Photo of Daniel Blumen soaring over the jump in the Saturday Night Under the Lights event “The Battle of the Sexes”

During the Winter Equestrian Festival, the continual event Saturday Nights Under the Lights offers fun for the whole family at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Every Saturday evening throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival, WEF, families can enjoy watching world-class horses and riders compete under the stadium lights. That’s not the only fun thing about the event, the live bands and entertainment is abundant. Such as people on stilts that twirl fire and jugglers, to name a few. My family really enjoyed the International ring side band when we were there, because they invited the kids to dance in front of the stage as they played, thus resulting in some cool moves and smiling faces. During the intermissions, there are food vendors set up outside the stadium selling anything from pizza and corndogs to cotton candy and popcorn. There was even a vendor selling a rideable toy horses! Not only did the little kids enjoy doing so, the adults took part in riding them along the sidewalk as well.

When you first walk into the International Equestrian Center, you are greeted by beautifully light carousel, games, pony rides, and even a petting zoo. The variety of animals made the petting zoo very enjoyable for the children. My kids were so excited to see the little pig they had, but they really enjoyed petting the small bunnies. Among all the excitement at the entrance is was not with out its own music from local bands such as the Okeeheelee Jazz Band, and other various dancers and characters scattered about the entrance. The whole area was full entertainment, and we still needed to get our seats for the main event. The kids were having a blast! Several children were seen running around with their faces freshly painted, as on the backside of the carousal they had a little tent where children and adults lined up to have their faces painted to join in on the fun.

The event also offers plenty of fun for the adults as well. If you like to shop, many of the Vendors are open during the event in the area notably dubbed “Little Worth Ave” as many of the shops such as Hermes can be also found on Palm Beach Island’s Worth Ave. The International ring is surrounded with not only stadium seating to enjoy the event, but restaurants and bars, such as the Tiki Hut that offers table seating with a reservation to dine while watching the event. The International Club is a member only dinning area, meaning they purchased a table for the entire season, that many of the sponsors, riders, and other notables choose to watch and dine through the event. On the opposite side of the International ring is an open bar area were many stand to watch the event in the ring, is named appropriately as “Central Park” a stylish and centrally located open area. “The Gallery,” a large covered structure that to turns into a night club after the event and is open to the public. It is enjoyed by many of the patrons and competitors as well. It’s a fun place to mingle among other professional riders of all disciplines.

Saturday Night Lights is an event that will captivate you and your family; from the moment you walk through the gates to the time you walk out.  So, if you are looking for something to do in Wellington on a Saturday night that will entertain all your friends or family members regardless of age, this is the place. The cost is $20 per car load to park and that covers your admission to the event. Gates open at 6:00pm and Jumping Under the Lights starts promptly at 7:00pm. I would recommend that you arrive as close to 6:00pm as possible in order to get the best seats for you and your friends or family. The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is located at 14440 Pierson Rd, Wellington, FL 33414. The Winter Equestrian Festival runs for twelve weeks ending on March 29th.