Every Saturday night during the busy horse show season (May-October), TIEC puts on a free event where spectators can see world-class show jumping, while also enjoying a carnival-like atmosphere full of lively performances, kids activities, delicious dining, and more. Check it out below!

1. FREE Entertainment

SNL has so much to offer from the second you park your car and begin walking in. The best part? It’s all FREE! Pony rides, carousel rides, a magician, the bubble guy, face painting, hula hooping, and more is all on the front lawn waiting for you to join in on the fun. There is also live music from local bands who are positioned on the stage underneath the jumbotron. It’s literally a FREE carnival!

2. Food (Who Doesn’t Love Food?)

You are bound get hungry from all of the fun and free activities, and – lucky for you – all of the restaurants are open! Roger’s Diner, Campagna, Blue Ginger, Legends Grille, and Siesta Cantina have amazing sit down dinners and delicious drink options, but there is still more food! There are food stands and concessions offering burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, grilled corn, cotton-candy and more treats strategically situated around all of the activity!

3. Drinks (It is Saturday night…)

After dinner, before dinner, or all night – there are drink options galore! The Silo Bar is personally our favorite because there are hammocks hanging right beside it that are just begging you to lounge in them. Or, if you’re looking for a more mellow time, Mane Street Coffee has you covered with hand crafted hot or cold coffees, smoothies, and more.

4. The Competition

The Grand Prix is a fan-favorite class at the horse show to watch because the jumps are HUGE. The class is also very easy to understand… the goal is to go as fast as possible without knocking down any of the jump rails. Pretty straightforward and easy to follow! The best part is the jump-off (“tiebreaker round”), so always make sure you stay until the VERY end because that is when it gets super exciting!

5. The Atmosphere

Gates open at 5pm and competition begins at 7pm allowing the heat of the day to sink with the amazing sunset you are bound to see setting over the mountains during the competition. Kids are running around enjoying themselves or waving their hands during the t-shirt toss. The crowd gets so excited once a rider has finished their round – the announcer does a great job explaining what’s happening in the class and there’s lively music played after each round and during the breaks!

To learn even more about Saturday Night Lights, click here. For a schedule of upcoming Saturday Night Lights events, click here.