40th annual Festival of the Horse

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WTVQ) – A Georgetown tradition was made even more special for its 40th year by coinciding with the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The three-day Festival of the Horse kicked off Friday. This is the festival’s 40th year and hundreds of people gathered, both locals and out-of-towners.

“What an ideal time for our community to come out and share being with each other on a day when we really need to connect as Americans,” says Georgetown Mayor Tom Prather. “This is an example of what that really looks like.”

“It’s really nice to know that even if there is stuff going on we can all put that aside and come together as a community,” says Madison Scott, who has been coming to the festival for as long as she can remember.

The festival’s second day coincided with 9/11 and organizers say there were little moments to remember what happened 20 years ago spread throughout the day.

“We are just so honored to be able to do this for them and give them the recognition for everything that they do for us and let us live the days how we do every single day,” says Bailey Gilkerson, marketing director for Georgetown and Scott County Tourism.

“They really do need to be honored,” says Patricia Hopper, first time festival-goer. “I mean they are there and they go into places that you and I wouldn’t go.”

Organizers say planning typically starts the week after the previous year’s festival ends, but this year they had to pull it together in about 4 months.

“It has come together and our community has supported all of us and it has been just an amazing weekend,” says Gilkerson.

One of the highlights of the festival every year is the Grand Parade of Horses. As horses paraded down Main Street, people cheered and admired. Some kids even got to pet a few of the horses.

“During the parade, there was more energy and more waves than I’ve ever seen,” says Mayor Prather.

The Festival of the Horse will continue Sunday with events starting at 11 a.m. For a schedule of the events, go to https://festivalofthehorse.org.