From the Horse's Mouth - Part Seven

A Guide to BreyerFest from the Planning Team

What to Expect When Arriving

We’ve seen a lot of comments on the BreyerFest blog and on social media about what to expect when guests arrive, so we wanted to take a few minutes to walk guests through our tried-and-true tips and tricks, as well as to outline what the guest experience will be like after you park your car in the parking lot.

First – even if you’re a seasoned BreyerFest attendee, it’s always good to have this handy list of reminders, so you can plan your weekend accordingly.  If you’re new to BreyerFest, here is a great list of tips to make sure you have the best weekend ever!

• It’s Kentucky in July, so our #1 tip is always come prepared for the heat. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and wear plenty of sunscreen – you can get a burn even if it’s overcast.
• Dress comfortably! Wear good walking shoes and comfortable clothes.  Closed-toe shoes are recommended as you may be up close to live animals and walking over various types of terrain.  BreyerFest is held mostly outdoors on grass, arena footing (a sand mixture), or pavement.  As well, BreyerFest spans across many parts of the Horse Park and events and activities are in various locations – expect to do a fair amount of walking on site.
• If you need assistance and can’t be on your feet all day, BreyerFest partners with ScootAround to offer guests scooter and wheelchair rentals. These can be shipped directly to your home or hotel, but users are responsible for getting them to the KHP.  The KHP does not offer on-site scooter or wheelchair rentals as of this writing, so if you need assistance, we recommend you take advantage of this service.
• Need a break from the sun? Take advantage of our FREE seminars, located in the air conditioned Visitor Information Center, running all weekend long! Misting fans are also set up in many of the tents to help keep guests cool while they wait in line.
• Make your own schedule. There is a LOT to do at BreyerFest and some activities overlap. Be sure your workshops and Special Run tickets do not overlap. As well, be sure you don’t accidentally register for workshops that are happening at the same time. Most of the free activities are offered several times over the course of the weekend so plan your trip through the Special Run line, workshops, model horse shows, or seminars FIRST.
• Expect a bit of a line at the Ticket Booth (main entrance into BreyerFest) in the early morning for those looking to make the Breyer Store or the Souvenir Shops their first stop. After 9:30 am there is generally no line for admission into BreyerFest, but the Breyer Store and Souvenir Shops will be busy for the morning hours.
• Bags larger than a Traditional-sized model (approximately 10”) are not permitted in the main Breyer Store in the Covered Arena, the large Souvenir Shop, or in the Special Run Store. This includes rolling bags of all sizes, wagons, duffel bags, large purses or tote bags, backpacks, and all shopping bags.  For your convenience, there are bag check locations located near these stores.
• Avoid stress and take advantage of the free shuttle service offered by BreyerFest for ease getting around the park during the day and for transportation from our partner hotels to the Clarion in the evening.
• Remember to take in the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park while you’re there! The KHP boasts the International Museum of the Horse and the fantastic breeds barn, which are included in your 3-day ticket!
• Relax! Don’t forget to enjoy your vacation!

But before you can enjoy all of that, you actually need to get IN to BreyerFest. Guests arriving at BreyerFest will be parking in either the Main Parking Lot or the Alltech Arena Parking lot.  We recommend purchasing your parking passes in advance for some savings and speedy entry into the park. 

From the Main Parking Lot, head towards the BreyerFest Main Entrance/Ticket Booth (between the American Saddlebred Museum and the KHP Visitor Information Center entrance) for General Admission, to purchase tickets, or to pick up a Will Call packet.

There are FOUR lines to get into BreyerFest, so don’t just hop onto the first one you see.  As you are walking towards the entrance to BreyerFest, the two lines that go to the LEFT of the entry are for the Breyer Store and that year’s pop-up Souvenir Shops, and the two lines that go to the RIGHT of the entry are for people who either need to purchase or pick up tickets, or who have tickets and just want to enter the event without going to either store first thing.  The lines to the RIGHT are where you need to go if you have a 10 am (or 9 am on Sunday) Special Run line ticket time and want to head right for the Special Run tent.

If you want to be one of the first to shop in the Breyer Store for this year’s Store Specials, head to the BREYER STORE line – look for signs along the roadway in front of the KHP entrance to the Visitor Information Center that say BREYER STORE. This line is the yellow line on the map below.  If you want to be among the first to shop in this year’s pop-up Souvenir Shops (event merchandise, Limited Edition event-themed models, etc), look for the themed event signage along the same roadway.  This line is the red line on the map below.

Those in line for the Breyer Store or the Souvenir Shops will receive a number (1-300 for each line) before gates open each morning. Only people in your group who want to shop need a number, but you must have a number if you want to shop.  For example, if you and a friend both want to purchase models, you’ll both need a number if you want to shop.  If you are accompanying a minor and only intent to purchase one of each special item, you only need one number. 

The Yellow Line on the map is for the Breyer Store and the Red Line on the map is for the pop-up Souvenir Shops.

All special items in these two stores are limited to one per customer.  When the numbers are distributed, everyone in your group who wants to shop must be present.  Breyer staff are not permitted to distribute multiple numbers to people – no exceptions.  As well, you must go to the store for which your number corresponds – there are two different pop-up Souvenir Shops and one shop’s number does not work at the other store.  Please make sure you know which store you are shopping in. These numbers ensure that guests will be able to shop in the order in which they lined up outside the gate. Please be sure to head to the Store or the Souvenir Shop FIRST as numbers will be taken in order. If you miss your number, you will have to go to the end of the line (which can be very long).

If you need to purchase tickets, head towards the PURCHASE TICKETS line - this line is to the RIGHT of the entry, along the sidewalk in front of the American Saddlebred Museum.  This line is the green line on the map below.  Ticket windows will open at 9am on Friday and Saturday and at 8:30 am on Sunday.

If you have your tickets already, or after you pick them up at Will Call, head towards the GENERAL ADMISSION line – this line is the blue line on the map below. 

WILL CALL – if your tickets are waiting for you at Will Call, there is a Breyer-branded canopy tent outside of the ticket booth where you can pick your tickets up before the gates open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings.  Alternately, you can pick your tickets up at the BreyerFest ticket booth on Thursday between 2 and 4 pm.

The Green Line on the map is for guests who need to purchase tickets.  The Blue Line on the map is for General Admission to the event for ticket holders only.

We hope this clears things up a bit!  We know it’s confusing for a first-timer, so we wanted to be sure we explained very clearly and included a map so you can orient yourself before you arrive.

If you arrive later in the morning and are directed to park up at the Alltech Arena, hop on a shuttle bus marked TICKET BOOTH – ALLTECH ARENA to get to the Ticket Booth in the Main Parking Lot to purchase or pick up Will Call tickets.  By the time the bus drops you off at the ticket booth, there won’t be any line and it will have saved you a ton of walking through the park from your car!