Hamlin saddles up for first hoedown

Break out the cowboy boots and plaid shirts — the Hamlin Hoedown is coming to town.

From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 19, the green space next to Cinépolis in Hamlin will be transformed into a Western world complete with barnyard friends.

Members of the community are encouraged to saddle up and gallop on over to the free event, where they can enjoy a morning of family fun that includes face painting, a balloon artist and nostalgic farm activities.

“We’re going to have DJ Renee out there — she’s a super fun, interactive deejay,” said Heather Easterling, events and public relations coordinator for Boyd Development Corporation. “There will be crafts, and we’ll have lots of yard games out there. We’ll have some food trucks, and there will be a petting zoo, which is two tents with 12 animals under each tent.”

Easterling said the idea for a hoedown-themed event came when she was brainstorming with a fellow event coordinator. 

“One of my event partners knew of a mobile petting zoo — which I had never heard about — and I thought it was really cool,” she said. “We just started brainstorming, and the Hamlin Hoedown became a thing.” 

Noah’s Landing Mobile Petting Zoo & Pony Rides is bringing the animals in attendance, which include lambs, goats, pigs, chickens, bunnies and a surprise farm animal.

“We’ve been in the same place in Daytona Beach serving a good portion of Central Florida for 21 years now,” said Robin Baxter, owner of Noah’s Landing. “We are a family-owned business, and we offer a full petting zoo of farm animals and pony rides. In the last few years, we have branched out to some exotic animal encounters.”

Baxter said it brings joy to her and her family when people light up at seeing the animals up close. The animals are born and raised into the business, and they love seeing people, too.

“A lot of times, you don’t appreciate things until you can see it or put your hands on it,” Baxter said. “We have such a hands-on, interactive petting zoo (where) the kids and adults can get in there and touch the animals, look at them. They get to really appreciate the animals, I think, because when you’re looking at it in a book, it’s much different than when you can look in its eyes.”

Noah’s Landing also is bringing two ponies to provide pony rides for children. Pony rides are first come, first served, and each ride lasts for two minutes. Riders must weigh no more than 85 pounds. Baxter said handlers will lead the ponies, but parents are welcome to walk alongside their children, too.

Easterling said the team at Hamlin enjoys bringing the community together for a day of family fun and camaraderie.

“Dress up in your favorite and cutest Western wear, (and) bring out the family,” she said. “It’s a great community event. Kids love animals and pony rides, and there will be music and food. Bringing the community together (is) one of our favorite things to do at Hamlin. We think it’s really important, and every time we do, we see how important it is. Everyone has a great time, and we just love the opportunity to be able to do so.”