Breyerfest Tips

Breyerfest is an amazing adventure for those that get to go, from the very young to the ones that are not interested in horses at all! There is usually something for everyone there and there is more than you can see in one weekend.  This post will be all about Breyerfest and not the surrounding area at Lexington since I know that we cannot even cover the entire area in one weekend at all!  These tips have been taken from the members of the Road To Breyerfest Facebook group and range from newbies to the hardcore Breyerfest warriors! I hope that this helps you in your Breyerfest journey!

*Make sure that you drink plenty of water.  Kentucky in July is hot and humid and you might get dehydrated faster than you realize.  Some members, including myself, prefer to take refillable bottles since there are water fountains to fill them up at or even the bathroom sinks, if you are that hardcore.  Drinks are expensive at the venue, however, there is usually a lemonade vendor that sells a large cup that offers half off of refills for the life of the cup. 

* Relax and know that you will not be able to take in everything in a single weekend.  Some of the best advice from Breyerfest warriors is to step outside of your comfort zone and talk to people.  You might meet a new friend, find a new model that you have been looking for, or even learn something new about the hobby that you might not have never known.  Talk to those in the line around you, hobby people are quite amazing in how friendly they are!  Even the newbies that have been dragged there by horse loving children have something to say! Make sure to take the time to relax while there, check out the museums and take in the air conditioning, if you need to.  If you need to, go pet a horse and maybe chat with their owner about them.  Horse people love to talk about their horses and horses in general and most are ready and wanting to learn about the model horse hobby!

*Don't stand in lines.  This is a big one that I have been preaching since my first year going and I have seen so many people saying it as well.  The only line that you are really required to stand in is the Special Run line.  Make sure to pick up your celebration horse and the stablemates when the lines are less and you might even be able to chat with the people that work for Breyer.  I have learned so much about them and well, I have had fun talking about the hobby with them as well!

*Take a stroll around the park, if the crowd gets to you!  Yes, the Covered Arena and the Big Barn will be crawling with activity, but the rest of the park might be quiet if you need an escape from the bustle of people.  If people watching is your thing, make sure to take a seat in the shade and relax where it is not so hot. 

*Be patient. It might not seem like this should be on the list, but I believe that it deserves a place.  For the last few years, I have had vehicle issues at the event and I know that some times I get stressed out and want to snap at people.  This might be happening to many others and the best thing to do is smile at at least one person a day during Breyerfest.  That smile might make their day and you might never know.  If you find some people getting cranky in line, perhaps they are not used to the heat or the lines might cause social anxiety.  There are a ton of reasons and I cannot possible list them all, so my best advice is to be patient and to be as friendly as possible.

*When going to the Clarion, take a small notebook and make notes of the rooms that you want to go back to or which room sold which model.  I know from personal experience that I have overlooked a model and was told it was in a certain room.  The Clarion is a maze and by the time that I made it there, I lost out on a purchase that I wanted.  But for me, buying a model is not always the best part of Breyerfest.  The best part of Breyerfest for me is meeting my friends and making new ones!

*Make sure to check out the Road To Breyerfest Facebook group for more helpful hints in the files and on the wall as we share this quite often before Breyerfest.