Mule Day

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MULE DAY - Washington, Georgia's Southern Heritage Festival
October 17, 2026 / 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
$5 per person, Free Parking So what's Mule Day?

The Mule was the original "tractor" for early American farms. Imagine being without your car; that's how vital the Mule was for early farmers. At one time, Wilkes County was home to over 9000 (yes, nine thousand) mules. Mule Day activities include Plowing Demonstrations, and a Mule Obstacle Challenge. Wait, there's more! Live music, art and craft vendors, demonstrations of blacksmithing, woodworking, soap making and cornhusk weaving. There's a Quilt show at the old schoolhouse, a turpentine still, magic elixirs, food vendors, old tractors, activities for kids, and more. Mule Day - a Southern Heritage Festival, started in 1981 as a fundraiser for the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. Since then, it has grown into Wilkes County's largest annual festival. We look forward to having you join us for a day of fun at the Callaway Plantation.

10/20/2026

What a day at Mule Day! 🐴

Even with all the ups and downs of rescheduling, we had a wonderful time celebrating with everyone. Thank you to all who came out and helped make the day special!

Congratulations to our contest winners:

🏆 Best Jelly: Emily Pulliam
🏆 Best Jam: Kaylei McGagee
🏆 Sweet Pickles: Deloris Moore
🏆 Dill Pickle: Ashley Ellis
🏆 Preserves: Kaylei McGahee
🏆 Longest Beard: Ed Weimer
🏆 Best Groomed Beard: Michael Hitt
🏆 Best Overall Beard: Jack Leard

The cake walks were a huge hit! A big thank-you to the ladies of Tignall Baptist Church and Prive’ Breads for baking away for us. 🍰

Thank you to Sheryl Lawry of The Sudsy Ginger Bath & Body Care for donating beard care boxes for our beard contest winners!

We’re grateful to all our demonstrators, volunteers and sponsors who help make this event happen every year. We couldn’t do it without you!

We’d love to see your Mule Day photos! Please share them in the comments below. 📸

10/13/2026

🐴🎶 LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN—MULE DAY IS THIS SATURDAY!

Bring a chair, come hungry, and plan to stay awhile! Listen to some great music, watch the demonstrations, maybe even paint a horse, and eat until we have to drag you back to the car! 😉🍗🍰

Our volunteers, vendors, demonstrators are ready to get this show on the road! Come help us celebrate the 45th Annual Mule Day with a day full of food, fun, and tradition.

📅 Saturday, October 17
🕘 9 AM–4 PM
📍 Callaway Plantation, Washington, GA
🎟️ $5 admission • Ages 5 and under FREE
🚗 FREE parking

See you Saturday—let’s make it worth the wait! 🐴💛

10/09/2026

🐴🌧️ MULE DAY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 17!

We’re country—we can handle a little rain—but a hurricane might get a little irritating for the mules! 😉

All jokes aside, we have decided to reschedule the 45th Annual Mule Day to help keep our visitors, demonstrators, vendors, volunteers, and animals safe.

Mule Day may last just one day, but it takes an entire year of planning and countless helping hands to bring it to life. From coordinating demonstrations and preparing the grounds to organizing vendors, activities, and all the little details, so much happens before the first visitor arrives.

Our volunteers and demonstrators give generously of their time, energy, and talents to keep this tradition alive. Many spend months preparing, gathering supplies, getting equipment and animals ready, and making arrangements to spend the day with us. We are deeply grateful for the heart and hard work they put into Mule Day. 💛

Traditionally held on the second Saturday in October, this event means so much to our community. Moving it is a difficult decision, but everyone’s safety comes first.

📅 NEW DATE: Saturday, October 17, 2026
📍 Same place: Callaway Plantation, Washington, GA
🕘 Same time: 9 AM–4 PM

🍂🎶 With this change, you can enjoy a full day of fun in Wilkes County! Start at Mule Day, then head into downtown Washington for the Fall Festival and Porch Picking, happening from 12–9 PM! Enjoy the mules, explore town, grab something delicious, and stay for the music!

