Photos by Miranda Pederson/Daily NewsOnlookers watch the horses Tuesday at the park’s Holiday Lights Spectacular. Visitors can take pictures with the horses as they stop along the parade route and visit with them as they are hooked up to their wagon.

The gentle giants of the horse world – Budweiser Clydesdales – are at Beech Bend Holiday Lights Spectacular this week.

The eight draft horses, each of which weigh more than a ton, are parading around the park each evening through Saturday.

“They got here Sunday and got their barn all built and everything,” Beech Bend owner Dallas Jones said. “They were out there (Tuesday) getting them all washed and shampooed.”

Jones said beginning about 6:30 p.m. each day, handlers will begin hooking up the horses to their wagon and about 7:15 p.m. will parade around the park for more than an hour.

Visitors will be able to take photographs with the horses as they stop along the parade route and be able to visit them as they are hooked up.

“Attendance has been about as well as could be expected with the weather,” Jones said. “We’ve had rain the last three Sundays and our attendance has been a little weak during the week. But I expect that since it is getting closer to Christmas, attendance will pick up this week.”

Jones said he’s talked with hundreds of people who’ve visited the park.

“And I haven’t heard anything negative about the park, the Christmas village or our light display,” he said.

Visitors to the park can pay $15 a carload to drive through the two-mile display and then ride a wagon to the Christmas Village to see Christmas movies, shop or play golf. For $1 to $3, spectators can also ride some of the attractions that are open. Ice skating also is available.

Jones said it’s a little too early to decide if he will have the lights display again next year.

“But I would lean toward that,” he said.

“I feel like we gave it about an 80 percent shot this year,” Jones said. “We need to start earlier next year and do a better job of getting the sponsorships. But I think it’s a wonderful event and if I can break even on it, I’ll do it again.”

Gates to Beech Bend open at 5 p.m. The lights display will be up until Jan. 5.