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Hobby Horse Derby

August 1 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Have you ever dreamed of being neck and neck on the home straight as you jockey for a glorious win? If so, join Jana Marie Foundation on Friday, August 1, 2025, from 5 pm–8 pm, when we host our second annual hobby horse derby at The Alliance Church in State College, PA. It’s your chance to grab life by the reins and have fun while supporting the work of Jana Marie Foundation. This novel event welcomes people of all ages and promises to be an evening the whole community can enjoy.

At this Kentucky Derby-inspired event, you can watch the races, grab a snack, and laugh as we build community through play! Inspired by “Buttercup,” the hobby horse ridden Jana Marie Foundation’s 2023 summer camp, and a series of short-form videos showcasing professional hobby horse riders, the Jana Marie Foundation team dreamed up an opportunity to embrace the power of play and silliness.
As we move into the summer, it’s time to relax and reset. This event is designed to encourage resilience and community connections while promoting overall mental wellness.
Whether you are riding or joining as a spectator, this event is one that you won’t want to miss!

Entrance Fees:

  • Youth Rider (ages 5 – 17): $20
  • Adult Rider: $25
  • Team Riders (grab a team of 3-5 individuals, ages 5 and up): $45
  • Spectators (ages 10 and up): $10
  • Spectators (Ages 9 and under): Free

Interested in competing?

Register to race a hobby horse! Create a horse on-site or bring your own. Teams, families, and individuals are welcomed and guaranteed an evening of silly fun.
“A hobby horse race? As in, toy horses on sticks?” Yes! Individuals and teams of up to four will bring their own horses or create them on site to compete in self-selected events. (Event descriptions coming soon!) You can choose to join in as many events as you’d like. Team members’ scores will be combined and divided by the number of teammates, and the group or individual with the highest total will win an award. If you are ready to race to win, register, and raise a suggested minimum of $100 in pledges of support.

The 2025 Derby has been made possible in part due to funding provided through a grant made possible by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Centre County Board of Commissioners.

Details

Venue

  • Alliance Church in State College PA

Organizer