THE CELEBRATION®
Tennessee's Largest Event Facility
Situated in Shelbyville, The Celebration® is a cornerstone of Tennessee's heritage and one of the state’s most iconic event spaces.
Acres
Event Venues
Barns
RV Hookups
About The Celebration®
The Celebration® is the term generally used to identify both the event and the organization that manages and presents it.
The idea for a Walking Horse “festival” (later identified as the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration®) is generally credited to the late Henry Davis of Wartrace, TN.
It began when Davis went to nearby Winchester one spring day in 1939 and observed the Crimson Clover Festival. He became very enthusiastic about what he saw and returned to Shelbyville with the idea that his home county should have a festival to celebrate their most important asset – the Tennessee Walking Horse.
The idea was cultivated into the first Celebration® on September 7, 8, and 9, 1939. It has been held every year, without interruption, since.
A Premier Equestrian Facility
The show has grown into its own 100-plus-acre equestrian complex; a complex frequented by many breeds and including a 30,000 seat outdoor stadium, a 4,500 seat indoor arena, a covered outdoor practice arena, permanent stalls for more than 1,700 horses, and campgrounds featuring full hook-ups for more than 350 recreational vehicles.
Indeed, it is a thrill to watch the more than 2,000 horses compete during the 10-day-and-night Celebration®…and when the one horse emerges proudly on that Saturday night before Labor Day as the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse®, even the most somber could not help but feel a chill run up their spines.
A Tradition of Excellence Since 1939
For over 80 years, the historic Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration® Grounds has been home to the annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration®. This prestigious event spans 11 days, concluding on the Saturday before Labor Day, and draws fans from more than 40 states. With nearly a quarter of a million tickets sold each year, visitors come from far and wide to experience the excitement and pageantry of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
While the Tennessee Walking Horse is at the heart of our origin story, there’s so much more to discover across our diverse events and facilities.
World Grand Champions
