Festival of the Horse Moves to 2021 for Triple Celebration

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - July 16, 2020 - PRLog -- Georgetown/Scott County Tourism has made the decision to reschedule this year's Festival of the Horse, originally set for September of 2020. Instead, the Tourism office will throw its energies and resources into and the spotlight onto a triple celebration in the fall of 2021 for Sept. 10, 11 and 12. This will include the 40th anniversary of the Festival of the Horse, a chance to honor Georgetown's sister-city of Tahara, Japan – a relationship marking its 31st year in 2021– and recognizing Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, the Official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden, hitting 21 years in 2021.

"Mark your calendar," said Lori Saunders, executive director of Georgetown/Scott County Tourism (http://www.georgetownky.com/). "This will truly be a one-of-a-kind celebration."

Celebrating the horse
Live music will take centerstage for the Festival of the Horse, with several marquee headliners planned for the Country Boy Stage on Courthouse Square. Food, crafts and display booths, carnival rides and midway, local and regional musicians performing throughout downtown and the festival's signature events – the Colt & Filly Review Parade, Toyota's Grand Parade of Horses and the Horse Show – will keep the weekend lively. Setting all the fun in motion will be the annual Chili Cook-off, planned for Sept. 9.

Honoring a sister-city
The Mayor of Tahara, Japan, will be the Grand Marshal of Toyota's Grand Parade of Horses. He will be accompanied by other dignitaries from Georgetown's sister-city as both cities come together to celebrate a decades-long friendship and their common bonds.

Like Georgetown, Tahara is fairly small, but growing fast. Both cities have an agricultural base and both have car manufacturing plants owned by Toyota Motor Company – the tie that led to the sister city relationship that began in 1990, two years after Toyota broke ground in Georgetown.

Gardening in friendship
As an homage to Tahara and Georgetown's sister-city relationship, Yuko-En on the Elkhorn was planted in 2000, a four-season, five-acre Japanese-style strolling garden – and the only one of its kind anywhere. It was officially proclaimed the Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden by the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

With a mission of enhancing community and international friendship and promoting lifelong learning in the arts, culture, the environment and international relations and commerce, Yuko-En will naturally be included in the celebration.

"Music, friendship, parades, food and fun – we cannot wait to throw this party in September of 2021," said Saunders.