Ticket Information for BreyerFest 2021

  While we do NOT know the prices just yet, Breyer has released a new ticketing tier that will work great for a virtual event. The first tier is the 3 Day All Access VIP Ticket. This ticket will allow you to get the Celebration Horse Model, the Stablemates model, Access to purchase the Special Run Models (These models cost extra) and access to purchase the Limited Edition Models (These are the Store Special Portrait models and the Pop Up Store models). The next ticket option is the 3 Day All Access ticket. This option will allow you to get the Celebration Horse, access to purchase the Special Run Models, and access to purchase the Limited Edition models. It does NOT allow you to receive the Stablemates model. And the last ticket option is the 3 Day General Admission. This ticketing option allows you to get the Stablemates model and access to purchase the Limited Edition Models. It does NOT get you the Celebration Model or access to purchase the Special Run Models.

Meet the BreyerFest 2021 Celebration Horse!

 

Danash's Northern Tempest

 Appaloosa-Friesian cross owned by Laura Reece

Here is the write up from the BreyerFest Blog on the Breyer website about this amazing horse: (Link provided at the end) This year’s BreyerFest is all about color, art, community, and fun because sometimes you just have to break from tradition.  In the hunter ring, Appaloosa-Friesian cross Danash’s Northern Tempest & owner Laura Reece have no problem doing just that, making this accomplished equine cause for celebration! First drawn to her striking leopard Appaloosa markings, Laura purchased “Dani” as an unfinished 4-year old. It’s unusual for an amateur to purchase an unfinished horse, but Dani's easygoing demeanor and beautiful movement made for a natural pairing. Dani and Laura were the Circuit Champions in Rusty Stirrup for ESP’s 2019-2020 Holiday Series, and trainer Ashley Glica has also shown her in the USHJA 3' division, Green Hunter 3', and Derby. "Every time we school or compete, we both learn something new.  We are continually being challenged, and that’s what makes our bond so rewarding.” That refreshing perspective is part of this pair's appeal, and from Dani's Instagram following to the duo gracing the cover of Wellington the Magazine, it's obvious others see it too! Breyer is thrilled to honor Dani as the Celebration Horse for BreyerFest: Horse of a Different Color and more information on how you’ll be able to add this cutie to your herd will be released soon! Breyer's Celebration Horse Release Information

 

BreyerFest 2021: What We Know So Far

 The information for BreyerFest 2021: Horse of a Different Color is finally starting to be released and I don't know about you, but this is going to be one amazing year!  However, many things are changing this year so I am going to start this by saying to throw out all of the information that you have ever learned about BreyerFest.  Or rather, at least put it off for another year.  Breyer announced on Monday, January 4th, that BreyerFest 2021 would be another virtual event.  And with that announcement, we were told that there would be many changes coming, including new ticket tiers and options.  They said that the new information as well as all the rest of the information about this BreyerFest would be made available over the next 7 to 10 days.  Well, you can bet that I was at a loss for words! All of my information was now out of date and what was I to do?! Well, I will keep on trucking as I always do!  So here is what we know about BreyerFest 2021 so far:

*It is a virtual event.

*It takes place on July 16, 17, and 18, starting at 10 am EDT on Friday and ending on Sunday at 4 PM EDT. 

*There are now three ticket types:  3 Day All Access VIP, 3 Day All Access, and Three Day General Admission.  The total breakdown of these ticket tiers will be a separate post. Prices have NOT been released as of the posting of this.

*Breyer is upping the number of Special Runs and Limited Edition Models.  We do NOT know what this means specifically yet, but I am sure that we will find out soon.  

* There will be an enhanced shopping experience (we do not know what this means yet), hours of entertainment, workshops, model horse shows, a streamlined ticketing process, fun contests, and tons of beautiful models.  This information comes straight from the blog.

*This will be the largest collection of Exclusive Models to date and reveals will start earlier than ever. 

And so much more.

So what do we not know yet?  Well, we do not know the prices of the tickets yet.  We do not have the information on if there will be raffle models. There likely will not be an Early Bird Raffle model, but will something replace it? We know a little bit about how the shopping aspect will work, but not enough to go in depth with it right now so I am not adding that here.  There are definitely a lot of questions that I cannot answer yet since my information is outdated, however rest assured that I will get the information here and broken down completely for my Roadies! 

What Now? Virtual or Not?

 BreyerFest 2021 is still months away, but there are plenty that are planning for the event now.  But sadly, right now, everything is still so very much up in the air that I cannot even begin to fathom what might happen between now and next year.  BreyerFest 2021 could very much be fully virtual once again. 

