The Vermont Summer Festival, the largest ‘AA’ rated hunter-jumper horse show held in New England, has a huge economic impact on the state of Vermont with approximately $15 million spent throughout the duration of the five-week competition.

With approximately 1,200 horses competing each week at the Vermont Summer Festival, which will run July 13 to August 14 in East Dorset, VT, and approximately 3,000 people related to the horse show visiting the area on a daily basis, the impact on the local hotel and restaurant industry is considerable. Shopping at the many outlets offered in the Manchester area has almost become a second sport for the horse show enthusiasts and, combined with the other leisure pursuits offered in the Manchester area, including theater, sporting activities and antique hunting, it is conservatively estimated that each person spends approximately $150 per day, pumping a significant amount of dollars into the Vermont economy.

“The immense economic impact that the Vermont Summer Festival has on the Manchester and surrounding areas of Vermont cannot be overlooked,” noted John D. Ammerman, Manager of the Vermont Summer Festival. “In addition to a first-rate horse show, many competitors choose to come to Vermont due to the wide variety of amenities offered in the area. Shopping, great restaurants and a great selection of bed and breakfasts and country inns attract those looking for a more complete horse show experience. And it is largely because of these local businesses who offer high-quality products and services that the Vermont Summer Festival patrons keep coming back year after year.”

Running July 13 to August 14, 2005, at Harold Beebe Farm, the Vermont Summer Festival offers a total of $600,000 in prize money throughout the five weeks of competition, making it the sporting event with the largest amount of prize money offered anywhere in the state. Each week features a $30,000 Sunday Grand Prix as well as a $10,000 Friday Mini Prix. New for 2005, the $50,000 Vermont Summer Celebration Grand Prix will be held Sunday, August 14, as the grand finale to the five-week Vermont Summer Festival.

For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please visit www.vt-summerfestival.com or call (802) 496-9667.

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