The Celebration® and Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) have been in communication for the last two months regarding combining and merging classes into one comprehensive schedule which would eliminate the TWHBEA National Futurity as a separate show on the first Wednesday evening of The Celebration®.

TWHBEA has in past years included jackpot classes and at the 2021 Futurity had a schedule of 28 classes.  TWHBEA and The Celebration® are both interested in promoting a true Futurity and getting back to having true Futurity classes that qualify entries for the World Grand Championship classes at The Celebration®.

As in 2021, The Celebration® is utilizing its Class Sheet Committee to assist in improving the class schedule for this year’s Celebration.  A finalized scheduled, which will be sent out for a comment period, should be released by the end of March.  Several ideas have been considered with a goal of there being a class for any two and three-year-old nominated entry in every division.

The entry deadline for Futurity nominations will be the same as The Celebration® entry deadline on August 2, 2022. The nomination fees:

• Sire – $200 plus on stud fee donated to auction
• Dam – $50
• A $200 fee can be paid for a foal as a weanling for that foal (and mare) to be included in the Futurity for all four years.
• Weanlings – $50
• Yearlings (previously nominated) – $50
• 2 & 3 Year-Olds (previously nominated) – $50
• 2 & 3 Year-Olds (not previously nominated) – $250

“I am extremely excited about these changes to our show and I look forward to the excitement they will bring to this amazing breed’s Futurity program.  TWHBEA has been a great collaborative partner as we have worked through the details,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.

David Sisk, Breeders Vice-President at TWHBEA echoed Wells’ excitement and added, “We’re excited to be adding 2 and 3-year-olds back to the Futurity program and appreciate The Celebration® working with us to bring more excitement and provide additional recognition of the breeders of Tennessee Walking Horses.”

For more information on the TWHBEA National Futurity, call 931-359-1574 or email arodgers@twhbea.com. The 84^th Annual Celebration will be held August 24-September 3, 2022 and more information can be found at www.twhnc.com or by calling 931-684-5915.

Saturday Evening 11/6/21

Friday Evening 11/5/21

Thursday Evening Results 11/4/21

The 2021 Fall Classic is scheduled to take place in Calsonic Arena Thursday, November 4th through Saturday, November 6th.

The show will be a triple-point Riders’ Cup show and culminate with the Andy Adkins Memorial Youth Championship on Saturday night which has been the tradition for the Fall Show. The youth division is featured heavily in the schedule, with five classes across the youth division.

In addition to the Andy Adkins championship class, there is a Youth Trail Pleasure, Optional Tack, Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, Youth Riders 11 & Under on Mares & Geldings, Youth Riders on Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, and Youth Riders on Country Pleasure, Optional Tack.

Again, this year the class sheet features the Debut class for two-year-olds that have not shown in 2021. To add to the excitement, the Celebration has broken last year’s class into two classes, one for Mares and Geldings and one for Stallions. The prize money for the winner of both classes is $3,000 this year and is brought to you by Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement.

The Celebration will host the Fall Classic on November 4th-6th at the Calsonic Arena on the historic Celebration grounds. Again, for the 2021 Fall Classic, the Celebration will construct a show ring within the Calsonic Arena to allow for ringside tables. These tables were a much-loved aspect of last year’s Fall Classic and provided a close-up look at the action.

The tables will cost $1500, come with eight seats, eight meal tickets per night, and this year will include an open bar. The food each night will be provided by Southern Connections Catering. The tables also qualify for bronze-level sponsorship of the Fall Classic and one exhibitor parking pass.

Adjudicating the 2021 Fall Classic will be Paul Robbins, Sam Sorrell, and Amy Trimble.  The trio is a combination of one of the industry’s most experienced judges along with relatively new faces at Celebration events.  Sorrell will be the veteran of the group having judged The Celebration seven times, most recently in 2020.  Sorrell judged the FAST Spring Showcase, Christmas in July, and Belfast horse shows this year.

Robbins previously judged The Celebration in 2014 and most recently judged the show in Manchester, Tenn., earlier this summer.  Robbins has judged many of the industry’s major venues including the National Trainers’ Show, Money Tree Classic, Christmas in July, and Wartrace.  Trimble previously judged The Celebration Fall Classic in 2010 and although hasn’t judged as much as many others, she also judged the show in Cumberland County earlier this year.  Trimble has also judged the Money Tree Classic, Mississippi Charity, and Marshall County Horseman’s Association.

