The 100th anniversary of Flying Ebony’s victory in the Kentucky Derby has inspired the theme “Juleps, Jockeys and Jazz” for the second annual Museum Gala in downtown Hopkinsville. Sponsored by the Hopkinsville History Foundation in collaboration with the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, the gala is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Pennyroyal Area Museum.
Flying Ebony was raised on a Christian County thoroughbred farm, remaining here until he was taken by rail car to the 1923 yearling sales at Saratoga, New York. His connection to Christian County has remained a point of local pride since he claimed thoroughbred racing’s biggest prize in 1925 at Churchill Downs. Considered a long shot, Flying Ebony won the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths on a muddy track.
“Inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Met Gala, this evening will begin with a grand promenade entrance and cocktail hour inside the Pennyroyal Area Museum followed by a dinner and music with Full Circle outside under the stars,” gala organizers said in a press release. The promenade and cocktail hour start at 5:30pm with dinner and music at 6:30pm.”
The Clarksville, Tennessee-based group Full Circle plays a mix of genres, including old and new American jazz, pop and timeless blues.
To accommodate outdoor seating, Liberty Street will be closed between Ninth and 10th streets on the day of the gala, and Ninth Street will be closed between Liberty and South Virginia streets from 4 until 7:30 p.m.
A gala art installation is planned and will take inspiration from artifacts in the museum collection.
“The pieces that compose this unique ‘Create from the Collection’ exhibition will be created by local artists and available for purchase at a silent auction during the event,” the release states.
Planters Bank is the gala’s signature sponsor. Tickets are $100 per person. Reserved tables with “premiere seating” for eight guests are $1,000.
Tickets are available at the Pennyroyal Area Museum, 217 E. Ninth St., or online through the museum’s Shopify store. Additional information is available by calling the museum at 270-887-4270.
Proceeds from the gala will support the museum’s mission “to share the stories of our community through an inclusive dialogue about our history,” the release states.
