Budweiser Clydesdales Grace Downtown Arlington Heights

It's not often you see a a group of Budweiser Clydesdales parading through the Arlington Heights' downtown, but that's just what happened Wednesday afternoon. 

The parade was sponsored by Arlington Heights-based City Beverage, who sells Budweiser products. 

City officials estimate more than 7,000 people came out to spectate, while enjoying a picture perfect summer afternoon. 

At around 5 p.m., the Clydesdales were hitched up and suited with armor, ready to begin their parade around the perimeter of downtown. They began on Vail Avenue just south of Campbell Street, headed north toward the railroad tracks, east on Davis, then headed south on Evergreen to Sigwalt and back to Vail Avenue. 

Village Trustee Carol Blackwood said the Clydesdales coming to town came about due to an established relationship between City Beverage, and their sponsorship of Frontier Days. 

"City Beverage has been very generous to Arlington Heights, and they approached the village about bringing the Clydesdales to town. I reached out to Village Manager Bill Dixon and Community Relations Coordinator Nancy Kluz, and they made it happen," Blackwood said. 

Blackwood said the armor on the horses weighs around 130 pounds, while the horses themselves weigh roughly 2,000 pounds each. 

The Clydesdale hitch originated with the Busch family, to commemorate the repeal of the prohibition, according to the Anheuser Busch website. 

On April 7, 1933, a team of six Clydesdales paraded through New York City and carried a case of Budweiser, which was presented to then Governor Alfred E. Smith to thank him for his efforts in ending prohibition, the website states. 

Arlington Heights President Pro-Tem Thomas Glasgow was on hand at the parade. 

"This is a fantastic tradition with so much history, what a great day here in Arlington Heights," he said.