The show will be a triple-point Riders’ Cup show and culminate with the Andy Adkins Memorial Youth Championship on Saturday night which has been the tradition for the Fall Show. The youth division is featured heavily in the schedule, with five classes across the youth division. In addition to the Andy Adkins championship class, there is a Youth Trail Pleasure, Optional Tack, Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, Youth Riders 11 & Under on Mares & Geldings, Youth Riders on Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, and Youth Riders on Country Pleasure, Optional Tack.

Again, this year the class sheet features the Debut class for two-year-olds that have not shown in 2021. To add to the excitement, the Celebration has broken last year’s class into two classes, one for Mares and Geldings and one for Stallions. The prize money for the winner of both classes is $3,000 this year and is brought to you by Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement.

“We are going to have a very exciting Fall Classic this year to build on the wonderful show season we have had in 2021, and I thank Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement for assisting in adding to the excitement,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells. 

9/4 – Saturday Championships

9/3 – Friday Evening Championships

9/2 – Thursday Evening Championships

9/1 – Wednesday Evening

8/31 – Tuesday Evening

8/30 – Monday Evening

8/30 – Monday Morning

8/29 – Sunday Evening

8/28 – Saturday Evening

8/28 – Saturday Morning

8/27 – Friday Evening

8/27 – Friday Morning

8/26 – Thursday Evening

8/26 – Thursday Morning

8/25 – Wednesday Morning

To receive updates, reminders and announcements on your cell phone, text TWHNC to 77948.

EVERYDAY

History – The Tennessee Walking Horse National Museum is a quick 15 minute trip to Wartrace, the “Cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse.” It’s open every day of The Celebration from 10am-4pm, except on Sunday when it’s open from 1-4pm. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

 

Shopping – Great shopping awaits you when you visit this year’s Celebration. We’ve assembled over 75 specialty vendors, almost three times as many as last year! You’ll find tack, gifts, jewelry, art, crafts, clothing, and so much more. During the day you’ll want to visit the vendors in Calsonic Arena and the barn area. When you return at night, you’ll find even more in Celebration Arena.

Food – For 83 years Bedford County and the local civic clubs have been the backbone of The Celebration. When you come to the show, the Jaycees will help you park, members of the Lions Club will greet you at the entrance and sell you a program, and hundreds of other volunteers will be manning the concession stands to support their clubs. Our community organizations take great pride in the food they offer to guests and have helped to give The Celebration the reputation of having some of the best eats of any event you’ll attend. You’ll find country ham sandwiches, ribeye steak sandwiches, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, cotton candy, fried oreos, donuts and more served up by the Kiwanis Club, Band Boosters, Community Lions Club, VFW, East Bedford Civic Club, and Optimist Club. There’s also Prater’s BBQ, Sir Pizza,  and Alfonso’s Mexican Food. If you’re planning to join us at the show, don’t eat before you come!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25^TH

9am Morning Performance (Calsonic Arena)

5pm TWHBEA National Futurity (Calsonic Arena)

Presented by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association, this year’s show has added two and three-year-old “Rookie” classes for horses that have never shown in a driving or under saddle class. For more information, contact TWHBEA at 931-359-1574.

>> Click Here for More Info

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26^TH

9am Morning Performance (Calsonic Arena)

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

Opening Night – A solid white Tennessee Walking Horse will enter Celebration Arena promptly at 7pm carrying our nation’s colors to kick off our first night in the Big Oval. Get your whittling stick and pull up a chair with your friends to enjoy our opening night under the lights. As is tradition, the first class will showcase our young riders 6-11 years of age.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27^TH

Deadline for Celebration Art Contest

Open to everyone! Work will be displayed in Calsonic Arena during the show and prizes will be awarded. For more information, call or text Dee Foster at 931-205-2098.

