About 1,200 people turned out for the annual Hillsboro Horse Show and Fall Festival held Oct. 12 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, said Kelly Fortel, Hillsboro Community Civic Club treasurer and fall festival co-chairperson.
“We had a great turnout,” she said. “(Turnout) was very close to what we had in the past. It looks like everyone enjoyed themselves.”
She said organizers decided to hold the festival later in the year this time, thinking temperatures would be a little cooler.
“The weather got a little warmer than what we hoped for,” she said, adding the temperature was near 90.
Fortel said despite the warmer weather, it was a beautiful day and everything went great.
The horse show that included 29 classes went off with no hitches, she said.
Doug Goforth, fall festival co-chairperson, said more than 100 horses participated, including some seniors and some children as young as 2 years old.
“It’s just kind of a fun show – something for all ages, accommodating many types of horses,” he said.
This year, organizers added two more food vendors because in the past the fried chicken dinner, made by Savannah’s Restaurant & Bar in Cedar Hill, sold out, Fortel said.
A wide variety of activities were held, including live music on the Arnold Ready Mix Patio.
Fortel said the kids really loved playing in the corn bins and the pumpkin patch and taking part in pumpkin bowling.
“FFA brought in goats and critters,” Fortel said. “Kids had a blast petting the goats and sheep. They also had rabbits and chicks.”
Other activities included a cornhole tournament, pony rides, fall maze, silent auction, drawings, and firetruck and antique tractor displays.
See pictures taken during the event:
