Winter Equestrian Festival Saturday night is the most popular night of the week at WEF.
What To Do At WEF’s Saturday Night Lights Every Saturday evening during the Winter Equestrian Festival, the stadium lights come on, the crowds come out and the jumps get bigger for the featured event of the week, Saturday Night Lights. Saturday Night Lights competitions begin at 7 p.m., but the gates of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center open at 6 p.m., with a multitude of activities for the whole family to enjoy before the first rider enters the ring. Some of the PBIEC staple activities include free rides on the Venetian carousel, a petting zoo, face painting and live music throughout the night. Occasionally, there are ponies on the grounds, some offering pony rides and others offering adorable photo opportunities with the kids.
There are also a variety of performers in attendance, ranging from jugglers to men on stilts to the beloved bubble man. A number of vendors keep their shops open for browsing during the evening, located around the International Ring. While exploring, spectators glancing into the ring and warm-up areas will be able to catch a glimpse of the riders walking the course, where they can evaluate the jumps and create their plan for the evening prior to mounting their horses. After all the activities, everyone in the family is sure to be able to find some-
thing to eat with the large variety of dining options available. There are many food trucks on site, serving everything from pizza to popcorn to tacos. For those looking for a formal dining experience, White Horse Fashion Cuisine is open, and there are a number of VIP options available. VIP seating options include the Tiki Hut, the Gallery, Beachside, the International Club, the Wellington Club and Central Park. When the trumpet sounds at 7 p.m., the first rider gallops into the arena underneath the iconic bridge to begin the competition. Saturday Night Lights features a Grand Prix competition, in which riders compete over jumps ranging in height from 1.50 to 1.60 meters, and the width can be up to 2.20 meters. The comwellington the magazine | february 2018
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