 At the end of BreyerFest 2020, the CEO of Reeves Intl. said that there would be a virtual component to BreyerFest from now on, however we do not know what this means nor do we know just how much will be available.  That sounds amazing and all, however many eyes are turning towards 2021 and the hopes of an in person event to clear the air from 2020.  But in recent months, we have been seeing an upswing of Covid-19 cases and large events for 2021 are now starting to cancel their in person events.  What does that mean for BreyerFest 2021?

No one knows yet is the answer sadly.  With the release of the new vaccines, things could start getting better in the world, however there are so many unknowns right now in the world that I have a firm belief that Breyer might be doing a wait and see approach.  Of course, in light of what happened with the announcement of the Celebration Horse, I would not be surprised if Breyer said that they would not be doing BreyerFest and only offering sales that weekend.  But I am nothing more than a blogger so do not take my word for it at all! BreyerFest 2021 could very well be fully virtual again and while that seems to make so many people angry, I believe that it might be for the best.  

 Talking about another fully virtual BreyerFest, we have to also talk about the drama that ensued about it.  Many people went into the event with an already downcast expression so their experience was not as nice as others who went into the event with a well, let's try attitude.  This is all what I think based on what I have seen in many online Model Horse Communities.  The complaints ranged anywhere from being cart swiped to well, it just was not the same.  I am going to use this post to break it down some to maybe make the virtual event a bit better for everyone, if indeed there is another virtual event.  

The Cart Swiping: First, let me just say that every release was less than 25 of each model.  It would be like buying a unicorn unless you were in the right spot at the right time. I spent all of Friday figuring out the timing of the releases and how many would be released.  I did not confirm this information with Breyer until the next day so I was telling everyone what I thought.  Models were released every two hours from 9 AM EDT to 6 PM EDT.  There was some trial and error in the timing due to glitches and such, but for the most part of the weekend, that is what it turned out to be.  Carts seemed to be swiped when one went to purchase the models, but in reality, you needed to actually pay for that model to confirm that you purchased it.  The software for the buying system is used in almost every shopping type of website so it is very advanced, however this is something that happens during other events and on other websites.  It was bound to happen, but it generated a lot of complaints. Will this be "fixed" for next year, if there is a virtual event? I am not even sure if they could fix it, if they wanted to.  Remember that Breyer is still very much a small business when compared to other companies and while we see them as a big company, they simple are not in that category. 

The Special Runs:  The Special Run system was well thought out in the beginning. Choosing the models in the order that you would like them seemed ingenious.  However, there were many that thought that this was for inventory purposes or that these models were locked in place for you to purchase.  I know that I tried to explain it often, but it was confusing even for me in the beginning.  Even if you did not fill out your preference list, you would still be able to get your Special Run models, but they would be completely Gambler's Choice (random pick) when they showed up for your ticket time.  At the event, there were tons of glitches for the Special Runs and they did oversell their limits. Breyer did their best to try and sort this out, but I am certain that there were still people that were upset.  Glitches ranged from two of the same model appearing, more than two models appearing, the option to buy more than one, and more. While I had tickets during the glitch times, I was not affected by them other than I was given the same two options for both of my tickets so I have duplicates of Oak and the mare and foal. 

The Store Specials:  The Store Specials had their own issues with the whole purchasing issues.  Due to so many complaints, Breyer offered event attendees the option to purchase glossed Store Specials that would NOT be limited, however they were only one per person. These models would ship in December and still cost the same as the Store Specials. Breyer absolutely did not have to do this at all, but it was a nice way to appease the complaints and show that they were listening to their clients.  These glossy models absolutely did not have to happen because Breyer has never said that you were guaranteed any model during BreyerFest other than your Celebration Horse or Single Day Stablemates and those even say while supplies last. If you do not believe this information about the models, please make sure to read the fine print while you are purchasing your BreyerFest tickets. 

So this has been all of my own information, nothing has been set in stone by Breyer yet and I am in the same boat as everyone else that I need to wait to see what happens with the world today and BreyerFest.  I hope this all makes a bit more sense and the next couple posts will be about something different. 

Breyer Club Information

 

Just what is the Collector Club? What does the Stablemate Club do?

