Category: 2021 CELEBRATION®
2021 Celebration Events
To receive updates, reminders and announcements on your cell phone, text TWHNC to 77948.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Noon Entry Deadline for Friday Night WGC Classes
7pm Evening Performance (Celebration Arena) Ticketed Event
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
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.
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!
Celebration entries remain steady
After a 10% increase in entries in 2020, The Celebration® announced a total of 2,262 pre-show entries for the upcoming 83rd Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration®. The 2,262 total is up 10 entries from last year. “We are extremely pleased with the entries for our upcoming show. With such a large increase last year, the ability for us to continue to add entries year over year continues the positive trends we are seeing in the industry,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.
The number of unique horses that make up the 2,262 entries also increased from last year. In 2020, 1,311 different horses were entered at The Celebration®. In 2021 that number jumped to 1,320 horses. “Being the world championship horse show, we want to host as many horses as we possibly can, and we look forward to continuing to grow this number over the next several years,” said Wells.
The 1,320 horses competing is a jump of 120 horses over two years ago. This number has been continually rising and this year’s increase is another positive sign. The 83rd Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be held August 25th through September 4th.
Judges Selected for 83rd Annual Celebration
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has selected Chris Bobo, Derek Bonner, Brent Grider, David Sisk and Dale Watts to judge its 83rd Annual Celebration, the premier event on the Tennessee Walking Horse industry’s calendar. The panel will include a newcomer to center ring in Watts and includes judges from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and Mississippi.
“We are excited about this panel which includes such a diverse geographic representation and includes some valuable experience along with a newcomer that recently judged our Fun Show. We look forward to a great Celebration that continues the momentum we’ve seen thus far this show season,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.
The Celebration affiliates with the SHOW Horse Industry Organization and thus selects is judges from the SHOW HIO certified judges’ list. The SHOW HIO has 70 total judges but only 54 of which hold a AAA or better license, which is a Celebration requirement. The Celebration sends an email to all AAA or better judges asking if they have a desire and availability to judge The Celebration and would like to be considered. Of the 54 eligible, 28 responded they would like to be considered.
The Celebration has a committee that vets the candidates and puts together a slate that is then ratified by the entire board. Both the committee and board votes only require a majority vote.
Sisk, from Columbia, Tenn., will be marking the cards for the fourth time. Sisk previously judged the Celebration in 2014, 2015 and 2018. Sisk has judged the Fun Show, Tunica, Gulf Coast Charity, North Carolina Championships, Alabama Jubilee, Mississippi Charity and National Trainers’ Show demonstrating his appeal across a wide range of the industry. Sisk also just judged the Christmas in July show over the 4th.
Bobo, from Shelbyville, Tenn., will also be making his fourth appearance in center ring having judged The Celebration previously in 2012, 2016 and 2017. Bobo also judged the Christmas in July show over the 4th and has almost every major show on his resume, including the International Pleasure and Colt show. He has also judged the Fun Show, Tunica, Gulf Coast Charity, Mississippi Charity, Alabama Jubilee, North Carolina Championships and Pulaski just to name a few.
Bonner, from Mooresboro, N.C., will be making his third trip to judge the world championships. Bonner previously judged the Celebration in 2013 and 2015. Bonner judged the Columbia Spring Jubilee this year and has also judged the Fun Show, Mississippi Charity, multiple 4th of July shows, National Trainers’ Show and FAST Spring Showcase.
Grider, from Columbia, Ky., will be judging the Celebration for the second time with his first being in 2012. Grider has judged most of the industry’s premier events and also judged the Columbia Spring Jubilee this year. Grider has judged multiple times at the Columbia Spring Jubilee as well as judging the Kentucky Celebration, Alabama Jubilee, Gulf Coast Charity, National Trainers’ Show three times, Marshall County and at the 4th of July.
