Mule Day saddles up to celebrate 50th year with Clay Walker as Grand Marshal

A Columbia staple dating back nearly 200 years will be marking its 1974 revival's 50th anniversary, an event steeped in local tradition, which continues to draw hundreds of thousands to "Mule Town" each year.

Mule Day is set to kick off the week of April 1-7, bringing back all of the usual favorites starting with the Mule Day Wagon Train rolling into town, capped off with the annual Mule Day Parade in downtown Columbia.

More: 'My biggest day': Bitty Crozier, 94, recalls leading first Mule Day parade on her pony

This year marks 50 years since the annual festival experienced its 20th century revival, drawing in thousands of locals, farmers, and out-of-town tourists year after year, only being canceled twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

"Mule Day is a fantastic event in Maury County, and we are very fortunate to have it here," Louise Mills, who has been an organizer of the festival since 1986, said. "A lot of planning has gone into it for so many years, because we started this in 1974, and it's still going on. It's really going strong, and for me it's been fun."

Clay Walker to lead parade as Grand Mashal

Mule Day Office organizers are currently hard at work making final plans for this year's festivities, announcing this week that country artist and local resident Clay Walker will lead the parade as the 2024 Mule Day Grand Marshal.

"He's a local, and we like to celebrate our local people anytime we can," Mandy Mills, another key organizer for this year's Mule Day said.

This year's Mule Day will also pay tribute to late and longtime Mule Day organizer Dave Skillington, who passed away Dec. 9, 2023. Skillington was given the distinction of this year's honorary grand marshal for his many years of service as a key player in Mule Day's longevity. His family is scheduled to ride in the parade in his honor.

"He did a lot for Mule Day, and his family was here at some of the first, and he worked hard to get Mule Day off the ground," Mills said.

This year's Mule Man, a new title introduced last year, is Bernis White, another longtime Mule Day supporter. Mills said what makes the Mule Man honor so special is that they aren't nominated by the Mule Day Board, but by the public.

"We take nominations, and he's been really involved in Mule Day and the mule community," Mills said. "He brings his own wagon train in, camp and participates in the parade."

Mule Day Queen with something a little extra

Last month, Anissa Grimes of Columbia State Community College was crowned as this year's Mule Day Queen.

As part of her role in this year's events, Grimes suggested adding an additional member to her court, honorary Mule Day Queen Carly McGee.

"This was Anissa's idea, and she will be riding in the parade behind the queen's float," Mills said. "She's been battling cancer for over a year, and this just feels right."

Another new feature this year geared toward students is Mule Day's first $7,500 Mule Day Work scholarship giveaway for students studying in CTE training.

For more information or to register for the Mule Day Work scholarship, as well as the full schedule and other Mule Day features, visit Mule Day's main website at www.MuleDay.com.

"That's something we are really excited about this year," Mills said. "We're going to do three $2,500 scholarships, and of course we are hoping to increase that and be able to help all kids in Maury County. It's open to Maury County students or students in the Maury County Bridle & Saddle Club. We always give back to the community, and it's really important people know about this, because we want to invest in the future."

Mule Day 2024's schedule:

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 20249 a.m. - Wagon Train Departs

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2024Mid-Afternoon - Wagon Train Arrives at Maury County Park

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024 10 a.m. to7 p.m. - Mule Day Craft Fair10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Live Music - Main Stage12 p.m. - Old Fashioned Log Pulling Competition – Main Arena1 p.m. - Dog Show - Old Arena2 p.m. - Feed Time Race – Main Arena4 p.m. - Jackpot Mule Races – Main Arena4 p.m. - Miss Mule Day Pageant - Old Arena 7 p.m. - Bluegrass Music Fest – Columbia Central High School

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 202410 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Mule Day Craft Fair10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Live Music - Main Stage10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Ham & White Bean Plates (Nell Wright Senior Center)12 p.m. - Driving Mule Show – Old Arena12 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, 20248 a.m. - Maury Regional Mule Kick 5K Race10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Mule Day Craft Fair10 a.m. to 7p.m. - Live Music at Main Stage11 a.m. - Mule Day Parade - Downtown Columbia11 a.m. - Mule Pulling Contest - Main Arena12 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, 20249 a.m. - Worship Service - Main Stage9 a.m. - Riding Mule Show - Old Arena10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Mule Day Craft Fair12 p.m. - Mini Mania Mule Show - Old Arena12 p.m. - Riding Mule Show - Main Arena

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Mule Day celebrates 50th year with Clay Walker as Grand Marshal