The 24th annual Augusta Futurity cutting competition is the focal point of Augusta Futurity Festival Week, a nine-day series of events and activities for the whole family. This year's events, slated to begin Friday, January 24, in Augusta, Georgia, include a newly named and expanded Horse and Carriage Parade, Wrangler® Family Fun Night, the Futurity Dance, a professional bull riding competition, the Horse Sale and an array of vendors specializing in Western wear and gear.
The week of family-oriented events includes the following, listed in chronological order:
• 2003 USC-Aiken Baseball Extra Inning Bull Riding: The USC-Aiken Baseball Team, in conjunction with the Augusta Futurity, presents world championship bull riding. The competition is sanctioned by the Southeastern Bull Riding Association and will feature:
• Top 40 bull riders in the Southeast
• Tim "Wild Thang" Lepard, a rodeo clown
• International Pro Rodeo Association bulls
When: Friday, Jan. 24, 8 p.m.
Where: Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center
Tickets: $12 adults, $7 children 12 and under, available at the Civic Center box office and by calling 706-828-7700. Proceeds will benefit the University of South Carolina-Aiken Baseball Scholarship Fund.
Contact: Kenny Thomas, USC-Aiken baseball coach, 803-641-3410
• Wrangler® Family Fun Night: This afternoon/evening event, sponsored by Wrangler® and The Augusta Chronicle, will offer families of all ages a variety of activities, music and dancing, and will feature:
• Photos with Maverick, a Texas longhorn, or Bumpkin, a miniature palomino
• Entertainment by Ben & Keeters puppets
• Cattle-roping demonstrations by G.B. Blume and David Rosier
• Little Cowboy and Cowgirl Contest
• Western attire welcome
• Admission to same-night cutting competition included
When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 3-7 p.m.
Where: The Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center (in front of the box office atop the plaza stairs)
Tickets: $10 per family, available at the Civic Center box office.
Ticket cost will include same-night admission to the cutting horse competition after Family Fun Night.
Contact: Denise Parrish, event organizer, 706-823-3443
• Horse and Carriage Parade: The annual equestrian parade, which has launched the Augusta cutting competition since 1991, has a new name, a new route and an expanded list of participants. The 2003 Horse and Carriage Parade is expected to be the largest parade of horse-drawn vehicles and mounted riders in the Southeast. Parade goers will enjoy a unique assembly of riders and vehicles featuring:
• The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales
• Historically significant stagecoaches, carriages and wagons
• English- and Western-mounted riders
• Riding clubs
• Audio commentary located at the Augusta Commons, the Municipal Parking Garage and the reviewing stand at the Civic Center
• Proceeds will benefit therapeutic riding organizations.
When: Sunday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m.
Where: Historic Downtown Augusta: The parade will begin at the Fifth Street overpass on Broad Street. It will proceed up Broad to 12th Street, where it will make a U-turn. It will proceed back down Broad to Seventh Street, turn right on Seventh and continue to the Civic Center reviewing stand, where it ends. (See enclosed map.)
Special Offer: The Clydesdales also will be available for the public to view before the parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fourth Street entrance of the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds.
Free tickets to Sunday's Augusta Futurity competition will be available at the viewing.
Contact: Dennis Kelly, parade manager, 706-828-4388
• Futurity Dance: The annual dance is a night of Western entertainment open to show goers and the general public. This year's event will feature:
• Music by local band Shiloh
• Cash bar
• Country dancing
• Western attire welcome
When: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m.-midnight
Where: Julian Smith Casino, 1200 Broad St.
Tickets: $5 in advance; $10 at the door. Available at the Augusta Futurity Booth inside the Civic Center and The Augusta Chronicle cashier's office, 725 Broad St. For more information, call (803) 278-4TIX.
Contact: Elizabeth Norris, media chairman, 706-279-8017
• Futurity Horse Sale: More than 65 cutting-bred horses will be available for purchase at the annual Augusta Futurity Festival auction. The event is open to the public and will feature:
• Quality horses
• Live auctioneer
• Major credit cards accepted
When: Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.
Where: Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center
Augusta, Georgia
Contact: Noell Inman, Augusta Futurity office, 706-823-3362
• Western Expo Vendors: A wide array of commercial exhibitors will offer a variety of quality, unique equestrian art, clothing, jewelry and tack.
Where: Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center and Bell Auditorium
When: Civic Center vendors: Jan. 24-Feb. 1
Bell Auditorium vendors: Jan. 29-Feb. 1
Admission: Civic Center vendors: Free to Augusta Futurity ticket holders
Bell Auditorium vendors: Open to the public
Contact: Noell Inman, Augusta Futurity office, 706-823-3362
The Augusta Futurity is one of the premier cutting horse events in the country. It runs for nine days, includes two weekends and has more than 600 entries. It features the finest cutting horses and riders in the United States and Canada and attracts competitors from several foreign countries as well. Visit www.augustafuturity.com for more information.
