Participants in the Monmouth Coaching Invitational drive through the Navesink Highlands Greenway in antique coaches. MIDDLETOWN — The Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF), a countywide land trust located in Middletown, is celebrating 34 years of preserving land and protecting the natural resources of Monmouth County.
This year the foundation will again partner with the National Four-In-Hand Club to bring to the area a historic weekend coaching drive, The Monmouth Coaching Invitational.
This three-day event will take place Sept. 23–25. Beautiful antique coaches will drive through MCF’s Navesink Highlands Greenway project area, an expansive greenway of open space for public use and enjoyment in one of the most densely populated areas of the county. More than 1,400 acres have been preserved in the Navesink Highlands and, according to a press release from MCF, the foundation is working to help preserve hundreds more to make this one of the most unique greenways in the tri-state area.
The coachmen will be coming from Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Each coach will be drawn by four magnificently turned-out horses with traditional appointed livery. Whips (drivers) and guests will be in full regalia, with men in suits and top hats and ladies in elegant hats and gloves.
The schedule of events is:
Thursday, Sept. 22, coaches and horses arrive from all over the country.
Friday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m., Rumson Coach Drive with champagne stop; 1 p.m. luncheon and coach display at the Rumson Country Club Pool House.
Saturday, Sept. 24, 5 p.m., Middletown Coach Drive with champagne stop; 6 p.m., MCF 34th Annual Dinner Dance and Coach Display at Claypit Creek.
Sunday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m., Rumson Coach Drive with champagne stops; 1 p.m., Champagne Brunch at Claypit Creek.
Luncheon and dinner-dance tickets and Sunday Coach seats are available to the public. Carriage drive routes will be announced prior to the event.
Formore information, contact the MCF at 732-671-7000 or by email monmouth_ [email protected].