The Budweiser Clydesdales will be making several stops across north Mississippi for the holiday season.
The eight horses and their famous red beer wagon will parade through downtown Starkville from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7. Along their route, they will deliver a case of Budweiser to bars and restaurants on Main Street. Attendees can see them set up at Fire Station Park starting at 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, Dec. 8, the “Gentle Giants” will participate in the Reed’s 75th Anniversary Tupelo Christmas Parade beginning at 6 p.m. Two days later, they will also appear in downtown Columbus from 6-7 p.m.
The Clydesdales’ appearance in Starkville, Tupelo, and Columbus are part of an annual tour that includes hundreds of stops across the U.S. The last time they were in Mississippi was in April during a visit to Ocean Springs.
Facts about the Budweiser Clydesdales
- Budweiser Clydesdales stand approximately 18 hands, or six feet, at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail.
- A gentle personality is also important as the horses meet millions of people each year.
- A single Clydesdale horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay, and 30 gallons of water a day.
- Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian. In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.
- The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed year-round at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and Grant’s Farm in St. Louis, Mo. They can also be viewed at Warm Springs Ranch near Boonville, Mo.