We understand the new date may not work for everyone, especially those who have already put so much into preparing. We’re sorry for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience, flexibility, and continued support.

The mules will be waiting—just a little longer! 🐴💛 Please help us spread the word by sharing this update!

10/06/2026

🐴 A big Mule Day thank-you to DDMI Tires & L**e and Busby Sanitation!

🚜 DDMI is helping keep us rolling by getting the tires on our wagons ready to go!

🗑️ Busby Sanitation is supplying all the trash cans for the day, helping us keep Callaway Plantation clean and welcoming!

We appreciate the work behind the scenes that helps make the 45th Annual Mule Day possible. Please join us in thanking and supporting these businesses! ❤️

See you Saturday, October 10, from 9 AM–4 PM at Callaway Plantation!

10/06/2026

See you Saturday October 17th 9-4 at Mule Day! 2160 Lexington Rd, Washington GA

10/05/2026

🐴 Thank you to our Mule Day Community Sponsors!

As we get ready for the 45th Annual Mule Day, we want to recognize these businesses and organizations for helping make this beloved tradition possible:

🌟 Wilkes County Veterinary
🌟 Wildlife Action
🌟 Tena’s Jewelry
🌟 Rayle Electric
🌟 All Wood Equipment
🌟 Precision Solutions
🌟 Farmers State Bank
🌟 Barnett Southern
🌟 Ketrow Novelli Enterprises

Your generosity helps bring a day of history, heritage, and family fun to Washington–Wilkes. We appreciate your support and the role you play in our community! ❤️

Please join us in thanking and supporting our sponsors!

🐴 See you Saturday, October 10, from 9 AM–4 PM at Callaway Plantation for the 45th Annual Mule Day!

10/03/2026

🚗🚜 Thank you to the following Mule Day sponsors for sponsoring the Car, Truck & Tractor Show!

🏡 J Brand Realty
Based in Washington, J Brand Realty helps buyers and sellers with homes, land, farms, and commercial properties throughout Northeast Georgia. Broker and owner Jenny Brown Strother brings extensive experience in forestry and rural real estate, with a specialty in timberland, recreational land, and farms.

🌲 Strother Timber
With family roots in logging dating back to the 1930s, Washington’s Strother Timber carries on a tradition spanning generations. Rob Strother was recognized as the 2023–24 Georgia Logger of the Year, celebrating his work and dedication to the forestry industry.

We appreciate your support and commitment to our community! Your generosity helps make the 45th Annual Mule Day a day of heritage and family fun.

Join us Saturday, October 10, from 9 AM–4 PM at Callaway Plantation, and stop by the Car, Truck & Tractor Show from 10 AM–2 PM!

10/02/2026

🐴 Thank you for helping keep the Mule Day tradition alive!

We’re grateful to these local businesses for supporting the 45th Annual Mule Day:

🏡 Thompson Gas & Oil — Heard Log Cabin Sponsor
Located at 115 Garland Avenue in Washington, Thompson Gas & Oil offers gasoline, diesel, premium lubricants, and tires for passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, and farm equipment.
📞 706-678-2522

⚒️ Archer’s Tree Service — Blacksmith Shop Sponsor
Owner Eric Archer brings more than 35 years of experience to serving Washington, Wilkes County, and surrounding communities. Services include tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, bush hogging, and emergency storm cleanup.
📞 706-319-2108

🏫 Court Street Livery — Schoolhouse Sponsor
Planning a special occasion? Court Street Livery is a charming historic event venue at 16 West Court Street, just off Washington’s town square. This beautiful 1890s barn offers space for weddings, parties, banquets, meetings, and other celebrations.
📞 404-219-9938

Your sponsorship helps us share the history, heritage, and hands-on experiences that make Mule Day so special. Please join us in thanking—and supporting—these businesses! ❤️

Come celebrate with us Saturday, October 10, from 9 AM–4 PM at Callaway Plantation!

Address

2160 Lexington Road
Washington, GA
30673

Website

http://www.WashingtonWilkes.org/

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