2007, October 13, 27th Mule Day Southern Heritage Fest

Mule Day Southern Heritage fest expects great weather, big crowd
"We're calling for perfect weather and lots of fun for the whole family," said new Chamber of Commerce President Blake Thompson. "Everybody come on out and enjoy Mule Day like we used to."

The promised weather should bring crowds to the 27th annual Mule Day Southern Heritage Festival all day Saturday, October 13. As in years past, local families and visitors from all over the area will step back in time to the days of mule plowing and other old-fashioned skills at the Callaway Plantation.

Young people, too, can take part in Young Eagle flights across the road at Washington-Wilkes County Airport.

This year's Mule Day events will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and for the first time admission will only be $5 a carload, rather than $5 a person.

"We really want local folks to come out," said Tourism Director Ashley Barnett, "so we're lowering the price of admission to just $5 a carload. Mule Day will be bigger, with more activities and fun things to do this year, and we want local folks to come back out."

To draw more people to shop in Washington, she said, participating Washington merchants are offering a 10 percent discount for those with a Mule Day wristband.

Children can participate in plowing with a mule and enjoy a petting zoo, a kiddy train, and special games.

For adults, there will be arts and crafts vendors, numerous food vendors, a horseshoe tournament, and more.

Visitors can tour several buildings on the plantation, including the 1869 Greek Revival brick house, the 1790 two-story Federal Plainstyle house, and the 1785 one-room rough-hewn log cabin. Volunteers will be demonstrating old-time skills such as weaving, rope-making, and blacksmithing in the homes.

In addition to the kids' activities at Callaway, Chris Hughes, Washington Wilkes airport operator, has arranged for at least one pilot, Keith Donker of Evans, to give "Young Eagles" plane flights to children and youth ages 8 to 17 at the airport.

"We're hoping for more than one plane to give rides," Hughes said, "if Keith can get some fellow pilots to come. We really like to introduce kids to aviation, to spark their interest in flying."

Last year Donker gave some 50 kids their first taste of flying, and will return for flights Saturday start- ing at 10 a.m.

Back on the ground, mule owners will be bringing their best mules to demonstrate plowing and other mule drawn equipment early on Saturday. Anyone with draft mules or cotton mules is invited to come to Mule Day and participate in the contests, mulemeister Ed Pope III said.

Visitors may even get to try their hand at plowing behind a mule, but Pope reminds visitors that the mule events start early and have often been complete by early afternoon.

For family researchers and Callaway kin, genealogist and family historian Samuel Taylor Geer will be signing copies of his new book, "Callaways of Western Wilkes County, Georgia: Ancestors, Descendants and Allied Families of John and Bethany Arnold Callaway." Released last month by Gateway Press, the book highlights one of the earliest branches of the Callaway family to come to Wilkes County.

For more information, call the Chamber at 706-678-2013.
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