25th Anniversary Vermont Summer Festival Underway
July 4, 2018 - East Dorset, VT
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
The 25th annual Vermont Summer Festival officially kicked off a milestone season on Wednesday, July 4, with six weeks of family-friendly hunter, jumper, and equitation competition slated to run for six weeks from July 3 through August 12, 2018, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
The Vermont Summer Festival offers an innovative competition schedule on all-new Kruse Cushion Ride (KCR) footing installed in competition, schooling, and lunging rings this spring. From the short stirrup ranks to Saturday grand prix events, the Vermont Summer Festival offers something for all levels in the heart of southern Vermont.
Highlighting top show jumping competition, the first five Saturdays of the 2018 Vermont Summer Festival feature a fan-favorite $30,000 Grand Prix. The $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix closes out the season during the sixth and final week of competition on Saturday, August 11. Also featured in the all-inclusive schedule is the popular “Equitation Tuesdays” and weekly $5,000 3'3" NEHJA Hunter Derbies each Thursday, culminating with a $15,000 offering in week six.
While the riders will guarantee fierce competition in the show ring, the course designers at the Vermont Summer Festival are some of the best in the world. The list includes the likes of Alan Wade of Ireland, who has the prestigious appointment of course designer for the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, NC, in September. In addition, Mexico’s Manuel Esparza was part of the course building team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while Canada’s Michel Vaillancourt has the 1976 Olympic individual silver medal to his credit as a rider and recently earned rave reviews as a course designer at the 2015 Pan American Games. All three will bring their talents to Vermont this summer.
“We are proud to celebrate 25 years, and are confident this will we be one of our most successful seasons yet,” said John Ammerman, Manager of the Vermont Summer Festival. “We welcome exhibitors, both new and returning, vendors, sponsors, and spectators back to Harold Beebe Farm and wish everyone a successful and safe season.”
The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest hunter/jumper competition and the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont with more than $750,000 in prize money. The event is also a proud member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL). Outside the show ring, exhibitors are immersed in the charm of Vermont's shopping, dining, and outdoor activities.
Competition at the 2018 Vermont Summer Festival runs weekly from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning each day at 8 a.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children from Wednesday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children with 100% of all gate proceeds benefiting The Dorset School, Manchester Community Library, and the Rotary Club of Manchester.
For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.
