Midwest Horse Fair® Shatters Attendance Record
New Facilities, Excellent Weather Contribute to Event’s Success
MADISON, Wis. (Tuesday, April 21, 2015) – What do the One-Armed Bandit, magical fairies, buffalo, a tie-died pony and 61,000 people have in common? All of them were part of the Midwest Horse Fair® last weekend at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.
The 2015 fair, held April 17-19, had a theme of “Galloping Into the Future” since the event took place for the first time in the New Holland Pavilions that were recently built on the Alliant Energy Center grounds. The multi-use indoor facilities encompass a total of 290,000 square feet and replaced nine agricultural barns.
Attendance was 23,000 on Friday, 25,000 on Saturday and 13,000 on Sunday.
The fair attendance record was previously set in 2010, when 56,000 people came through the gates. Approximately 54,500 individuals attended the 2014 fair.
Sunny skies and temperatures in excess of 70 degrees during most of the fair also helped draw fairgoers to the event, said fair General Manager Rhonda Reese.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend weather-wise, and our new facilities surely improved the overall experience for those who attended and exhibited this year,” Reese said. “We’re proud that this event has become so successful, and has boosted Wisconsin’s reputation for a strong equine past, present and future. The Midwest Horse Fair® has become the place for horse owners and horse lovers alike to celebrate the many different breeds and disciplines in the horse world.”
Highlights for this year included the World Blacksmith Championships; visits with Romulus, the world’s tallest donkey, and his little brother, Remus; Epic Night of the Horse, the evening fairytale-themed performance; the PRCA Rodeo; and the Express Clydesdales, which raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other charitable organizations as they tour the country.
The fair’s estimated economic impact on the Madison area each year is $8.5 million, resulting from spending at local hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses.
The 2016 Midwest Horse Fair® dates are April 15–17, and the theme will be “The Sky’s the Limit.” Visit the fair’s Facebook page or website, MidwestHorseFair.com, in the coming year to learn more.
About Us: The Midwest Horse Fair® is one of the largest three-day horse fairs in the country. Since 1979, the fair has attracted seasoned horse owners, new horse owners and horse lovers each year for educational seminars, clinics, riding demonstrations and competitions, entertainment and shopping. It caters to both Western and English riders. The Midwest Horse Fair® is owned by the Wisconsin Horse Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes the equine industry in the state of Wisconsin. All event proceeds are returned to the Horse Council to be used for grants and scholarships, trail improvement, leadership programs and communication to help future growth and development of the equine industry. For more information, visit MidwestHorseFair.com.
