MULE DAY
April, Columbia, Tennessee
If it’s the first week of April, then MULE DAY is happening in Columbia, TN (unless Easter happens to fall on the first April weekend in which case Mule Day will be on the second). Columbia is less than an hour south of Nashville on I-65 so it’s easy to get to this fun event. Mule Day’s ancestry goes back to the 1800’s when farmers brought their livestock – especially fine mules – to Columbia for the First Monday sale in April. Decades later, farmers and weekend farmers bring their mules to Columbia, not to trade, but to exhibit and have fun.
Photo courtesy Mule Day in Columbia
Where else can you find thousands of people – young and old – and hundreds of mules having a good time? Upwards of 700 mules participate in the wagon train which precedes the opening of Mule Day, the Saturday parade in downtown Columbia, a log loading competition, a driving show, a gaited mule show, a mule pulling, a draft mule show, a mini mania show and a riding mule show all at the Maury County Park. These mules come in every shape, size and color. You will see more types of mules than you ever imagined existed.
Even if mules aren’t your “thing”, you will still have lots of fun at this event. There’s plenty of music every day plus a Blue Grass Music Fest as well as clogging and square dancing. On Thursday night, special entertainment is provided in the Main Arena.
If you like to shop, there’s none better than this. Arts and crafts booths as well as a flea market offer shopping in all categories. You can buy fashion accessories, including mule themed items, as well as tack for your animals or gear for yourself. It’s all so tempting you can’t leave empty-handed.
Speaking of tempting, there’s almost every type food you can imagine and all of it good. Everything from catfish to gyros to barbeque to fried pies and funnel cakes is offered for your enjoyment. The one thing you won’t find on the menu is any type alcoholic beverage. That is prohibited from the area.
The event that draws the largest crowd at one time is the parade in Downtown Columbia on Saturday. Beginning at 11, the parade usually ends between 12:30 and 1 p.m. as there are generally hundreds of entries. Riding behind the grand marshal, are mule drawn wagons, colorful floats, costumed riders (and occasionally the animal also), and individual riders young and old enjoying the day.
Mule Day offers good, clean family entertainment for all ages. It can bring back memories of days past; if you’re young, you’ll get a glimpse of how things used to be. You will not want to miss it. There is no charge for the parade and entrance into the park is nominal with children admitted free.
For more information on Columbia’s Mule Day visit www.muleday.com.
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