Mule Day, Annual spring festival in Columbia, Tennessee, US.
Mule Day is an annual spring festival held in Columbia, Tennessee, featuring mule shows, competitions, parades, and farming demonstrations. The event takes place over several days in April, with activities spread between downtown streets and Maury County Park.
The gathering traces back to 1840, when traders and farmers met in Columbia to buy and sell livestock and do business. It became an organized annual event in 1934 and has been held every year since.
Mules were the backbone of farming life across Maury County for generations, and this festival keeps that connection visible and alive. Visitors can watch handlers work with their animals in ways that reflect how daily life on a farm once looked.
The main parade on Saturday morning draws the largest crowds, so arriving early in the day helps you find a good spot along the route. Comfortable shoes are a good idea since activities are spread across several locations in and around downtown.
Mule Day is widely regarded as the largest mule festival in the world, drawing handlers and animals from across many states. The competitions include a range of breeds, showing how varied these animals can be in size and build.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
