party and Kentucky Derby for more than two decades.

“I usually wear the tuxedo with something fun, but I kind of pulled back a little because why not. It’s been a crazy couple of days so I had to pack everything simple," he said. "I was literally in Nashville, then I am here, then I’ve got to be in Michigan because my daughter is graduating college. So, it’s very exciting."

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Fatone performed on stage before a crowd of hundreds of beautifully dressed attendees including actor Chris Pine, Louisville native and rapper Jack Harlow, and Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes, all of whom enjoyed the music, especially when Smokey Robinson took the stage and performed "My Girl" with singer Rachel Platten.

Platten had performed the national anthem and her hit "Fight Song" earlier in the day at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Oaks and clearly enjoyed the gala at Barnstable Brown's home as the perfect way to top off her spectacular day.

"This is my first time. Oh my god, it was absolutely incredible,” she said of singing at the Kentucky Oaks. "It’s been a very, very big change from what I have been doing the last three years. I had two babies. I wrote a song for them. I have a whole album of material, but the first song is coming out May 12, and  I got to perform that today."

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Former Bon Jovi band member Richie Sambora has made a tradition of creating a custom-made guitar which he plays during the party and donates to the highest bidder at the end of the night. The Barnstable Brown Gala, afterall, is a charitable fundraiser which to date has donated $17 million dollars to diabetes research at the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Research Center at the University of Kentucky.

"I love it here. It's great. You get the eye candy, you get the pageantry. You get the horses tomorrow. It’s a great time," actor Hartley told the Courier Journal. "When you are given the opportunity to give back in any way that you can, you probably should. So, we’re very lucky. I am very blessed to be around lovely, great people who are having a good time."

Inside the 2023 Unbridled Eve Derby Gala

The Unbridled Eve Derby Gala returned May 5 for its 10th year, welcoming new and longtime celebrity racegoers alongside Louisvillians looking to cut loose and kick off Derby weekend.

The reigning Miss America, Wisconsinite Grace Stanke, was enjoying her first time in Louisville, having spent some of her time with Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary School third graders, who helped her pick her Derby horse.

“They said always go with number 7,” she said from the red carpet at the Galt House Hotel. "So I think those little third-graders are going to have a special place in my heart when it comes to that spur-of-the-moment decision."

The purpose behind the Derby-eve bash was particularly meaningful for Stanke. It’s the 10th year the gala has raised money for Louisville-based nonprofit Blessings in a Backpack, which works to provide food on weekends for elementary school students.

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"Tonight comes back to the whole idea that Kentucky people love to give back," she said. "I know this gala is dedicated to Blessings in a Backpack, and that is something that’s so incredible because I was just with third-graders. I know the students it will affect, they will so greatly appreciate it."

Another first-time party-goer Chris Harrison, known for his many years hosting "The Bachelor," was finally lured to Kentucky by Unbridled Eve regular and former bachelor Bob Guiney.

"He’s been a part of this and told me, first of all, how fun it is, and second of all, how great of an organization it is, how much they give," Harrison said. "And we’ve been trying to get here for two decades, and we’re finally here."

Catching up with Harrison on Saturday at Churchill Downs, he called the party "unbelievable" and praised the array of live performances throughout the evening, from country to R&B to alternative rock.

“We danced our [butts] off last night," he told the Courier Journal.

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The new and returning musicians were the favorite part of the Friday celebration for co-founder Tammy York-Day, who co-hosts the celebration alongside sister and co-founder Tonya York.

"Seeing Robin Wilson, the lead singer of the ‘Gin Blossoms,’ stay up with a tambourine when Robin Zander with ‘Cheap Trick’ is performing, it was just everybody jumping in and there for fun," York-Day said from the Kentucky Derby red carpet Saturday afternoon.

Country music legend Randy Travis made his return to Louisville for Kentucky Derby weekend after many years away. It was a birthday weekend celebration for Travis, who turned 64 on May 4.

Other stars on the Unbridled Eve red carpet included NFL Hall of Famer Warren Moon, former professional basketball player Lisa Leslie and romance novelist Nora Roberts.

Jerry Mathers, who starred as Beaver on the classic television show “Leave it to Beaver,” was back for his third time in Louisville for the Run for the Roses. The return visits to Derby City are something of a reunion for the former child star.

“I live in Los Angeles, so it’s a flight,” he said. “But you see all of your friends and it’s a wonderful, fun time.”

Reach reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com. Reach reporter Matthew Glowicki at mglowicki@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Celebrity galas 2023 Kentucky Derby: Barnstable Brown, Unbridled Eve