Family Fun: Jockey Silk Garland

This engaging activity will bring the whole family together to create a festive garland of jockey silks that showcase your Derby spirit in your home! Create your garland with as many or as few jockey silks as you like. Allow personalities to showcase themselves in bright colors as each person decides what they would want their racing silks to look like if they were a jockey in the Kentucky Derby!

This activity can be adapted to suit all ages. Young children and toddlers can work using felt shapes, while adults can paint or use a combination of the two!

• Mounting board or poster board
• Acrylic paints in various colors
• Crafting felt, cut into shapes
• Glue
• Ribbon
• Paintbrushes

1. Decide the size and shape of your jockey silk. It can be any size you choose. Draw the shape on your mounting board or poster board and cut it out. Tip: Be sure that everyone uses the same size for the garland to look it’s best!

2. Plan your design. What do you want it to look like? Use your imagination! You can get inspiration from history by looking at these colorful jockey silk from years past. 
3. Get to work!  Create your unique design using paintbrushes and paint, felt shapes or a combination of the two to make an eye-catching display that shows off your Derby spirit. Toddlers and young children can still have fun arranging shapes and having them glued by a parent.
4. Once each piece has dried, use ribbon and string each jockey silk should-to-shoulder and proudly display the garland for all to see! Share pictures of your work on social media using #DerbyAtHome

We can’t wait to see all the fun you have experiencing the Kentucky Derby 147 with your loved ones on May 1st, 2021!

Catherine Jones

The Southern Gloss

Photo Credit: Andrew Kung Group