THE KENTUCKY DERBY display at the main Dickinson County Library in Iron Mountain to promote Kentucky Derby presentations planned for Saturday at the Solomonson Branch in Norway and May 4 at the main library.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson County Library will host “The Run for the Roses,” a Kentucky Derby program, at the Solomonson Branch in Norway on Saturday and the main site in Iron Mountain on May 4.

The event will begin with a presentation to adults and teens on the history of the Kentucky Derby, including origin, traditions, interesting facts, and a Derby winner with a local connection to Iron Mountain.

Non-alcoholic mint juleps will be available, and participants will have a chance to win a Pegasus pin. Fake bets for the 2024 Derby winner will be placed for fun. Participants are encouraged to wear Derby gear, including big hats.

“My sister loves the derby and she was talking about it. I found it interesting, so I looked into it and thought what a great idea for a library program,” said Emily Cummings, local history/adult programming coordinator. “While researching, I learned about our local connection to California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby winner.”

The first program will be 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Solomonson Branch in Norway. Registration is required; call the Solomonson Branch at 906-563-8617.

A second “The Run for the Roses,” program will be 3 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Dickinson County Library in Iron Mountain.

After the presentation in Iron Mountain, participants can go to the Wild Horse Saloon, 714 River Ave. in Iron Mountain, to watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby live. Required registration begins this Saturday by calling the Iron Mountain library at 906-774-1218.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

The Kentucky Derby takes place annually on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The track was named after John and Henry Churchill who donated the land.

The derby is also called “Run for the Roses,” as a lush blanket of more than 400 roses is draped over the Kentucky Derby winner’s shoulders each year. The 2024 Kentucky Derby is the 150th renewal of the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.” For more information on the Kentucky Derby, go to the website at www.kentuckyderby.com.

The Dickinson County Library helps the community find its story. Founded in 1967, the library has three sites in Dickinson County: the main library in Iron Mountain, the Solomonson Branch in Norway and the North Dickinson Branch in the North Dickinson County School building in Felch Township. For more information on upcoming programs, go to the library’s website at www.dcl-lib.org or call the main library at 906-774-1218.