NORWICH – Some people don’t need an excuse to get dressed up fancy on a weekend – or to lay down some money on the horses. But for those who do, the Chenango County Council of the Arts has got you covered on both counts with its next fundraiser.

The Arts Council is inviting the community to a Kentucky Derby party from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at 27 W. Main St., Norwich. The Norwich fete coincides with the “Run for the Roses,” which will be televised live during the festivities.

The fundraiser is a continuation of an annual event staged by the now-defunct Stride Inc., a Norwich-based nonprofit group which catered to the needs of developmentally disabled children by providing them with horseback riding opportunities as fun and therapy. With the Arts Council’s recent adoption of the Magic Paintbrush project, which aids similar children through hands-on art therapy, the Kentucky Derby event seemed like a good match.