Breyer Horse - BreyerFest

BreyerFest

BreyerFest was first held in 1990, and from then on it has been held annually in July at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. This is a three-day festival for model horse fanatics. During this three day period, attendees can buy models, sell their own, or trade with others, purchase specially-run Breyer models sold only at this particular event, and participate in huge model horse shows. There are also classes that teach how to paint, customize, and repair models, and lectures on collecting and judging models. Special guests of honor, usually renowned trainers and famous horses, are also present and perform for the attendees, and each year at least one real horse upon which a model has been based on is in attendance so that Breyer fans can see the inspiration behind the model. There are tours of Lexington horse farms and racetracks, a huge nightly Breyer trade fair among all the open rooms up and down the halls of the main hotel, and one huge official "swap-meet" in the ballroom. At the Breyer facility, silent auctions for special edition models are held. Bids can go up to at least $1,000 per model and often much more. There is also a 'Celebration Horse' every year, which is usually a famous horse that a model is made after. The model is included in the purchase price of a 3-day ticket. Each of the festivals has a different theme: Breyerfest 2009 was called 'Birthday Bash' (as it was Breyerfest's 20th anniversary), Breyerfest 2010 was called 'Lights, Camera, Action!', as it was based on movies as a theme, and Breyerfest 2011's theme was Fairy-tales. The 2012 theme was British Invasion. It was based on the 2012 London Olympic Games.