THE COUNTRY MUSIC HAYRIDE IS DIDICATED TO THE CULTURE AND PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL COUNTY MUSIC IN CARTHAGE TEXAS. LIKE THE CITY ITSELF, WHICH HOUSES THE TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INITIATED TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE TEXANS TO THE COUNTRY MUSICK INDUSTRY; THE HAYRIDE HAS LONG BEEN A VENUE3 FOR LOCAL SINGERS AND PICKERS TO SHOCASE THEIR TALENTS ON STAGE IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE. THESE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS HAVE HONED THEIR VOICES AND POLISHED THEIR MUSICIANSHIP ON THE HAYRIDE STAGE. THE MUSIC HAS EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS TO INCLUDE GOSPEL AND EVEN SOURHERN ROCK. THE SETTING FOR THIS VARIETY OF LIVE MUSIC HAS BEEN IN THE BUILDING ON AN OLD MOVIE THEATER. THEESQUIRE WAS BUILT IN 1949. NATURALLY, AS THE YEARS PASSED THE ESQUIRE BEGAN TO SHOW OLD MOVIES IN THE NOSTALGIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE 50'S & 60'S. ONCE AGAIN, THIS LOCATION JUST OFF THE SQUARE IN DOWTOWN CARTHAGE, FOUND ANOTHER SOURCE OF AMUSEMENT FOR LIVE AUDIENCES. THE REVOLUTION OF ENTERTAINMENT VIA A "LIVE SH