Flathead County Fairgrounds Heritage Preservation Foundation

05/16/2026

This year’s Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Party was such a beautiful reminder of what makes this community so special. 🌹🐎✨

From the laughter shared around the room, the incredible Derby fashion, friendly competition, and overwhelming generosity May 2nd was more than just a fun evening out. It was a night centered around preserving a place that holds so much history, tradition, and meaning for our community.

The Flathead County Fairgrounds is more than just a venue. It’s where families gather, where lifelong memories are made, where young people discover passions that shape their futures, and where our agricultural heritage continues to live on. This fundraiser exists to help preserve and improve that special place while also growing our scholarship fund to support local youth as they pursue their own dreams.

None of that happens without a community willing to show up, and show up you did. From our sponsors and donors to volunteers, auction bidders, attendees, and every person who helped make the evening possible, thank you for believing in this mission.

It’s incredibly special to be part of a community that understands the importance of preserving the places that bring people together while investing in the next generation who will carry those traditions forward.

The fastest two minutes in sports may have come and gone, but the impact of this night will last far beyond May 2nd. 💕

Thank you for helping us preserve the heart of our community.

05/03/2026

We have a lot of photos and thank yous to share, but we wanted to start with our volunteers who did so much to support our board 🤍

A huge thank you to Brenda Miller, Helen Keil, Kelsi Kleiv, Shauna Stickney, and Julie Perchy for stepping in, showing up, and giving your time and energy to make this event happen.

There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes, and events like this simply don’t come together without people willing to roll up their sleeves and be part of something bigger. Your support means more than you know, and we are incredibly grateful for each of you.

This is what community looks like 🤍

05/03/2026

I love the hats - Derby Day supporting our NW MT Fairgrounds!

05/02/2026

The perfect Boozy cakes, thank you to Guiffriki's Tiki for donating not one, BUT TWO! Of these delicious cakes for our auction!

05/01/2026

✨ RUN FOR THE ROSES EVENT SCHEDULE ✨

Everything you need to know for Saturday is right here 🥂

We’re so excited to bring this night to life and see everyone show up in their best derby style 🌹

This event means so much to us, it directly supports the Flathead County Fairgrounds and helps us continue investing in our community and local youth. This year we’re introducing our youth scholarship fund as well, we are so excited to be able to support the education of our local Flathead Valley youth in their post graduation endeavors!

🤍 A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this all possible. We truly couldn’t do it without your support.

🎟 We can’t wait to see you there. Let’s raise the roses 🌹

05/01/2026

Big thank you to TrailWest Bank for supporting our event! We can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday! Doors open at 1!

04/30/2026

Here’s a little sneak peek at some of the silent auction items we’ve been putting together for Run for the Roses 👀🌹

And I mean it when I say… this is just a fraction of what’s coming.

We’ve got some seriously good pieces this year signed prints, Range Riders tickets, limited edition items you won’t just find anywhere, a gun raffle, and more baskets than I can even show here. We really tried to build this out so there’s something worth bidding on no matter what you’re into.

It’s shaping up to be one of those nights where you come for the fun… and leave with something you didn’t plan on bidding on 😏

Between the auction, raffles, drinks, and everything else we’ve got planned, it’s going to be a good time—and it all goes right back into the fairgrounds and local youth programs.

Grab your tickets, bring your friends, and come ready to bid 🌹

04/29/2026

Another great auction item! Huge thank you to all of our sponsors including Bison Laser! Can’t wait to see you all this Saturday! There’s still time to get your tickets!

Are you going to the Flathead County Fairgrounds Heritage Preservation Foundation Kentucky Derby watch party this Saturday? Make sure to bid on this Bison Laser donated custom decanter set in their silent auction!

04/25/2026

And down the stretch they come… 🐎🌹
We’ve got a winner!

Congratulations to Janet VanDort Lake on taking home a pair of tickets to our Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Watch Party 🎟️

Janet, you’re headed to the starting gate! We’ll be reaching out to get you all set for race day!

Didn’t win this round? Don’t get left in the dust… there’s still time to grab your tickets or a table and be part of one of the most fun nights of the year.

Big hats, fast horses, and a great cause! See you at the finish line 🥂

👉 https://www.flatheadfairgroundsheritage.org/derby.html #/

04/23/2026

We have some Flathead Valley Celebrities showing up May 2nd…

Grown adults. Stick horses. All for a good cause

If you think we’re kidding… we’re not 😂

We’re bringing stick horse races back to the Kentucky Derby Watch Party and yes people will be RUNNING for glory like their life depends on it.

Fastest two minutes in sports?
Try fastest two minutes of absolute chaos 🐎

Grab your tickets, pick your horse (or your competitor), and come be part of the most unhinged fundraiser of the year.

📍 Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Watch Party
🎟️ Tickets + tables: https://www.flatheadfairgroundsheritage.org/derby.html #/
🎀 All proceeds support the Flathead County Fairgrounds Heritage Preservation Foundation & youth scholarships