PRESS RELEASE
MARTINSVILLE ON THE MOVE
EQUINE PARADE AND DRAFT HORSE, MULE & HAFLINGER SHOW TO HI-LITE
MARTINSVILLE’S HERITAGE DAYS FESTIVAL
Heritage Days on the Old National Road will be celebrated in Martinsville on June 12-14 with a weekend packed full of fun for the entire family. The Festival has grown each year and 2015 promises to be the largest yet with new features and outstanding musicians throughout the weekend.
The 2015 Festival is sure to bring in horse enthusiasts from miles around, not only to see the 3rd Annual All-equine Parade but because there will be a spectacular new addition; the Draft Horse, Mule & Haflinger Show featuring stately, majestic horses & mules and their beautiful carriages in competition.
Bill and Judy Crouch, of rural Casey, have many years of experience in the show horse business and are committing their time and energy to make sure this first annual event is a success. The Crouches have already received commitments from several owners/trainers of top hitches from across the country, including the Blue Ribbon Days team, which won the 2014 Classic Six and previous Percheron Congress competitions. Many of the teams showing in Martinsville have been featured on the RFD-TV Gentle Giant Show. Since the Draft Horse and Haflinger 6-hitch competitions have been sanctioned as qualifying competitions for points in the 2015 standings, it is expected they will draw a number of teams from all across the country. There will also be an Antique Farm Machinery Class.
The spectacular Horse Show will hi-light Saturday and Sunday afternoons of the festival. We expect several of the competing hitches will also participate in the Third Annual All-equine Parade, which will be held in front of the grandstand at the Fairgrounds on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. All horsemen are encouraged to enter what promises to be a spectacular event, including individual saddle, saddle clubs, carriage, and hitches of ponies, horses or mules. For information regarding the parade, please contact Brenda Littlejohn at 217-232-3232 or email at mville62442@gmail.com.
The Festival weekend will feature many activities in addition to the Draft Horse Show and Equine Parade. Heritage Days will officially begin on Friday night, June 12, with “A Night of Bluegrass: Four Bands in Four Hours” performing at the new Linn Park Amphitheater, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Festival will feature some of the best bluegrass musicians in the area, including Firebox, Coon Holler Kids, Salt Creek, and Cornfields & Crossroads. Food vendors will be available in the park. Plan to bring your blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the food and music.