 

Breyer has several “clubs” that Breyer follows can join and they all offer something different. However, in order to join several of them, you need to first be a part of the Collector’s Club. The Collector’s Club does cost, usually around $25 per year, and you are absolutely not required to buy anything at all, if you do not wish to. However, as a member of the Collector Club, you get a discount for regular run items all year long with a special code, the option to buy a spring and a fall Club horse, the option to purchase one Freedom series horse per year, the option to enter into several lotteries in order to purchase rare and limited edition models at various times of the year, a discount on BreyerFest Adult and Child Three Day Tickets, and the ability to enter the other three clubs that Breyer offers. Prices for 2021 down below.

 

The Premiere Club showcases the artistry of Breyer and celebrates new releases. With three releases a year, these models are newly made and you will be the first to receive them before they are made into a Special Run for BreyerFest or a Regular Run. This club opens up for new membership in December. There is a deposit that you pay when you join the club and a portion of that deposit is taken off of the amount of each release during the year. 

 

The Vintage Club celebrates the older colorways of the horses, sometimes on new models. These models are normally not released anywhere else and can be hard to find second hand. This club also opens up in December, however many members do not leave this limited club so you will be placed on a waiting list if you are wanting to join this club and are not already a member. There is a deposit to join this club that is the same as the Premiere Club. 

 

The Stablemate Club also celebrates the artistry of Breyer, but in miniature scale! There are six releases per year and have a new mold released every December. This club opens up in December for new members and has a $35 deposit when you sign up. This deposit goes towards the models that are released every other month during the year. This is the club that offers more models per year. There are added bonuses sometimes and there is a new sculpt released every year. 

 

The FairyTale Friends Club was a club offered in 2019-2020 that released six Stablemate unicorns and their unicorn Mini Whinnie companions for $25.00. It seems that this club is no longer offered, however we will update when we find out more information. The models from this club are now available via open access on Breyer’s website and it appears that it will no longer be an option until further notice. 

 

Each Club has their own cost to join, but that cost is a deposit on purchasing the models. You absolutely must purchase each model once you are in the club or you will forfeit the rest of the models that would be offered to you.

 

Collector Club and the Deluxe Collector Club Benefits and costs:

Deluxe Collector Club Cost: $65 for new membership and $55 for renewal. Renewal period ends on March 1 2021. 

 Collector Club Cost: $35 for new membership and $25 for renewal.

International Deluxe Club Cost: $70 for new membership and $60 for renewal.

 

Deluxe Club members get an exclusive Stablemate model at the end of the year. All club members can enjoy special discounts, special lottery type purchases (These are the models that you enter in order to purchase), access to two special Collector Club releases per year, and the Just About Horses magazine, and more! Other than the Stablemate, there is no difference between the Deluxe Collector Club and the Collector Club.

 

What is the difference between the Deluxe Collector Club and the Collector Club? This is a question that comes up a lot since the Deluxe Collector Club was released for 2020 and the answer is rather simple. The Deluxe Collector Club receives a special Stablemate at the end of the year. The technical cost for the Stablemate is $30 and that is the difference between the prices of the clubs. For 2020, the Stablemate was the new Fighting Stallion Stablemate in Palomino that is a throwback to Prince, the Fighting Stallion.

2020 and 2021 Collector Club Discount Code: This is good for a 10% discount on the Regular Run Items.

2020: CLUBPLUS20

2021: CLUBPLUS21

Changes To RTB In Light Of Recent Events

 The last few days have shown to me that tensions are undoubtedly high. Everyone has their opinions and on a personal level, I respect them all.  However, I have to make a stand myself for my group, for the company that I very vocally fan girl over, and for a part of the equine industry that I am involved in.  Please read this all before you make a decision as I have always asked people to make informed decisions. 

The choice of Celebration Horse was a Halter Horse.  I have been in the Stock Horse Industry for 27 years and proudly admit that. The horse, while he had some conformational flaws, was a nice example of a very loud and colorful horse.  Make sure to read that last sentence carefully. He was loudly colored and was a prime example of the BreyerFest 2021 Celebration, Horse of a Different Color.  He certainly was that.  However, people that are not in the Stock Horse Industry decided to make a judgement call that they did not have the right to make.  They called into question his HYPP Status. For stock people, that is exceptionally important. Horses that are positive for HYPP cannot be registered as a breeding horse in AQHA.  Horses that have Carrier Status are allowed to breed, but responsible breeders will check the status of the mare, if the carrier is a stallion.  HYPP needs two copies to pass on. Intuit was HYPP NN. The website that was used to check his status is the Wikipedia of the Horse Industry and can be changed on a whim. He does however have PSSM1, which is a genetic disease in multiple horse breeds. Breyer chose for color, but members protested due to claims they did not research.  But my feelings and personal words will not be brought into this group and blog, so please do not ask.

