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Hoofbeats & Christmas Carols Parade 2021

Dec 18 2021
Expired!
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location

Aiken, SC

As Parade Day draws upon us, we are getting excited to see everyone in their festive attire and wearing their ASTM helmets! Here are some important details for you to know. Please direct any further questions to Trish Leslie at 706-951-2349 or Linda Murphy 612-710-5444.

Check In: All participants must check in and sign a waiver prior to the parade. You may check in between 12pm-1:30pm, please be ready to ride at 2pm!

There are several options:
1. Riders and carriages check in will be at the intersection of Greenville and Barnwell

2. NO walking banners or flags please and NO stallions.

3. Carriages will have additional dedicated parking and check in at Mead Hall

4. Dog walkers will have additional check in table at Trinity Lutheran Home

5. Waivers: you MUST sign the waiver prior to participation in the parade. To save time you can print and sign the attached waiver ahead of time. Do NOT email it back.

6. Donations: Please consider help with the parade expenses at the time of check-in. There is a suggested $10 donation for all participants. (children under 16 are free) There will be donations boxes available as you turn in your waivers to the ELVES.

7. ASTM approved helmets are mandatory with year to participate.

Parking:
•Horse Trailers: Parking is available along the four greenways at the intersection of Barnwell and Greenville. You may come down Barnwell from Laurens or down Greenville from Richland (near AutoZone). This is about 1-2 blocks behind Trinity on Laurens.
oPlease park facing the correct flow of traffic
oYou may use either side of the greenway
oYou MUST have 2 wheels on the pavement, no pulling fully into the greenway–though this allows you to still unload on the grass 😊
oNo Diagonal parking
•Carriage Trailers: Additional parking for carriages only will be available at Mead Hall (formerly Aiken Prep) parking lot, main entrance off of Barnwell. 619 Barnwell Ave NW, Aiken, SC, 29801. Pull into main entrance, go around the buildings to the right, parking lot to the left will be marked—Please, NO PARKING on the field on the right–this is their soccer field! This will be taped off

Safety: Public safety will lead us through town. We will have police escort at front and back of the group, and intersections will be blocked.
•Please wear your helmet
•It is VERY important that we stay together as a group between the escorts. Front leaders will keep a walking pace, others, please keep up, allowing of course a “safe” amount of space for all as you are comfortable. Please note the lineup order and listen to last minute instructions at the time of lineup.
•Per Public Safety, if for some reason your horse (or dog) is not cooperating, for your and everyone’s safety, please return to your trailer

Dress: Please dress festively. Horses and dogs too! WE HAVE SANTA ALREADY, SO NO EXTRA SANTA’S PLEASE, but you can wear Santa hats, etc. NO walkers with banners or flags please.

Time & Location: Please arrive no later than 1:30 and be ready to ride at 2pm sharp! We will be lining up on the two blocks of Barnwell between Pendleton and Florence. Line up order, SUBJECT TO CHANGE —-Please see Line-up instructions at registration table!!
oPublic Safety escort
oParade Leaders
oLarge horse carriages
oPony and mini carriages

oHorse drawn Hay Wagon–There is limited seating on this hay wagon, you must have contacted Trish, Linda or Sam for a spot and to check on any additional availability.
oFox hunt groups
oIndividual riders or other groups behind hunt clubs
oNO individual Riders OR dog walkers are to come beside the Hay Wagon please!
oLed ponies (*mounted or unmounted) to follow individual riders
oDog walkers NO retractable leashes for the dogs please–
oSanta’s Elves will be last, but not least!!
oParade patrol will be wearing green vests and will help direct you

oParade route enters Trinity from its back entrance on Pendleton with a brief stop for a song and gift giving from Santa. Everyone give way for Hay Wagon carolers to enter portico.
oParade will proceed down Laurens, left on Park, right on Newberry and Left on Colleton with a stop at The Willcox for a song or two.
o**Upon arrival at The Willcox, front carriages and riders need to pull up to Chesterfield behind public safety as much as possible to get everyone off Newberry Street. The Horse drawn wagon will stop directly in front of the Willcox and as many riders that can safely fill in please do so —resume lineup position as we leave. Please be aware, we may not all fit!
oWe will then proceed left on Chesterfield, resuming original lineup order! Left on Park, right on Laurens through downtown again, then Left on Barnwell to our parking area
oMake sure to sing and smile throughout—there are several photographers that will be out and about!! (as photos are made available to us, we will pass along (with permission) to all!)–please remember to print your name and email clearly on your waiver!!

Dog walkers
oAll dog walkers are to meet at Trinity on Laurens between 130pm and 2pm
oPlease park on public streets–please do NOT park in the Trinity parking lot
oYou must sign a waiver upon arrival–at the registration table
oPlease move to the sidewalk or grassy area and leave the portico area open, as the hay wagon will be pulling in upon arrival of the parade
oAs the parade leaves, please note the line-up order as stated previously and fall on the right (sidewalk) side of the riders
oPlease do NOT walk beside the carriages or hay wagons
oPer Public Safety, we must stay together as a group throughout the parade. If you are falling behind, please move onto the sidewalks until you catch up.

Songs: Carols are attached for your convenience to review or bring with you. Please listen to Kendall Standish and Andrew Siders and follow their lead on the songs!!

Thank you in advance to all of you who turn out to ride, walk and sing! Very special thanks to all of you for participating in this community event–this event is a group effort! Many, many thanks to our Aiken Department of Public Safety, Our Hay Wagon driver Tommy Flowers, Kendall Standish and Andrew Siders for leading our hay wagon, and, PEPSA (Professional Elf Scoopers of America), ALL our elves and Santa’s helpers who decorate and assist before, on and after parade day—and ALL who make the effort to “Deck the Horses, Dogs and themselves” to participate—You make this Parade the wonderfully fun event it is each year!!
Wishing all of you a very, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Horsey New Year!!!
~Trish Leslie, Linda Murphy, Samantha Spitler

After Party around the piano at The Willcox 4:30-6:30 PM, Christmas Carols withAndrew Siders and David Brown!!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/342727620944593/

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