Watts, from Summit, Miss., doubles as a walking horse trainer and also as a Hall of Fame girls and boys high school basketball coach in Mississippi. Watts will be marking the cards for the first time, but recently worked for The Celebration at its 2021 Spring Fun Show. Watts has also previously judged Woodbury Lions Club, Alabama Jubilee, North Carolina Championships, FAST Spring Showcase and Marshall County.
“It is the board’s goal each year to put forth a panel capable of judging at the highest level in our halter, pleasure and performance divisions. We feel confident this group meets that standard and provides all of our exhibitors with a level playing field,” said Celebration Board Chairman David Crowell. The 83rd Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will be held August 25th – September 4th.
Celebration releases final schedule for 2021
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration® has finalized and released the final class schedule for the 83rd Annual Celebration. In late 2020, The Celebration® formed a committee to review its class sheet and make recommendations for changes that would take into account past participation, industry trends and overall fan experience.
The committee was chaired by Jennifer Bingham and consisted of Nathan Clark, Justin Jenne’, Laurie Toone, Howard Hamilton and Amy Trimble. “We can’t thank the members of this committee enough for their hard work and how much thought and time they put into this task. We weren’t able to take all of the recommendations but we were able to incorporate most of them and our show will benefit as a result,” said board member Jeffrey Howard.
The committee released a tentative class sheet earlier this year and during the comment period the Celebration received over 70 comments regarding the schedule. “We were pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the number of comments and the overall interest level we received,” said Celebration Director of Operations Connie Allen.
The Celebration® will keep its committee in place and have them again look at the class sheet after this year’s show and make sure changes continue to reflect the areas of growth and participation levels. Classes that continue to have limited or declining participation will be looked at to eliminate and/or consolidate. “Our ultimate goal is to have the most competitive show we can have that is entertaining for our fans and ends at a reasonable time each evening,” concluded Howard.
Click here to view the schedule:
CELEBRATION® RELEASES TENTATIVE 2021 CLASS SCHEDULE
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration recently formed a committee to review and recommend changes to the Celebration’s class schedule. The committee has met over the last couple of months and reviewed past schedules, participation levels, industry trends and other criteria to come up with an initial class schedule.
The Celebration will be sending the schedule out in a tentative form to many of the leading industry groups as well as including it on their web site and publishing the schedule in industry publications. There will be a 30-day comment period that will end on Friday March 12, 2021. Comments will then be reviewed by the committee and a final class sheet released around the first of April.
The committee consists of Jennifer Bingham who chaired the committee and Nathan Clark, Justin Jenne’, Laurie Toone, Howard Hamilton and Amy Trimble. “We can’t thank the committee enough for their hard work and thoughtful discussions that have led us to a better place in our class schedule. This is a hard task and it is impossible to meet everyone’s needs but the work done is a major step in the right direction. We look forward to getting comments back from owners, exhibitors and trainers to continue to make changes that will improve our schedule,” said Celebration director Jeffrey Howard.
