Guided Barn Tours are available to visitors at this year’s Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. The behind-the-scenes tours, led by teamster and assistant show manager, Eleanor Roberts, are another way for visitors to be able to meet and talk with draft horse exhibitors, as well as meet the stars of the Classic – the beautiful draft horses.
Barn tours will be held on Friday, September 23, at 3 pm and Saturday, September 24, at 2 pm. Advance reservations are recommended, as there are a limited number of openings for each tour. The cost for the tour is $10 per person, and advance reservations can be made by calling the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217. If there is still availability, tickets may also be purchased the day of the event at the Arena box office.
Each tour will last approximately 45 minutes and will include meeting the exhibitors and learning about how they got involved with draft horses; discussing and seeing the different draft horse breeds; a show-and-tell of draft horse equipment, and a discussion about the training of draft horses and what it takes to put a team together. You’ll also get to roam to the various barns on the Fairgrounds to meet the beautiful draft horses!
The 30th annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair starts Thursday, September 22 and runs through Sunday, September 25 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. The Draft Horse Classic features six stunning performances in the arena. If you can’t make it to a guided barn tour, the barns are always open for viewing the horses in between performances throughout the event. Additionally, musical entertainment at the Pine Tree Stage, a world class art show, delicious food, vendors with western wear and items, a clogging jamboree, and a live horse shoeing competition are all part of the Harvest Fair, which takes place at the Fairgrounds during all four days of the Classic.
For tickets to the performances, the barn tours, or information, call the office at 273-6217 or visit here.