Politics and Religion was also brought into the fight. The owner was a Republican and he was a Christian.  He did not support the LGBTQ+ members. But no one asked him personally.  However, in my humble opinion, that does not matter. Those things do not matter to a horse. They do not matter to a hobby. Hobbies, especially here in RTB, will always be a safe place for everyone and I mean everyone. Anything otherwise, especially in our FB group, will result in harsh re-education on tact and etiquette. Hate mail and death threats were all sent to the owner as well as people swearing that they would kill the horses on his property and much more.  While not all of this came from the model horse community, it sure did not make the hobby look like an ideal place to showcase any horse.

That all being said, I stand with Breyer. I am and will likely be for some time, their biggest Fan Girl. I would not be surprised if they chose to cancel BreyerFest 2021, especially since they do not have a Celebration Horse now.  Of course, things can and will change in less than a day and I can't wait to see what the future holds. 

In my FB group and here, I absolutely do NOT allow Politics, Religion, Harassment, Bullying, Real Horse Breeding Practices, Real Horse Genetic Diseases, The Pandemic, and topics associated with them. The consequences for breaking this rule is harsh, believe me, because I am tired of the hate in the model horse hobby and I am tired of the hobby being absolutely ridiculed. 

Make sure to use common sense before you post a comment. Will your thought hurt someone else? In a time when everyone preaches inclusiveness and equality, is what you are about to say taking into account everything surrounding the situation? Will you be able to start a change and stick with it? Will you be able to find out where you need to start the change? You cannot start a protest and leave because you did not get your way immediately. You absolutely must start in the proper channels to voice change and sadly, the model horse hobby is not it, especially not at this time. Think before you act and you will have supporters behind you that you would never believe! 

Another side note is that all of our BreyerFest information and help will now be located on the FB group. I did not want to have to say that, however there are a few groups that are doing what we do now. While I wholeheartedly support everyone in all of their endeavors,  I ask that my hard work not be plagiarized. I do not mean the blog posts from Breyer, I mean the behind the scenes information that I have provided over the years. I am sorry for the drama on that end, but it did need to be said. 

I am sorry for this absolute depressing post and I hope that you will continue to stick with Road To BreyerFest for all of your BreyerFest information.

BreyerFest 2021 Information

 The celebration horse was announced and then redacted by Breyer and the owners. That is the official information, but here at RTB, we are known for reporting and verifying all of the rumors so that the information that you have is correct.  So today, we will share with you what Breyer has said about the whole ordeal. 

This is what Breyer has to say:

There’s a first time for everything!  We know that we are all operating in uncharted waters here. It’s been a tough year and the anxiety that we are all living with is beyond anything that we might have ever anticipated. We are extremely disappointed that the posts related to our BreyerFest Celebration Horse, Intuit, included personal attacks and misinformation to such an extent that, for the first time in our history, we've removed the entire post.

We appreciate our fans communicating their thoughts with us, and we thank those who expressed their opinions with civility. However, we will not tolerate personal attacks, politicization, broad characterizations and sweeping vitriol. 

We are all passionate for the horse industry. Finding places to learn about horses and interact with them is becoming more difficult in many parts of the country, and it is our goal to help make that first introduction to horses - that is our vision! We seek to connect people with this magnificent animal, especially children, and celebrate the wonderful breeds and disciplines found in the horse world. We're appreciative of all the generous horse owners, riders and trainers that come to BreyerFest to share their love of horses with fans from all over the world. Where we have difference, there can be meaningful dialogue and discussion in a respectful manner.

In a statement from the Bradshaws, “It is with a very sad heart we relay the news that we have elected to withdraw Intuit as the 2021 Celebration Horse for BreyerFest. This has been a difficult decision on our end as we were honored to have this opportunity for Intuit and be a part of something greater. We want to thank Breyer Model Horses and Reeves International, Inc. for supporting and appreciating Intuit as we do. We know this was never the intent or foreseen outcome.

Unfortunately, due to the negative comments surrounding Intuit as the Celebration Horse, we feel as though this is the best decision. We fully understand and respect the fact that each individual has the freedom to their own opinion and personal view on each discipline, but it is our duty to be the advocate or voice for Intuit, who did not ask for this attention. We wholeheartedly love our horse and because of this we only want the most positive life for him.”

Breyer embraces the horse world in all its diversity and wonder. We have a genuine desire to encourage and include people to share their love of horses. That’s what Breyer stands for. And we hope you’ll stand with us.  

