Celebrate Saturday Night Lights At The Winter Equestrian Festival
Every Saturday night at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, members of the local community are invited to attend the Saturday Night Lights events at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The 12-week WEF circuit features top horses and riders from around the world competing five days a week at PBIEC, with the best of the best contesting the most challenging obstacles each Saturday night under the lights in the International Arena.
Complementing each week’s action-packed competition, Saturday Night Lights features live music, a variety of performers, shopping, dining and more. Every Saturday night through April 1, PBIEC is the place to be in Wellington.
Equestrian Sport Productions, the management company that produces the Winter Equestrian Festival, welcomes all Wellington-area residents to come and experience the nightlife and thrilling sport. Always family-friendly, Saturday Night Lights features a kids’ fair with a Venetian carousel, bounce houses, face painting, pony rides, magicians, a petting zoo and more.
Prior to the start of competition, each week features members of a different Wellington school showcasing their talents, from singing to dancing, as well as a performance of the national anthem. Wellington Councilwoman Tanya Siskind, who is just wrapping up six years as president of the Binks Forest Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, enjoys how WEF has brought the community together through Saturday Night Lights.
“I think it has been fabulous to bring the children and their families out to the horse show,” Siskind said. “The Saturday night events really engage the schools and the whole community. I think there were a lot of people who had lived in Wellington their whole lives and never gone out to the showgrounds because they thought they had to be a rider or be involved in the sport.”
She thanked the horse show promoters for working to really engage the whole community. “We have this wonderful facility right in our back yard, and a lot of people started going out there more often,” Siskind noted. “[A Saturday night event] is a really great way for the schools to fundraise and showcase the students and their talents, and it is great for other people who attend these events regularly and are able to see how great the Wellington schools are and what they have to offer. I think it is a win-win event for everyone.”
In addition to her involvement through the school, Siskind’s daughter rides and shows at WEF and trains at the Palm Beach Riding Academy, which is based at PBIEC. They look forward to another successful WEF season.
Also part of the pre-competition fun and community involvement each Saturday night, local dog rescues are given the opportunity to set up at the entrance to the show grounds, where everyone can meet the adorable pups that they have up for adoption. The dogs and their handlers then parade around the arena for the entire crowd to see with hopes of finding those and other dogs their forever homes.
Another fantastic initiative designed to engage the Wellington community is this year’s new Animated Ringside Chalk Art Festival, honoring young talent and Palm Beach County philanthropy, on Saturday, Feb. 4, as part of the festivities for the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments. Each Wellington school will be provided with a 4-foot by 6-foot giant chalkboard, along with pastel chalk supplies. The theme of the night is “Animated Characters for Philanthropy.”
Students and their art teachers will have from 2 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 4 to bring their creations to life on the PBIEC grounds. Awards for Most Original, Most Inspiring, Best Representation of the Theme and Best Overall will be awarded that evening. Each school’s art department is guaranteed a minimum of a $1,000 donation for taking part in this initiative.
While Saturday nights at WEF offer lots of fun activities for children and their families, the nightlife is also not to be missed for guests 21 and over. Those making it a night out without kids can enjoy margaritas from Tito’s Tacos or beer and other cocktails at the Tiki Hut.
The Gallery Night Club at PBIEC also offers a stylish modern lounge that is open to the public every Saturday night with table seating and VIP bottle service available. The club features great DJs and dancing following every Saturday Night Lights competition.
Put Saturday Night Lights at WEF on your to-do list this winter. General admission is free, and parking is $20 per car. Find a full schedule and more information at www.pbiec.com.
