October 31, 2024
The 2025 Kilkivan Great Horse Ride has received a $22,500 grant from Gympie Regional Council’s Community Grants program.
Spokesperson Abigail Horn said the volunteer organising committee was absolutely thrilled.
“Every year a small band of dedicated people work extremely hard to keep this iconic event alive,” Ms Horn said.
“Being awarded the grant gives us confidence that council recognises the importance of events such as this for the economic and social benefit of rural communities.
“This event is now in its 39th year and has only been stopped twice – by the equine influenza and COVIE-19 outbreaks.
“What started out as a bunch of people enjoying a trail ride with their horses around the district is now a substantial country festival that evolves every year to offer more attractions to people that don’t participate in the trail rides.
“Receiving this grant means that the event will be open to visitors with free entry on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“That’s free entry to enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday nights and three days of entertainment and fun such as barrel racing, camp oven cooking competition, bush poetry, youth talent quest, and many more attractions being planned.
“Camp sites, trail rides, and some horse competitions require an entry fee, but the gates are wide open to everything else we have on offer. In fact, we expect to have so much on the program that we expanded the name of the event to attract more visitors to enjoy a good old-fashioned weekend in the country.”
The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride & Country Weekend Escape will be held from the April 11-13 at the Kilkivan Showgrounds.
- More information is available online