The complete article, copied here on this blog, can be found here  

No matter your feelings about a breed of horse, the breeding practices of the said breed, to genetic diseases of said breed, there is never and will never be a call to make threats against a person, their family, and the horse. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and with the right channels, their opinions can be heard in a tactful and respectable manner. Change may start with one small voice, however you absolutely must start it at the correct channels and the proper way.  What was done in the span of 48 hours was absolutely not the way to advocate change and RTB stands with Breyer. I ask that you please respect others surrounding you and think before you comment on any and all posts, especially if you want change in any area of your life. 

Thank you, 

  Rachel 

BreyerFest 2021 Horse of a Different Color!

 Welcome to October 2020 and the very first post about BreyerFest 2021! I don't know if you are as excited as I am about the possibilities of this BreyerFest, but I hope that you are! 

In Breyer's post, which can be found  here  , they talk about all of the colors that we will see during BreyerFest 2021.  From Appaloosas to Paints to Brindles and so much more! The Celebration Horse will be released soon and I know that we are all super excited about it! 

What do you expect to see at BreyerFest 2021? What color of horse makes you sigh with happiness?

 

 

0 Links

Things Are Happening!

 This is normally a lazy time for Road To BreyerFest, however this year things are still chugging along and the Facebook Group is still going strong with almost daily updates of what is happening.  However, I have decided to update the blog since some people read it as well.  

First update: RTB now has a Ko-Fi account where you can donate towards the group and running of it.  However, this is only if you wish to do so.  I will never ask for anyone to donate as I strive to keep all of the information free to everyone that is interested.  RTB is quite like a job for me as I do not just do this for one weekend a year for eight hours, but rather I do this all year long and do much more than just to supply information. If you do not wish to donate, please do not berate me for trying to better RTB as I have been berated recently. The link for the Ko-fi is: Here 

You can also just use paypal, if you are not set up for Ko-fi: Here

Second update is that I now have a merch shop.  While the merchandise is not amazing and it is just two designs right now, I am hoping to have much more in the future. Through Redbubble, I am now able to offer stickers, magnets, and much more.  I would love for you to purchase something, but as with the donations, you absolutely do not need to do this and please do not feel pressured to do so. The Merch Shop is Here

Another thing that I am doing is looking for some new artwork to use for the logos, the merch, and the giveaway swag. This is a paid thing, so you will get paid for your time and the items will be sold or used to better RTB in some way, so know that it will be used for those purposes.  The artwork must include one of the mascots or all of the mascots in some way.  Please do not use the whole name Road To BreyerFest as we do not want any kind of copyright infringement, but feel free to use RTB, if you wish to label it.  If you are interested in participating, please message roadtobreyerfest@gmail.com with your fees, samples of your artwork, and if you are alright with me selling the design as stickers and magnets. 

The first bit of swag is here and will be revealed with weekend along with a peek into what will be available for live in person giveaways when they become a thing again.  I like to think on the positive side of things so I am praying that everything will slowly start back to normal soon so that we can all meet together again soon for in person events.  I hope that you are excited as I am about these reveals!

Now, for the fun part, everyone wants to know exactly who the mascots are for RTB. Aria is already in the logo and is a snarky little palomino pinto Breyer Stablemate.  But there are three more members of the mascot team that are not always talked about since well, they just kind of appeared.  Treasure is a dapple grey draft horse that was literally found in my front yard.  I have no idea where she came from, but she is absolutely perfect! The other two are twin Oaks from BreyerFest 2020 that were named Glitch and Refresh in honor of the craziness that was BreyerFest this year.  At the bottom of the post there will be photos of these babies for everyone to see and enjoy! 

There are still some changes coming to RTB soon, but these are not horribly big changes and will only better RTB in the long run so I hope that you will stay with me and enjoy everything that I am bringing you by not only helping with information about BreyerFest, but also offering a positive community where you can escape the real world and talk about plastic ponies and real horses alike.  

Thank you all for being Roadies and know that I love each and every one of you! 

BreyerFest Planning: Costs

So we have talked about Tickets, touched a bit on hotels, and dived into the deep end of what there is to do at BreyerFest. This next section is going to talk about costs at the park.

We cannot tell you exactly how much money to bring, even though you totally want to ask. We simply do not know all of your circumstances. So while we do ask that Roadies do not submit posts asking how much to bring, we do our best to try and tell everyone the costs.

