Come meet your neighbors – both the animal and human varieties – at Milton’s next fun, family-friendly Meet the Neighbors.

This horse-themed event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at the City’s Freemanville-Birmingham greenspace. (This is assuming the weather cooperates, as we have had to call off past editions due to rain.) Drivers can access it via 15660 Freemanville Road, though they’re encouraged to carpool due to limited space and use a truck or SUV in case things get muddy. 

Held in collaboration with the Milton Equestrian Committee, Meet the Neighbors is a City-run event in which anyone, even if they’ve never ridden or even seen a horse up close, can learn about and learn to love all things equestrian. (The name makes more sense if you fully embrace the wordplay by emphasizing the neeeeeigh in neighbors.) It’s a great gathering for those who are lifetime riders or who simply want to have a good time soaking up the vibe. 

The April 18 festivities should be especially awesome for kids. In addition to complimentary pony rides and face painting, they’ll get to mingle with an assortment of other animals such as a donkey, goat, sheep, chicken, puppies, a pot-bellied pig, and a miniature cow. 

Meanwhile, anyone (adults included) can shop from assorted items with equestrian angles of some sort, whether its artwork, four-board fencing, or horse tack such as saddles, reins, blankets, and more. People can also sample from farmers market-type culinary items like breads and honey, or enjoy lunch from the Mamacita’s Latin Kitchen food truck or hot dogs grilled by the Milton Volunteer Fire Corps. King of Pops and Pelican Snowballs also will offer cool treats in the form of popsicles and shaved ice, respectively. 

In between all this shopping, eating, riding, and reveling, attendees can listen to the Foster Greene duo playing acoustic Americana music. Members of the Milton Fire department’s Technical Large Animal Rescue Unit – also known as TLAER, which responds to certain animal-related emergencies in Milton and beyond – will do demonstrations at 11 a.m. and noon how they might help a horse or other sizable animal in distress. 

We hope to see you and your family on April 18! If you have questions about this event, please contact Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno at Emily.Salerno@miltonga.gov.