Flowers, feathers and more - hats take center stage at annual Kentucky Derby party

MARIETTA - Dozens of attendees turned out in their most colorful finery Saturday afternoon for Cobb County Superior Court Judge Rob Leonard's annual Kentucky Derby party.

Himself a Kentuckian, Leonard has hosted the party since 2014. This year's derby party took place among the vibrant flowers and dappled shade of the Marietta Educational Garden Center.

While the party is ostensibly for the Kentucky Derby, the color-coordinated outfits and elaborate hats - known as fascinators - are just as much of an attraction as the thrill of the race.

Women's hats have been a part of the Kentucky Derby for as long as the esteemed race has existed. When the race's founder - Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr., grandson of William Clark for whom the Lewis and Clark Expedition is named - started the race in 1875, he wanted to curate a posh atmosphere. He asked attendees to arrive in formal wear, which at the time included large hats for women.

The hats really took off, though, in the 1960s. As high society rules relaxed, women began to experiment with fashion, soon adopting the smaller, more elaborate fascinators and pill box hats that were the trend at the time.

Attendees at Leonard's party this year went all out, with hats of every color incorporating feathers, flowers, beads and more.

Michelle Jordan, Leonard's assistant, made her hat to match a colorful flower dress she bought for the occasion. She dressed up an old straw hat with shapely loops of fabric and faux vines and flowers to create a one-of-a-kind headpiece.

"I bought my dress and my shoes and I just wanted to max it," Jordan said.

Cobb County Superior Court Judge Julie Jacobs took home the award for "Best Derby Hat" with a hat featuring rich, purple feathers and a glittery golden butterfly.

Jacobs said she bought it from Judith March, an online store, and intends to wear it on the bench come Monday.

"I bought it for this event, but I plan to wear it," Jacobs said.

For other attendees, creating outfits for the event was a team effort.

Lisa Spears, an Acworth resident, matched her partner, Kennesaw resident Justin Arndt, in blue, yellow and red florals. He wore a Hawaiian shirt while she embraced the sunny weather in a complimenting sundress.

"He's got a great eye for fashion, and I was like, ‘Check out these sundresses on Amazon,'" Spears said. "He said, ‘Get that one because I have a shirt that matches.'"

Spears completed their look with a round, red fascinator with ribbons and feathers.

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 5:19 AM.