Events
Wade House Carriage Driving Days
EVENT DETAILS
Friday, July 19, 2024 | Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 21, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
SINGLE DAY COST
Adult (18-64): $17
Teen (13-17): $17
Senior (65+): $15
Child (5-12): $8.50
Child Under 5: Free
WEEKEND COST
Adult (18-64): $27
Teen (13-17): $27
Senior (65+): $25
Child (5-12): $12.50
Child Under 5: Free
Tickets may also be purchased onsite.
Society members receive a 10% discount, please verify your membership where prompted to receive discount at check out.
Overview
Come see horses of every size, shape, and color hitched to elegant carts and carriages compete for division championships. Celebrate horsepower during this rare three-day weekend of competitions in our brand-new horse arena and throughout the grounds at Wade House Historic Site. A horse-drawn carriage will transport you to the contest grounds, where you will view teams of drivers and horses performing together as they attempt to master a series of trials designed to showcase their versatility, training and talents.
Drivers will be dressed to impress in their best finery – Ladies wearing elegant hats and gentlemen in dapper boaters will drive their horses in a series of competitive classes designed to test the skills of the drivers and the athleticism of the horses. The devil is in the details of this equestrian competition, as drivers try to impress the expert American Driving Society certified judges to win the coveted blue ribbon. At the competition ring witness a variety of carriages – genuine antiques, reproductions and even modern vehicles. Watch the action up close! You’ll thrill at the sounds of the horses breathing and feel their footfall as they demonstrate different gaits and navigate courses under the subtle commands of their drivers.
About the Location
Wade House was constructed conveniently between the cities of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, along a well-used stagecoach trail. This made the 27-room Greek Revival hotel a popular resting point for weary travelers. Three generations of the Wade family resided on the Wade House property, with the inn operating until around 1872. The Kohler family and the Kohler Foundation purchased Wade House in 1950 and began a top-to-bottom restoration. The site became property of the Wisconsin Historical Society and opened to the public in 1953. Here, visitors can journey back to the horse-powered world that existed before planes, cars, and trains. The site features the stagecoach hotel built and owned by Sylvanus and Betsey Wade, the first European settlers of Greenbush, as well as a blacksmith shop, sawmill, and the Wesley W. Jung Carriage Museum, which houses Wisconsin’s largest collection of carriages and wagons. Visitors can enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides from the visitor center to the historic core and back again.
Wade House Historic Site
W7965 State Highway 23
Greenbush, WI 53026
Know Before You Go & Accessibility
- Entrance for the event is at the Wade House Visitor Center.
- Water is the only outside food/beverage allowed. Food/beverage are available for purchase.
- Restrooms and water fountains are available on site.
- The site will remain open rain or shine.
- Guests are encouraged to wear good walking shoes and to dress for the weather.
- No pets are allowed. Service animals are permitted.
- Because of the historic nature of the buildings, not all areas are ADA accessible.
- Guests with additional mobility needs are encouraged to contact the site directly at 920-526-3271 or wadehouse@wisconsinhistory.org.
Contact
For more information, please contact the box office at 608-264-4848 or boxoffice@wisconsinhistory.org.