The State Fair of Texas is honored to once again host the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, who join the list of featured exhibits for the 2016 Fair.
Last appearing at the Fair in 2005, the Budweiser Clydesdales are making a long-awaited return to the great State Fair of Texas. After serving as a fairgoer favorite for so many years, the beloved Budweiser Clydesdales are back by popular demand and will be featured in a special exhibit open all 24 days of the Fair. Guests of all ages can see these renowned horses up close, as well as learn about the history of the Clydesdales and their role as ambassadors for Anheuser-Busch. The Budweiser Clydesdales Stable Display will be located in Chevrolet Park Plaza and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the run of the Fair.
“The Budweiser Clydesdales were always a huge attraction at the Fair and we are so excited to welcome them back as one of our featured exhibits this year,” says State Fair President Mitchell Glieber. “The State Fair of Texas is an event built on 130 years of tradition, and the Clydesdales bring people that same sense of tradition and history. Getting to see the Budweiser Clydesdales in person is not something you experience every day, and this is definitely an experience you can share with the whole family.”
The Budweiser Clydesdales Stable Display will allow fairgoers to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. Dedicated staff members will be on-site to answer questions and talk about various topics, from describing a day in the life of a Budweiser Clydesdale to explaining the care and attention the horses receive on a daily basis. There will be daily demonstrations of the hitching process, where the Clydesdales will be hooked up to their signature wagon while a staff member narrates the process. Guests can meet the current mascot, Clyde the Dalmatian, who will be staying in the stables with his Clydesdale friends during the Fair. Visitors can also see visuals of the now world-famous horses from past to present, which will be on display in a video montage played throughout the day.
“As a longtime sponsor of the State Fair of Texas, Budweiser is excited about the opportunity to build on its partnership with the Fair and bring back the World Renowned Budweiser Clydesdales,” says Jeff Knapper, general manager of Clydesdale Operations.
The Clydesdales’ origins date way back to 1933, when August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with a gift to commemorate the repeal of the Prohibition of beer. That gift was a six-horse Clydesdale hitch, and it was this gift that started it all. Soon realizing the marketing value of a horse-drawn beer wagon, the Busch family sent another six-horse hitch wagon to New York City to celebrate the end of the Prohibition era, which attracted thousands of spectators throughout the city streets. The hitch continued to travel around the country, gaining notoriety along the way. In 1950, a Dalmatian was introduced as the Budweiser Clydesdales’ mascot and now travels with each of the Clydesdale hitches. The horses first appeared in the Super Bowl in 1986, and have since appeared in more than 25 Super Bowl commercials for Budweiser. After 83 years, the Budweiser Clydesdales continue to stand as a symbol of Budweiser’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality.
Mark your calendars for the 2016 State Fair of Texas, where you can experience the Budweiser Clydesdales Stable Display, along with hundreds of other shows, exhibits and activities. This year’s exhibition runs from Friday, September 30 to Sunday, October 23.