Centenary University will host its second annual Mane Event on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Centenary University Equestrian Center in Long Valley, putting a full day of horses, food trucks and family activities inside Morris County.
The event is an equine expo, family fun day and fundraiser hosted by the university’s Department of Equine Studies and Animal Health. Proceeds this year will go toward pasture improvements that support the ongoing care of Centenary’s equine herd.
Last year’s first Mane Event drew roughly 400 guests and raised $37,000, which the university put toward a shockwave therapy machine used to treat its horses.
Returning favorites include all day equine lectures, equestrian demonstrations, the Parade of the Hounds, the horseless horse show, a tricky tray, children’s crafts, face painting, bingo, shopping, and beer and food trucks. Event sponsor NEOGEN will present a lecture on botulism and its impact on equine health.
New this year are live question and answer panels, a visit from the New Jersey mounted police, a free Breyer model horse painting station, horseless barrel racing, a farrier exhibit, a 50/50 raffle, family games and a faculty and staff dunk tank. No riding experience is required for any of it.
Vendors on the schedule include Epona Barn, Kremps K9 Training, My Happy Place Animal Sanctuary and Sharp Iron Farm, with food and drinks from Czig Meister Brewing Company, Forno’s on Wheels, Rainbow Snow and Shugar Shack Soul Food.
Centenary University is based in Hackettstown and runs its equestrian center in Washington Township, which puts the Mane Event about a half hour drive from Denville.
Tickets can be bought in advance or at the door. Advance registration for the horseless horse show and horseless barrel racing is open through the Centenary Mane Event Registration Portal.
The Mane Event is one of several Morris County outings on the fall calendar. Families looking for more can also plan around Morris County Living History Weekend later in September and stop to see the new Revolutionary War trail marker unveiled in Morris Township.