 

>> More Info

9am Morning Performance (Calsonic Arena)

Lunch Food Truck Fair (Farmers Market Pavilion)

Enjoy lunch at a variety of food trucks. To be a food truck vendor, contact Warren Wells, wwells@twhnc.com

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28^TH

9am Morning Performance (Calsonic Arena)

Lunch Food Truck Fair (Farmers Market Pavilion)

Enjoy lunch at a variety of food trucks. To be a food truck vendor, contact Warren Wells, wwells@twhnc.com

Noon Entry Deadline for Lead Line WGC

5pm Entry Deadline for Yearling WGC

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

Hat Night – Wear your favorite Kentucky Derby styled hat and join us as we crown the first two World Grand Champions of 2021 from the Lead Line and Yearling divisions, plus get our first glance at some of the contenders for the ultimate WGC title in the Aged Stallions classes.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29^TH

8am Community Worship Service (Celebration Arena, North Turn)

The Bedford County Ministerial Association invites you to join them for a time of worship and music in the Big Oval. In the event of rain, the service will be moved to Calsonic Arena.

9am Celebration Shootout Golf Tournament (Riverbend Country Club)

This event is sure to sell out. To register or sponsor, contact Jessica Wells at 931-212-3791 or jessicastinsonwells@gmail.com 

>> More Info: shorturl.at/mtEP1

Lunch Food Truck Fair (Farmers Market Pavilion)

Enjoy lunch at a variety of food trucks. To be a food truck vendor, contact Warren Wells, wwells@twhnc.com

1pm Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary Dog Show (Champions Arena)

This annual tradition is a fun event for locals, visitors, and students. Bring your 4-legged friend and join the fun. For more information contact Candy Green at 931-580-8378 or Sarah Smith at 931-580-5085.

1pm Stable Decorating Contest Judging

Representatives from the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce and The Celebration will be on the grounds from 1-3pm to judge the annual Stable Decorating Contest. While you’re at the show, be sure to stroll through the grounds and admire the beautifully decorated stables that are the home-away-from-home of our show’s stars. Anyone who would like their stable to be judged should enter my Noon on Saturday 8/28.

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

MONDAY, AUGUST 30^TH

9am Morning Performance (Calsonic Arena)

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

Fan Appreciation Dollar Night – We say “thank you” to the world’s greatest horse show fans with $1 general admission tickets and select $1 items at the concession stands.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31^ST

Noon Entry Deadline for Thursday Night WGC Classes

5pm Entry Deadline for Weanling WGC

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

Fan Appreciation Dollar Night – We say “thank you” to the world’s greatest horse show fans with $1 general admission tickets and select $1 items at the concession stands.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1^ST

Noon Entry Deadline for Friday Night WGC Classes

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2^ND

Lunch Food Truck Fair (Farmers Market Pavilion)

With championship entries required to be stabled on the grounds 48 hours prior to competing, this will be a happening place. Come early to watch the morning workouts of our championship contenders, do some shopping in Calsonic Arena and enjoy lunch at a variety of food trucks. To be a food truck vendor, contact Warren Wells, wwells@twhnc.com

Noon Entry Deadline for Saturday Night WGC Classes

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3^RD

Lunch Food Truck Fair (Farmers Market Pavilion)

With championship entries required to be stabled on the grounds 48 hours prior to competing, this will be a happening place. Come early to watch the morning workouts of our championship contenders, do some shopping in Calsonic Arena and enjoy lunch at a variety of food trucks. To be a food truck vendor, contact Warren Wells, wwells@twhnc.com

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

Military and First Responders Appreciation Night – Wear your red, white and blue and join us as we recognize the courage and sacrifice made by the members of our nation’s military and first responders. Riders competing on Military Appreciation Night will be riding in memory of a Fallen Hero and we’ve teamed up with the Woody Williams Foundation to welcome Gold Star Families as our special guests. The Celebration is offering free tickets, parking and drink tickets to all veterans and first responders. Those tickets can be reserved by calling 931-684-5915 or picked up at the Celebration office during regular business hours.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4^TH

Lunch Food Truck Fair (Farmers Market Pavilion)

With championship entries required to be stabled on the grounds 48 hours prior to competing, this will be a happening place. Come early to watch the morning workouts of our championship contenders, do some shopping in Calsonic Arena and enjoy lunch at a variety of food trucks. To be a food truck vendor, contact Warren Wells, wwells@twhnc.com

7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event

Witness twelve World Grand Championship events, culminating with the crowning of the Tennessee Walking Horse Champion of the World!