5 Questions About the Piqua Holiday Horse Parade with Mainstreet Piqua

PIQUA - The annual Holiday Horse Parade returns to downtown Piqua on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. The evening begins with the Magical Illumination tree lighting at 6:45 p.m. At 7 p.m., an all-horse procession featuring illuminated riders, hitches and decorated carriages will travel through the downtown district.
 

   The event is free to attend and offers an opportunity to visit the many new and established shops in Piqua's historic downtown.

🗺️ ROUTE: The parade will begin on East Greene Street, heading west to Caldwell Street, south to High Street, east to Market Street and north along North Main Street toward Greene Street. The announcer's stand will be at the intersection of Main and Ash streets.

In preparation for the event, we asked Staci Roth, executive director of MainStreet Piqua, about the parade's history and what visitors can expect this year.
 

❓ How did the Holiday Horse Parade get started in Piqua, and how has it grown or changed over the years?
 

For five years, Tim Hutton, a horse owner and enthusiast and owner of Preferred Pro Builders in Piqua, worked with another horse enthusiast in Virginia who organized an annual holiday horse parade. In 2016, Hutton presented the idea to MainStreet Piqua, and work soon began to recruit sponsors, horse-drawn carriages and riding groups.
 

❓ What is your advice for someone attending for the first time? Are there particular spots or activities they shouldn't miss?

The most important thing to remember is to arrive along the parade route early to get a good spot. Visit the parade website at piquahorseparade.com to view the route. Several churches and businesses along the route offer parking. Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home is a good place to park and offers free hot chocolate. Before the parade, MainStreet Piqua will present the Magical Illumination on the square. At 6:45 p.m., the Christmas tree and downtown decorations, sponsored by the City of Piqua, will be illuminated. The tree is next to the gazebo and Fort Piqua Plaza.
 

❓ Is there anything new or different this year that attendees should know about?

Hutton is especially excited to have recruited an authentic covered wagon pulled by four Percheron horses. Each carriage and riding club also brings something special to the parade.
 

❓ Who makes the parade possible behind the scenes? Are local riding clubs, farms, businesses, equestrian groups and volunteers involved?

Tim Hutton is the driving force behind the event. He personally recruits and interviews the carriage operators and riding clubs to make sure they are a good fit for his vision of the parade. MainStreet Piqua staff members assist with permits and marketing.
 

❓ What is the size and scope of the parade? How many horses, carriages and participants are expected, and how many spectators do you anticipate?

This year, there will be approximately 45 units, including a mix of carriages and riding clubs. Organizers are proud of the way they stagger the carriages and riding clubs, asking participants to maintain a 70-foot distance between units to highlight each group's personality and uniqueness. Since the parade began in 2016, an average of 5,000 spectators have gathered in and around downtown Piqua each year to watch.
 

🐎 MainStreet Piqua and Hutton thank the parade sponsors and the City of Piqua for their support. Organizers say the event would not be possible without their contributions.