Not your average traffic jam: Dozens of people waited for the horses to pass by each intersection, and others kept on walking with the carriage throughout the entire walk. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
Don Page was among a couple thousand people amazed at what he saw on Frankford Avenue last week.
On the evening of Aug. 28, eight world-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales paraded 10 blocks down the avenue as part of a four-day promotional appearance in the Philadelphia area.
“I never saw anything like it, and I’ve seen a lot,” said Page, a bartender at McKenna’s. “I’ve never seen a horse that big. They’re monstrous animals.”
The Clydesdales had a busy four days in the Philadelphia area. They paraded in Fairmount, passing bars along the way. They were in the Far Northeast outside Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5’s headquarters. And they spent an afternoon in downtown New Hope.
A big crowd gathered outside Cottman Beverage, at 7544 Frankford Ave., and excitement started to build when a police and military vehicle escort brought the gentle giants around from Sheffield Avenue.
Cases of Budweiser beer were packed atop the iconic brand’s famous red, white and gold wagon.
Eight Clydesdales, in four rows of two, hauled the wagon 10 blocks, dropping off a case of beer at bars participating in the promotion. Catchy Budweiser commercial jingles played along the route.
Frankford Avenue was closed to southbound traffic. People cheered and took pictures of the horses, and some folks followed them the whole way. Employees of shops along the avenue came outside for the big show, and motorists pulled to the side of the road to get a good look.
Budweiser employees handed out T-shirts, keychains, bracelets and foam beer coolers. Another team road in a cart, shoveling up horse droppings.
The parade ended outside the Mayfair Center, where three 50-foot-long tractor-trailers were parked along the avenue to take the Clydesdales to a well-deserved night’s sleep. ••
Not your average traffic jam: The Budweiser Clydesdales Parade took place in Mayfair on Aug. 28. Eight large Clydesdale horses pulled a carriage with Budweiser cases of beer in the back. Police and horse trainers escorted the carriage as it passed between the 7500 and 6500 blocks of Frankford Ave. Dozens of people waited for the horses to pass by each intersection, and others kept on walking with the carriage throughout the entire walk. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
Not your average traffic jam: The Budweiser Clydesdales Parade took place in Mayfair on Aug. 28. Eight large Clydesdale horses pulled a carriage with Budweiser cases of beer in the back. Police and horse trainers escorted the carriage as it passed between the 7500 and 6500 blocks of Frankford Ave. Dozens of people waited for the horses to pass by each intersection, and others kept on walking with the carriage throughout the entire walk. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTOS
Not your average traffic jam: The Budweiser Clydesdales Parade took place in Mayfair on Aug. 28. Eight large Clydesdale horses pulled a carriage with Budweiser cases of beer in the back. Police and horse trainers escorted the carriage as it passed between the 7500 and 6500 blocks of Frankford Ave. Dozens of people waited for the horses to pass by each intersection, and others kept on walking with the carriage throughout the entire walk. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
