LONDON, KY - You are invited to ride your horse, camp, hear concerts and shop while raising money to benefit the environment of Southern and Eastern Kentucky.
"We're all ready for spring weather, and the Ride for PRIDE Benefit will be outdoor fun for everyone, from horse enthusiasts to music lovers to shopaholics," said Tammie Wilson of PRIDE, the nonprofit holding the event.
"If you like to ride and camp, then make plans now to join us for the entire four-day event," she said. "If music is your thing, then you can come out Friday and Saturday night. Vendors will be set up Friday and Saturday, too, and there will be inflatables for kids on Saturday."
The Ride for PRIDE Benefit will be held Wednesday, April 2, until Sunday, April 6, with horse riding, camping and concessions throughout. On Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, there will be music concerts featuring local bands from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. Also on Friday and Saturday, vendors will sell tack supplies, handcrafts and more. On Saturday, children can enjoy a bouncer house and inflated obstacle course with slide.
The London Drag Way will host the Ride for PRIDE Benefit. The drag way is conveniently located less than 10 miles from I-75, just off Hwy. 80 at 338 White Oak Road in London. The concerts, vendors and concessions will be there, along with primitive campsites, bathrooms and portable showers.
From the London Drag Way, riders can access horseback trails in the White Oak area of the Daniel Boone National Forest, along the Rockcastle River. Riders can pick their own routes in the dispersed use area that is accessible to all skill levels and features a wide variety of terrains in beautiful wooded scenery.
Riders must have both coggins and current health certificates for all horses with you. Electricity is not available at the primitive campsites, but generators are welcome. Campfires will be allowed at campsites, and firewood will be available for purchase. Water troughs will be filled twice daily. Picketing required. No ATVs or golf carts allowed.
The $20 admission fee includes a wristband for come-and-go entry all four days, a primitive campsite, and access to concessions, concerts and vendors. Admission will be free for children ages 12 and under. Reservations are recommended and can be made online at www.kypride.org .
A $10 one-day pass to vendors and concerts will be available to visitors without horses on Friday and Saturday. These must be purchased at the gate on Friday or Saturday. The day passes will be free for ages 12 and under. Concerts are planned for rain or shine unless conditions are dangerous.
At Ride for PRIDE, raffle tickets will be sold for a new 2013 Kawasaki Brute Force 300 ATV from Tri-County Cycle Sales of Corbin, The winning ticket will be drawn during the concert on April 5. The cost is $5 per ticket or four tickets for $20.
All proceeds will benefit Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, Inc. - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to cleaning up solid waste problems, improving water quality and promoting environmental education in 42 counties of Southern and Eastern Kentucky. The organization's annual Spring Cleanup is a regional tradition, with thousands of volunteers picking up litter in their communities.
"PRIDE volunteers across the region are gearing up for another record-breaking Spring Cleanup, as we clear the way for tourists to enjoy the beautiful Redbud trees, and our unique natural treasures," said Congressman Rogers, who helped launch the PRIDE initiative in 1997. "Keeping our environment clean is a fundamental necessity for good health, tourism growth and economic development. It all works hand-in-hand, and I applaud the thousands of volunteers who continue to take responsibility for protecting our region and expanding environmental education."
For more details, call 1-888-577-4339 (toll free) or visit www.kypride.org .