The Most Awesome and Absurd Kentucky Derby Hats of 2015

The Kentucky Derby isn't a horse race as much as it's an occasion to be seen watching a horse race.

Celebrities and revelers from around the country converged on Churchill Downs on Saturday, and—in keeping with the race's rich tradition of human peacocking—they arrived with all manner of absurd things on their heads.

These objects/hodgepodges of material are known as hats, and here we'll be keeping track of the most ridiculous head ornaments seen at the 2015 race.

Let's start with Johnny Weir, an annual favorite and heavyweight in the realm of dramatic fashion. This year, he went with a relatively understated, Trojan warrior helmet of roses—complete with a mint julep glass: 

One woman appears to have modeled her hat after a Kansas City-style pizza:

On the opposite end of the spectrum, another lady went a simpler route with her derby hat. Vine user @PotatoWithAnE (h/t SB Nation's Michael Katz) posted a video of her meat-centric DIY headgear. I call it "The Kentucky Crown":

NBC's Carolyn Manno is out there killing it in simple white:

Why read a history of the race's winners, when you can put it on your head?

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Oh look, a starting gate:

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Are those...Bratz dolls?

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

So we're clear, not all derby hats require hot dogs or shoulder harnesses: 

Elsa/Getty Images

Some do call for a bundle of sticks, however:

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Keeping Churchill Downs #feathery:

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Ah yes, the ol' flamingo hat:

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Give yourself a hand, team. Great work from everyone at the race. The hat hustle never stops.

Dan is on Twitter, taping meats to a ball cap.