As for the Special Run models, the Store models, and the Pop up Show models, we keep the price lists for several years in our files. Starting in 2017 and ending on the current year, you can use these prices to gauge what those costs might be. I do ask Breyer, once their planning begins heavily, if the prices will be raising or staying the same so you will have an idea of prices for the next year. Those models typically run from $55 to $85 for Special Runs, $75 for Store Specials, and $10 to $45 for the Pop Up Shop models.

The other Breyer models in the Breyer Store are priced accordingly on their website as they are normal releases. The Ninja Pit releases (see the Ninja Pit Of Doom Information in the other files) are priced at their normal release prices, so a premier club find will be the same price as when it was released originally.

The other vendors in the Covered Arena at BreyerFest charge their own prices and it varies greatly. If you are looking for bodies, the prices will be lower. If you are looking for Club models or more rare release, the prices will be higher. During the weekend, prices will likely drop some as vendors do not want to take all of their inventory back home. Some vendors will also haggle with prices. But this is a place where we cannot tell you how much to bring to spend as we do not know what you are looking for or what the vendor will charge.

The Clarion and the Artisan's Gallery is another place to spend money. The prices here are another place where we cannot help you sadly. Just like the Covered Arena vendors, it depends on what you are looking for and how much the vendors are charging. The costs will depend on what you are looking for, so keep that in mind.

The Raffle tickets for Breyer costs about $1 per ticket. There are discounts for purchasing multiple tickets. So do keep that in mind when planning on this part of your trip. Usually $5 for six tickets and so on. The Auction models will go for thousands of dollars. The trends of their costs can be found on Identify Your Breyer under the BreyerFest tab.

Food is going to vary completely. There are several restaurants near the park that require you to leave and come back. There are places to eat at the park, ranging from the restaurants of the Kentucky Horse Park to food trucks brought in for the event. But the costs vary completely and depends on what you are looking for to eat or drink. The costs are higher at the park, so please keep that in mind.

As for hotels and car rentals, that is not a place that I can help sadly. Again, this comes down to I live near Lexington and travel back and forth each day during the weekend. However, many of the websites do list their prices and a calculator to estimate how much you are looking at spending.

There are also many side quests that you can do that we are not sure of the costs, such as going on a Bourbon tour or going to Churchill Downs.

In the files, we have a great Adjustable Estimate File that was created just to help you estimate costs because this is a topic that no one can truly help with sadly.

We still will not be allowing these posts to be submitted, but I hope that this breakdown has helped to understand the costs involved at BreyerFest. I, personally, have done BreyerFest with $25 in my pocket and with $2000 in my pocket to test for the group in the early days and I can only say that it all depends on what you want to buy, how much you eat and drink per day, and the costs of the hotels and rentals/uber.  

 

BreyerFest Planning: What To Do Part Two

I bet that you thought that I was done talking about what there is to do at BreyerFest. That would be wrong! Like I have said before, there is literally so much to do during the three days of BreyerFest that it is impossible to do it all in one weekend so you will totally need to come back year after year. So let’s dive right back in to it!

At the Clarion hotel, there is the amazing BreyerFest Swap Meet. Normally held on Friday during BreyerFest, this Swap Meet is held by Breyer and allows people to purchase tables to sell their plastic ponies and plastic pony accessories, even if you do not have a room at the Clarion. In 2020, this was supposed to happen on both Thursday and Friday and it is rumored (has not been fact checked by Breyer) to be happening in 2021 for both days. If you want to sell at the Swap Meet, you do need to be a Three Day Ticket holder (I believe) and it does cost extra. These tables can and do sell out insanely quick and is likely already sold out for 2021 as there was an option to just roll over your entry since 2020 was virtual.

While we are still at the Clarion hotel, let’s talk a bit more about the Artisan’s Gallery. You do need to be a Three Day Ticket holder (I believe) to get a table here in the Artisan’s Gallery as well. It does cost extra in addition to the ticket, but you are in the middle of the action, if you get into this lovely event. Top artists from around the world come to this gallery and set up their sale pieces, including very limited and rare resin model horses, tack, and even historically accurate carriages for your plastic ponies. Even if you do not get in to selling here, it is definitely worth checking out! You might even score a resin that you have been looking to obtain! (Resin model horses are horses that are more fragile than the plastic ponies and can be quite costly, especially if they are sold out or have been painted by a well known artist.)

At the Kentucky Horse Park during BreyerFest, there are also free seminars that are available to all ticket holders. These seminars explain things like showing model horses or even how to organize your collection for insurance purposes. They are usually located in the Visitor’s Center and it is air conditioned.

