Mule Day is a multi-day celebration held in early April in Columbia, Tennessee, the self-declared 'Mule Capital of the World.' It began in the 1840s as Breeder's Day, a single-day mule market, and grew into a four-day festival featuring a Saturday parade, mule-driving and pulling contests, crafts, flea markets, and Appalachian food, drawing more than 200,000 visitors to Maury County.
Long before it became a parade and a party, Mule Day was strictly business.
Mule Day's roots run deeper than almost any other festival on this list: it began in the 1840s as a single-day livestock market for mule breeders, reflecting Maury County's historic role as one of the largest mule-trading centers in the world
The modern parade tradition dates to 1934, when local organizer Thomas Marion Brown designed a Mule Day Crown, still on display at the Maury County Public Library, and led the first Mule Day Parade for about seven years as its inaugural Grand Marshal
The event has been cancelled only twice in its history, in 1942 after Pearl Harbor and in 2020 for COVID-19, and it briefly drew national attention in 2006 when a federal terrorism-target database listing the parade was reported in the New York Times
The signature tradition is the Saturday Mule Day Parade
running continuously since 1934
in which decorated floats compete for awards and a Grand Marshal
drawn in past years from figures such as coaching legend Pat Summitt and gospel singer Guy Penrod
leads the procession
Mule-driving
working-mule
and best-of-breed competitions preserve skills tied directly to Maury County's history as a major mule-trading hub
Dates TBA · Usually April
Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Early April in Middle Tennessee is unpredictable, with cool mornings, mild afternoons, and a real chance of rain or mud around the livestock areas, so layered clothing and sturdy, closed-toe...
Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.
Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.
Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.
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Mule Day is listed for April · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Columbia, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Columbia, TN
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