Mule Day: Wagon Train rolls into Maury County Park for 50th festival celebration
Mule Day in Columbia has officially begun as the festival's annual wagon train of mules, horses and riders once again took the multi-day trek across the region and into Maury County Park.
While Mule Day's 50th anniversary and weeklong festivities are highlighted by Saturday's parade, as well as popular events like the Liar's Contest, dog shows, live music, and keystone mule competitions, food and more. Though for many, the Mule Day Wagon Train is one of the most special and authentic events, which sets the mood, serving as a beacon signaling festivalgoers that Muletown fun has only just begun.
More: Mule Day saddles up to celebrate 50th year with Clay Walker as Grand Marshal
More: 'Lifelong dream worth sharing': Mule Day Queen shares crown with 20-year-old fighting cancer
This year's wagon train featured about 21 wagons, which traversed many miles starting in Santa Fe Monday. Organizers say that this year's trip went "fairly smoothly," although Tuesday's inclement weather caused the train to stall for a day out of safety reasons for the riders and animals.
"The Wagon Train is definitely my favorite thing, as well as the parade. This year, we stayed in Santa Fe at the Coon Hunter's Club, and we did 16 miles Monday," Wagon Train Director Makenzie English said. "With the risk of tornados [Tuesday], I didn't want all of those people out with the possibility for that. We tried to keep everybody safe."
Though it's her first year as the wagon train director, English said her family has a long history with Mule Day going back to the 1970s. As a generational participant herself, part of the joy each year is seeing the tradition passed down to children and young people. Passing down the tradition is not only so they experience Mule Day as a youth, but that one day they too might find themselves carrying on the tradition of leading the annual wagon train into town.
"I want to keep it going and get more young people involved," she said.
Tuesday's delay was only a minor setback, however, as the train resumed its path into Columbia, making its final destination at Maury County Park at about 3 p.m. Wednesday.
"We hated not getting to ride Tuesday, but it's one of those unfortunate incidents that happens every once in a while, and it wouldn't be Mule Day without this kind of weather," Assistant Wagon Train Director Allen Potete said. "We're definitely excited about this year, especially once we get up here and everybody starts shuffling in this time of the week. It all starts filling up."
Potete added that riding into the park in celebration of Mule Day's 50th anniversary since its 1974 revival has added an extra level of excitement, and this is just the beginning of what's bound to be a week of reunions, events, good food, and celebrating Mule Day's longstanding tradition.
"The 50th year on anything is always big, and I personally feel like it's a big thing for Mule Day, the wagon train and Columbia," Potete said. "We were afraid for a time back when COVID made us not have it for a year or two, and we didn't know if they weren't going to have it anymore at all. Luckily, we're back on track and doing good."
For more information on this year's Mule Day, a schedule of events and more, visit www.MuleDay.com.
The 2024 Mule Day schedule of events include:
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Mule Day Craft Fair
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Live Music - Main Stage
12 p.m. - Old Fashioned Log Pulling Competition – Main Arena
1 p.m. - Dog Show - Old Arena
2 p.m. - Feed Time Race – Main Arena
4 p.m. - Jackpot Mule Races – Main Arena
4 p.m. - Miss Mule Day Pageant - Old Arena
7 p.m. - Bluegrass Music Fest – Columbia Central High School
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Mule Day Craft Fair
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Live Music - Main Stage
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Ham & White Bean Plates (Nell Wright Senior Center)
12 p.m. - Driving Mule Show – Old Arena
12 p.m. - State Auctioneer Contest, United Producers, Inc. Livestock Sale Barn Columbia, TN
4 p.m. - Cart Barrel Races - Main Arena
6 p.m. - Gaited Mule Show – Old Arena
6 p.m. - Tony Malugin, Live Music & Line Dancing – Ridley 4-H Center
7 p.m. - Liars' Contest Mule Tales - Columbia Central High School
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024
8 a.m. - Maury Regional Mule Kick 5K Race
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Mule Day Craft Fair
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Live Music at Main Stage
11 a.m. - Mule Day Parade - Downtown Columbia
11 a.m. - Mule Pulling Contest - Main Arena
12 p.m. - Skillington Draft Mule Show - Old Arena
6 p.m. - Urban Cowboy, Line Dancing & Mule Town Stompers - Ridley 4-H Center
SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024
9 a.m. - Worship Service - Main Stage
9 a.m. - Riding Mule Show - Old Arena
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mule Day Craft Fair
12 p.m. - Mini Mania Mule Show - Old Arena
12 p.m. - Riding Mule Show - Main Arena
Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Mule Day: Wagon Train rolls into Maury County Park for 50th festival
