The famous team of horses will march in the parade and be on display at the Iroquois Farm on River Road.

Grace Kull, Bicentennial committee chairwoman, said it is a unique opportunity. She said is very pleased to have the horses be a part of the parade and be available for display to the public.

�’I think it will be a great addition to the parade,’’ said Kull. �’ I think it will be a big draw.’’

The East Coast Hitch, which has 10 horses, will arrive in Cooperstown on Sept. 5 and will be on display from Sept. 6-9. For safety reasons, the crew would like the public to respect the horses’ space by not reaching in at or touching the horses unless supervised.

The Clydesdales, one of the strongest breeds of horses, are no strangers when it comes to appearing in parades, grand openings and other special events. According to East Coast Hitch supervisor Hans Jager, the horses travel 300-320 days a year putting on about 220-250 shows.

Horse handler Amy Trouc said the crew consists of about seven people from all different backgrounds. She said she grew up on a farm, but never imagined doing it for a living. She said she went into high school education before becoming an Anheuser-Busch employee.

�’This is a lot more fun,’’ she said. �’The horses don’t talk back.’’

Trouc said a lot of hard work goes into getting the horses ready for an event like the one being held in Cooperstown.

�’We are on the go all the time,’’ she said.

Trouc said the crew is in a different location every week and this is why they have adopted a weekly routine to make sure things run smoothly.

The first day the horses arrive for an event they are unloaded and allowed time to rest, said Trouc. The second day is called "prep’’ day because this is when the horses get hair cuts, bathed and ready for the show, according to Trouc.

She said the local distributors put a lot of hard work into planning events for the horses to attend.

They are the ones that put in the requests, advertise, get the stabling for the horses, and arrange for the hay and food to be delivered to the site where the horses will be staying, said Trouc. She said they do all the �’leg work’’ weeks in advance. Trouc said the crew does have portable stalls to use when necessary.

Cooperstown’s Bicentennial will be celebrated the week of September 8-16. Events include:

Saturday, Sept. 8

A breakfast and open house will be held from 8:30 until 11 a.m. at Otsego Lodge No. 136 Free & Accepted Masons, 77 Main St., 2nd & 3rd floors.

A parade will start at noon on Railroad Ave. and will proceed down Main St. The parade will include marching units, bands, floats, fire companies, and organizations.

After the parade activities will be located at Lake Front Park. Activities include music, games, two carnival rides, puppets, jugglers and perhaps a town ball game.

Sunday, Sept. 9

High class moving pictures of the Cooperstown centennial in 1907 will be featured in a show called �’Show Tonight’’ at 2 p.m. at the New York State Historical Association on Lake St.

Monday, Sept. 10

Learn about the Cooperstown Ski Patrol at Mt. Otsego at 7 p.m. at the village boardroom on 22 Main St.

Tuesday Sept. 11

At the Hall of Fame’s Bullpen Theater at 7 p.m. Lenny DiFranza the Hall has undergone since opening in 1939.

Wednesday, Sept. 12

�’The Otesaga Country Fair,’’ which features traditional games and activities from a bygone era will be held on the front lawn of the Otesega Hotel on Lake Road from 4-6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 14

�’How did Cooperstown Grow? The Expansion of the Village by Otsego Lake,’’ is an illustrated lecture of the story of how the village expanded from its late eighteenth century roots to the present.

The board of the Cooperstown Village Library and the friends of the Cooperstown Village Library invite the public to an open house to see the recent changes and ongoing changed that are planned for the future of the library.

Saturday, Sept. 15

Bring a cake and be admitted free into the �’Birthday Bash" at 2 p.m. at the Farmers’ Museum on Lake Road.

Sunday, Sept. 16

A Cooperstown Bicentennial and Ecumenical Service will be held at Cooper Park at 3 p.m.

The grand finale of the week of celebrations will end with an event called �’Afterglow.’’ �’Afterglow’’ will start at Lakfront Park at 7:30 p.m.