Press Releases
| For More Information Contact: Ann Lindblad Director of Marketing and Communications (508) 347-0323; Contact by Email |
Famous Budweiser Clydesdales at |
| Eight-horse team will visit Yankee Spirits and parade to OSV for 12 Nights of Christmas |
STURBRIDGE, Mass. (Dec. 7, 2009): The most recognizable team of horses in the world – the Budweiser Clydesdales – will appear at the Old Sturbridge Village Twelve Nights of Christmas celebration Sat. Dec. 19. Following a 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. appearance at Yankee Spirits next to the Sturbridge Host Hotel on Rte. 20 in Sturbridge, the eight-horse team, pulling their familiar red beer wagon, will parade the short distance to OSV for an appearance inside the Village from 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. The Clydesdales appearance was initiated by a letter to Anheuser-Busch written by Sturbridge resident Anne Chojnicki. Visitors to the Old Sturbridge Village can meet and photograph the Clydesdales team, chat with both Santa Claus and Father Christmas, and enjoy music, magic, caroling and more. The museum gift shop and Oliver Wight Tavern will be open for holiday shopping and dining. OSV evening admission is $14 per person, $12 for museum members, children under 3, free. For details and tickets: 1-800-SEE-1830; www.osv.org. The Budweiser Clydesdales are one of the world’s most recognizable corporate icons and were introduced in 1933 to deliver cases of beer to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House after the repeal of Prohibition. The first television advertisement featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales aired in 1956, and in recent years Clydesdales ads have become some of the most popular ever to air during Super Bowl broadcasts. Anheuser-Busch owns more than 250 of the renowned breed, including traveling hitches that make more than 500 appearances per year. “Because of their wide popularity, it is extremely difficult to secure an appearance by the Clydesdales,” notes Mike Cimini, owner of Yankee Spirits and a trustee of Old Sturbridge Village. In fact, it’s been nearly 20 years since the team last visited Central Massachusetts.” To be selected for the Budweiser Hitch, as the team is called, Clydesdales must be at least three years of age, stand six feet tall at the shoulder, and weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, according to David Fields, president of Budweiser distributor Consolidated Beverages in Auburn, Mass. Each horse must have four white stockings, a white blaze on its face and a black mane and tail. A gentle temperament is also a crucial trait because the horses meet millions of people each year. It is believed that Canadians of Scottish descent first brought Clydesdales to the United States in the mid 19th century. Originally work horses, Clydesdales today are used primarily for breeding and show. Each Budweiser hitch also includes a Dalmatian dog. In the early days of the beer industry, these dogs were trained to protect the horses and guard the beer wagon while the driver went inside stores and pubs to deliver the beer. Other performances scheduled at Old Sturbridge Village for Dec. 19 include Boston Jazz Voices, Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Worcester Men of Song; and the Shepherd Hill Madrigirls. For details, times, and tickets visit: www.osv.org/12Nights . Old Sturbridge Village will focus just on the nighttime 12 Nights of Christmas events prior to Christmas, and will be closed during the day through Dec. 25. The remaining 12 Nights of Christmas events are offered Thursday through Sunday from 4:00 – 9:00 pm. Dec.10-13, and Dec. 17-20. The Village will return to a daytime schedule for its popular school vacation week activities Dec. 26 – Jan. 3. For details: www.osv.org. Full Schedule of Performances Twelve Nights of Christmas through Dec. 20: (For the most up-to-date listing, visit www.osv.org/12Nights.) Thursday, December 10: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Tom Hanford and his Holiday Chimneyside Tales; Trinity Catholic Academy Choir Friday, December 11: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Leicester High School Chorus; Post Road Chorus; Burgess Elementary School Band and Choir; Full Gael: Celtic Christmas; Tantasqua High School Choraleers; Heritage Music; Old Sturbridge Village Dancers Saturday, December 12: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Westerly (RI) High School Singers; Elm Street Bells and Beaus Handbell Choir; Sounds of Concord Sunday, December 13: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Jaques Ave Five; Worcester State Chorale; Sturbridge Federated Church Chancel Choir; Quintebrass; Old Sturbridge Village Singers Thursday, December 17: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Tom Hanford and his Holiday Chimneyside Tales; Woodstock (Conn.) Academy Hill Singers; Oxford High School Friday, December 18: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Chariho (RI) High School Choir; Brookfield Elementary Band and Choir; Full Gael: Celtic Christmas; Heritage Music; Old Sturbridge Village Dancers Saturday, December 19: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Worcester Men of Song; Shepherd Hill Madrigirls; Boston Jazz Voices Sunday December 20: Holiday Magic and Puppets with Robert Olson; Members of the Seven Hills Symphony Orchestra; Quintebrass; Old Sturbridge Village Singers # # #
|
View All Press Releases |
- © Old Sturbridge Inc. Privacy Statement
- Contact Us
- Sitemap
