The RCMP Musical Ride is set to return to Hay River next month for the Northwest Territories portion of its 2025 tour.
“We’re quite excited about hosting them again in Hay River,” Glenn Smith, the town’s manager, told Cabin Radio.
“The last event we held was really successful. A lot of community members came out and we had a lot of visitors that came from the South Slave and other parts of the Northwest Territories.”
In 2019, more than a thousand people attended the Musical Ride event in Hay River, which raised funds for the town’s Family Support Centre.
The Musical Ride visits up to 50 locations across the country between May and October each year, helping to raise money for local charities and not-for-profit organizations.
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It consists of a troop of 32 riders – all serving members of the RCMP – who showcase equestrian skills by performing a series of intricate drills.
Alongside Hay River, the 2025 tour covers 20 communities in Alberta, six in Quebec, and four in Ontario.
According to NWT RCMP spokesperson Julie Plourde, this is the fourth time the Musical Ride will perform in Hay River.
Plourde said the first performance in the town took place in 1987, followed by a 2003 tour that included stops in Hay River, Yellowknife, and Fort Smith. The ride returned to Hay River once again in 2019.
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This year’s performance in Hay River, set to take place on August 23, will feature 16 horses and riders, along with the officer in charge.
Smith said after the 2019 event, the town had expressed interest in hosting the Musical Ride again.
“I think it’s one of those events that has got a long history and name to it. People are always excited to come out, see the performance and get up and close with the horses,” he said.
The previous event was held at Hay River’s Keith Broadhead Memorial Twin Park. This year it’s planned to take place downtown at the track and field grounds to make it more accessible for attendees.