The Kentucky Horse Park is also something that you will want to explore while you are there for BreyerFest. This unique place offers you a way to see many different breeds of horses and see them perform. You are also able to go up close to them and talk to many knowledgeable employees and volunteers that work at the horse park about all of the horses there. There are three (I believe) museums at the Kentucky Horse Park and each one offers something different. Make sure to meet some of the Champions of the Racetrack as well while you are there!

In the Covered Arena while at BreyerFest, you will find amazing vendors that are there to sell large collections of plastic ponies and their accessories. This is also a great place to find out information about some of the groups that attend BreyerFest as well, include the miniature horses, the Arabians, and Sergeant Reckless, just to name a few! This is also the home to the Breyer Booth as well as the UPS Store. The Breyer Booth here in the Covered Arena is where you will be able see the raffle models for Saturday and Sunday and purchase the tickets starting on Friday of the event. It is also the place where the Silent Auction takes place. The Silent Auction is where you will find the full set of the Surprise models to bid on, custom Breyer models, as well as gift sets from Breyer or the Celebration horse. The UPS Store is where you will be able to ship your models to your house with little to no trouble, however it does cost extra and these costs vary by how much you are shipping so sadly we cannot answer how much it will cost. The Kentucky Horse Park snack bar is also in the Covered Arena along with a small lemonade cart and a pretzel cart. Outside, there are more food options and of course, you can always leave the park to find food as well.

The Covered Arena is also host to the Lounge. While this does cost extra, there is an air conditioned lounge where you can sit in relative comfort to watch the Equine Demonstrations and have light refreshments courtesy of Breyer. In the past, this has cost $35 per day and you were only able to buy one ticket per account (based on the past and could have changed or be changed.).

But we are not done with things to do by any means! Lexington and Kentucky have a rich history in the horse industry as well as the bourbon industry. Some of these attractions do require reservations and certainly do cost extra, but they are well worth it in the long run. Old Friends is located in Georgetown Ky and offers some great tours of retired race horses as well as their back stories. Several large farms offer tours as well, but make sure to call in advance to make sure these places are open and offering tours rather than just showing up. Also, Churchill Downs is not too far away and is a great place to visit. If you have a place that you like to visit while in Ky for BreyerFest, make sure to let us all know.

Again, there is so very much to do during BreyerFest that I literally cannot even place it all in this second post. However, after this one, we will be moving on to the next part of planning. 

 

 

Planning Your BreyerFest Adventure: What To Do!

We talked about Tickets and how they are the first step for planning your BreyerFest adventure. Normally the next step would be looking for a hotel room, however I do not have that experience. I do not need to stay in a hotel during the event, so I have never actually booked a hotel room during BreyerFest. However, there are many, many people in this group that are totally willing to share their experiences.

Do keep in mind that 2021 may be a very different year than we will be used to and no one is exactly sure how it will work with the pandemic and everything. Hotels might not be taking reservations until later in the year in order to see what will happen.

Once you have planned or at least started planning your hotel part of the adventure, the next step is certainly something that I can talk about, and talk about a lot! The next step is to start planning your days. Do you want to get there early? We recommend getting there at least on Thursday before the event as there is much to do at the Clarion before the event. Maybe you want to explore Lexington? There are some amazing things to do and see in the heart of Kentucky. But this is when you will need to start working on just what you want to do during your time in Lexington, Ky.

I always recommend getting there early so you can check out the Clarion hotel and sample what the room sales have to offer. What are room sales? Well, it is just like it sounds. Starting the week of BreyerFest, people who have rooms in the Clarion hotel will starting to sell plastic ponies and plastic pony accessories. Many of these people will take cash or paypal, but normally there are no checks accepted at BreyerFest in any way. There is an ATM in the Clarion hotel, however it is normally out of money so make sure to check the area gas stations and banks. The Artisan’s Gallery is also located in the Clarion hotel and this is where you can see the artistry of the Model Horse. There can be resins or tack or even customs here, however these are exclusive pieces and they definitely deserve the right to be there. The Artisan’s Gallery is also where the Best Customs Finalists will be located. This is a great chance to see the pieces that might win Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion of the contest. Complete rules of the Best Customs Contest will be released on Breyer’s website once more next year.

BreyerFest starts on Friday morning at 9 AM EDT once at the event. The line that forms starting on Thursday before the event is not for the faint of heart. You absolutely do not have to stand in this line unless you want to do so. While I stand in this line and recommend it, know that you will be standing outside, sleeping outside, and tents are not allowed. This is also not the line to get into the park. This is actually the line to get into either the Breyer Store at BreyerFest or the Pop Up Shop at the park. This line is lovingly referred to as the Ninja Pit of Doom. There are many treasures that you will find at the Breyer Store at BreyerFest, however they are now released all weekend long rather than just during the first of Friday morning. This line does form all weekend long, but again, it is absolutely up to you if you wish to be in this line.