The tentative class sheet will show classes listed in red that have had changes made to them. Changes include moving classes to another day/night or changing, adding or deleting a class. Below is a summary of the changes recommended by the committee:
Model Pleasure Walking Geldings moved from Thur AM to Mon AM
Added Lite-Shod Two-Year-Old Walking Horses, O/T
Added Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T
Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years and Under, O/T moved to Thur PM
O/A Riders on Three-Year-Old English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses combined with O/A Riders on Three-Year-Old Western Walking Horses into O/A Riders on Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Horses, O/T
O/A Riders on Western Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Five and Under combined with O/A Riders on English Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Five and Under into O/A Riders on Four and Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T
Added Amateur Owned and Trained Country Pleasure Walking Horses O/T
Removed O/A Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T Canter
Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years & Under combined with English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years & Under into Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T on Thur AM & Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T on Fri AM
Added Amateur Owned and Trained All Day Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T
Added Park Pleasure Two-Year-Old Walking Horses, O/T
Changed Park Pleasure Walking Horses O/T to Park Pleasure English Walking Horses & moved to Sat PM
O/A Riders on English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years and Under combined with O/A Riders on Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years and Under into O/A Riders on Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T and moved to Sat AM & O/A Riders on Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T & moved to Thur PM
O/A Riders on Walking Horses, Classic Horses moved to Mon PM
Walking Mares or Geldings 15.2 & Under (Canter) combined with Walking Stallions 15.2 & Under (Canter) into Walking Stallions, Mares or Geldings 15.2 & Under (Canter) & moved to Tues PM
Combined Amateur Owned & Trained Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses with Amateur Owned & Trained English Walking Horses into Amateur Owned & Trained Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T on Mon AM
Added Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T
Moved O/A Youth Riders 6-11 on All Day Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T to Fri AM
Moved Two-Year-Old Walking Geldings to Wed PM
Changed Lite-Shod Walking Horses, O/T to Lite-Shod English Walking Horses
Moved Two-Year-Old Walking Mares to Tues PM
O/A Riders on Walking Pony Stallions combined with O/A Riders on Walking Pony Mares or Geldings into O/A Riders on Walking Ponies and moved to Mon PM
Moved O/A Novice Gentlemen Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings to Sat PM
Moved Lite-Shod Western Walking Horses to Sat PM
Moved O/A Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings to Sun PM
Moved O/A Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings to Tues PM
Moved Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T to Mon PM
Added Show Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years and Under
Lite-Shod Walking Horses WGC O/T changed to Lite-Shod English Walking Horses WGC & moved to Thur PM & Lite-Shod Western Walking Horses WGC & moved to Thur PM
Park Pleasure Walking Horses WGC O/T changed to Park Pleasure English Walking Horses WGC & moved to Sat PM & Park Pleasure Western Walking Horses WGC, on Thur PM
O/A Two-Year-Old Walking Horses WGC moved to Thur PM
O/A Youth Riders 6-11 on Walking Mares or Gelding WGC moved to Sat PM
Removed O/A Riders on Walking Ponies WGC
O/A Youth Riders 6-17 on Walking Ponies WGC moved to Fri PM
O/A Youth Riders 6-17 on Show Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings WGC moved to Sat PM
O/A Riders on Walking Horses 15.2 & Under WGC moved to Fri PM
Added O/A Riders on All Day Pleasure Walking Horses WGC to Thur PM
Moved the Four-Year-Old WGC to Thur PM
Moved Park Performance Walking Horses WGC to Fri PM
Added Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Three & Under WGC O/T to Fri PM
Moved O/A Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Three & Under WGC O/T to Sat PM
Moved Show Pleasure Walking Horses WGC to Fri PM
Removed Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years & Under WGC O/T
Moved O/A Riders on Country Pleasure Walking Horses, O/T to Sat PM
Moved O/A Novice Riders on Novice Walking Horses WGC to Thur PM
Moved Walking Horse Specialty WGC to Sat PM
Moved Two-Year-Old Walking Horses WGC to last class Fri PM
Moved the O/A Riders On Lite-Shod Walking Horses WGC O/T to Fri PM
Moved the O/A Youth 6-17 Trail Pleasure WGC O/T to Fri PM
Removed O/A Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Five Years & Under WGC O/T
Added Trail Pleasure Walking Horses WGC O/T
Added Retired Trainers Class Sat PM
Moved Equitation 6-11 to Sat AM
Moved Equitation 12-14 & Equitation 15-17 to Wed AM
Moved Equitation WGC to last class on Sat AM
Added Youth 6-17 Lite-Shod
Added Youth 6-17 Park Pleasure
Added Youth Yearling, Handlers 12-17
Added Mare & Foal
O/A – Owner Amateur
O/T – Optional Tack
*All comments should be submitted to Connie Allen, Celebration Director of Operations, at callen@twhnc.com. For more information you can also reach out to any of the committee members directly.