Bystanders in downtown Shippensburg saw an unusual sight Wednesday as an eight-horse team of the Budweiser Clydesdales paraded through town.
The Clydesdales traveled through Central Pennsylvania from Sept. 5–10, visiting areas of Lebanon, Dauphin and Franklin counties. These visits were a part of the more than 300 that are completed by Budweiser’s three hitch teams each year, according to Penn Live.
After arriving in Shippensburg, the Clydesdales held a staging event on Orange Street at 3 p.m. between Shippensburg Beverage Center and the Cumberland Count District Justice buildings.
The parade began with the Clydesdales parading toward South Fayette Street, with a stop for photos at the traffic light outside Arooga’s at 4 p.m. Then, the hitch moved down King and Queen streets while stopping in front of Knute’s Pub and Grill, University Grille and Sheetz. The Clydesdales continued its parade all the way to Earl Street, where they stopped for photos outside of Hub City Club.
Following the parade, the Clydesdales were on display behind Hub City Club until 6 p.m. A pub crawl finished the Clydesdales’ visit.
During their final staging event of the day, dozens of members of the Shippensburg community crowded in behind Hub City Club to catch a glimpse of the horses. Each horse wore the signature saddle and bridle of the Budweiser Clydesdales.
At the far end of the parking lot, volunteers of Shippensburg’s Cumberland Valley Hose Co. hoisted a huge American flag over the gathered crowd.
A team of the Clydesdales previously visited central Pennsylvania in June, spending several days in York County, according to Public Opinion.
Last year, the Clydesdales appeared at the America’s 911 and Military Tribute Bike and Car Show at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center in August 2016.
“Every year, we get a week allocated to us,” Wilsbach Distributors Marketing Director Crystal Hartz said in a Wilsbach press release. “We share the love every time we get them.”
Throughout the remainder of last week, this team of Clydesdales visited Mount Joy, Grantville and Lancaster to complete their tour of the central Pennsylvania area.
People who are over the age of 21 may track where each team of Clydesdales are visiting next on Budweiser’s official website.
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