The General Admission Line as well as the Special Run Line are opposite of the NPOD Line and they are just as important. The Special Run Line is the very first line that will be allowed into the Park first thing in the morning. This Line is only for those that have Special Run times that are first thing in the morning. This is usually 10 AM on Friday and Saturday and 9 AM on Sunday. The General Admission Line and the NPOD Lines are allowed in at the same time. You absolutely need to show your wrist band to get into BreyerFest. Also, if you wish to participate in the NPOD, you do not need to have a Three Day Ticket as a Single Day Ticket will work just fine.

BreyerFest ends technically at 5 PM EDT on Friday and Saturday and at 4 PM EDT on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, there is the Celebration of Horses Evening Performance that is usually put on by Silvia Zerbini and is something that should not be missed! This performance takes place in the Altech Arena and starts at 6 PM and lasts until 8 PM. After that, the Clarion hotel room sales are open until late into the night. On Saturday, there is also the Live Auction. These one of a kind pieces go for thousands of money and it is a very exciting event!

Other things to plan is the Live Shows. If you are into showing your model horses, then this is exactly what you are looking for! Breakables Live starts on Thursday before BreyerFest at the Clarion hotel. This live show is all for the ceramic horses and the porcelain models. BreyerFest Live is on Friday at the Altech Arena and is the model horse show for those that love Breyers. This show does cost extra and will last from 7 am to around 3 pm and is a fast paced model horse show. The child and youth show is on Saturday at the Altech Arena and is for the younger hobbyists.

Next would be the workshops. Have you always wanted to learn how to paint a plastic pony or maybe you want to learn how to make tack? These workshops do cost extra, but they are very rewarding! The schedule for 2021 is the same as 2020 and will be posted shortly as I do have that information saved.

Of course, there is so much more to start planning, but this is certainly a starting point! All of this information will be in the files on our Facebook Group and can be saved or printed out, if you need to do so. 

 

 

Planning Your BreyerFest Adventure: Tickets!

Let's talk tickets! When planning your BreyerFest adventure for either the first time or the 30th time, you need to know what kind of tickets that you will want to purchase.  Each ticket type comes with it's own pros and cons, but each one allows you to do something different.  

In January, the first tickets that go on sale are the Early Bird Three Day Tickets.  These Adult and Child tickets are offered at a discounted price to those that purchase before April 15th.  They also allow you to be entered into the Raffle for the Early Bird Model, only three are made!   The exact prices for all of the tickets are located in the files as well as what they all come with, but the parking passes (in the case of a Live Event), model horse shows, and works shops are extra.  Being a Collector Club member will give you a $2 discount as well, but you do not need to be a Collector Club member if you do not wish to be (Check out the file on Breyer Clubs to learn more about the Collector Club!).  With Three Day Tickets, Adult and Child, you get a Celebration Model. This model is a traditional sized model and is of the horse that the event celebrates. Three Day Tickets also allow you to attend the Celebration of Horses Evening Performance and enter the Diorama Contest. 

 

After April 15th (or when Breyer says), the tickets go up to full price, which is nearly $100. This is still for the Adult and Child tickets.  The Adult and Child tickets are the ONLY type of ticket that includes the Special Run Ticket. For a virtual event, these two ticket types will allow you the most access on the website, with the Adult ticket being the absolute highest level of access. 

In May, the Single Day Tickets go on sale.  These tickets are normally $17 for presale and $20 at the gate and allow you to get ONE Single Day Stablemate PER ticket.  Unless you have enough tickets for a full set of these stablemates, it will be GAMBLER'S CHOICE (random draw) at the event. During a virtual event, unless you purchase the special four pack of tickets, it will be GAMBLER'S CHOICE as well. There is normally no way to pick and choose your models, although some variance does occur. Single Day Tickets do not have access to the Celebration Of Horses Evening Performance or the Celebration Model nor are you able to enter the Diorama Contest. 

For the year 2020, two other ticket types were created, but it is uncertain if they will remain.  These were the Celebration Ticket, which included the Celebration Model and access to purchase the Limited Edition models, and the Access Ticket, which allowed you to get a Celebration Model, but no access to purchase Limited Edition models. 

Make sure to check out our Facebook group to get all of the information that comes with the tickets!