They come from far and near. They bring some of the most stubborn yet revered working animals to Benson every year when the Johnston County town celebrates Mule Days.
This year’s celebration — the 67th to be exact — began its annual takeover as livestock owners, carnival rides, rodeo workers and horses, mules and donkeys of all shapes and sizes gathered at Chamber Park.
The Kiwanis Club of Benson handles the duties for checking in and registering those who chose the park for their campsites.
Despite the wet weather that provided a small reminder of Mule Days’ past, the campsites were starting to fill up Thursday at Chamber Park.
“We’ve got about 90 percent of the campsites taken,” Kiwanis member Carl Horkavey explained. “There are a few that we can’t use because of the rain. But we’ve got the majority of them taken.” Thursday was a prelude to things to come.
As you drove down the streets of Benson you got a taste of days gone by as mule trains pulling carts and wagons slowed traffic in front of Carlie C’s IGA.
Just down the street, and off in the distance, passing motorists could see a glimpse of the carnival rides being assembled on the open field at 500 Market Street.
As you turned down toward the carnival, horses and their riders made their way on a morning stroll, while back near Carlie C’s another group of riders were enjoying the morning.
If you have to define Mule Days to a stranger, you could do it best with those glimpses of a sort of tranquility that seemed to dust the town in this year’s celebration’s infancy.
The centerpiece for the younger set would likely be the carnival. It runs each day through Sunday and offers armbands for $25 good for unlimited rides.
Entertainment
Some would find the entertainment as their oasis during the celebration. Thursday brought the Singing Grove to life as a free concert from two local bands — the Justin West Band and the Jonathan Parker Band — set the standard.
Friday’s lineup of entertainers could also be a centerpiece for some. From 6 to 8 p.m. the gospel sounds of The Hinson Girls will keep some clapping while others might find a respite listening to the offerings of Deejay Hugh Jackson who will be in the vendor area behind the Singing Grove from 7 p.m. until midnight.
More entertainment flows on Saturday as nationally known bluegrass band Diamond Creek entertains on the Singing Grove stage from 12:30 to 3 p.m. They precede more gospel music — this time from the Hickory Grove Quartet. They’ll be on the same stage from 3 to 5 p.m.
The music downtown comes to a crescendo on Saturday night at 8 when the American Legion sponsors a dance featuring the band Whiskey River.
All of the downtown entertainment, with the exception of the $8 per person admittance fee to the American Legion dance, is free.
Parade
For many the highlight of Mule Days is the parade. It’s one of the largest parades in North Carolina and will feature just about anything you can imagine.
It gets started at 10 a.m. downtown.
The parade will finish off just in time for celebrants to fill their bellies with barbecue served up by White Swan restaurant. It’s available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If that’s not enough to keep you entertained on Saturday, there’s an all-day Arts and Craft Show to compliment the vendors on hand. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Downtown activity winds down on Sunday when the Mule City Cowboy Church Service takes place in the Singing Grove at 9 a.m. ahead of the final session of the carnival from 1 to 5 p.m.
Back at Chamber Park, things will offer an entertaining weekend in other ways.
Today there’s the centerpiece for all of the mules, donkeys and horses when the annual Mule Judging Competition takes place in Nowell Smith Arena.
Saturday offers another parade of sorts as well. The Mule Days Trail Ride begins at 2:30 p.m. at the corner of McLamb-Tart Road and U.S. 301.
Perhaps the excitement of the Southern Rodeo Association is what gets the heart pounding.
If that’s the case then guests are in for a real treat. Tonight and Saturday night Nowell Smith Arena will come to life with bronc busting, bull riding, roping and barrel racing.
It all begins at 7:30 p.m. each day with a $15 admission charge for folks 6 and older. Ages 5 and younger are free.
“If people ain’t never been they need to come,” said Rodeo boss Dennis “Strawberry” Pruitt. “There’s lots of excitement it’s a part of the American heritage.”
Strawberry says it can take the audience to a place in the past without all of the fuss of time travel.
“It just goes back years and years to the old cowboys,” he said. “It’s a tradition that we just want to keep living. So, it’s a good event and clean family fun.”
The rodeo is the nightcap both tonight and Saturday night, there’s also a youth rodeo on Sunday at 2 p.m.
If you’re one of those folks who just wants to let someone else do the driving, well you’re in luck there also.
Free trolley rides are available throughout the remainder of the weekend. Pickup and drop-off spots are the corner of Parrish and Elm, Chamber Park and the carnival.
Golf Tournament
There’s one last thing almost lost in the flurry of activity downtown, Mule Days got off to an early start on Sept. 16. That’s when the Benson Mule Days Golf Tournament took place at Reedy Creek Golf Course.
Final results from the tournament saw Brian Hood , Mark Untz, Kevin Stockwell and Scott West claim the win in the Championship Flight.
Topping Flight One were Scotty Parker, Chuck Gregory, Kenny Coats and Ricky Moore.
Flight Two was won by the team of Brian Veniez, Skip Dickson, Travis Hible and Robbie Bauman.
Special prizes for closest to the pin in the men’s competition went to Louis Peterson while longest drive went to Brent Smith.
The ladies longest drive winner was Kirstin Parrott.
The winners in the Bleeker Give-Away included Max Raynor who took home a 50-inch flat screen TV and Larry Herring who won a Titleist Golf Bag. – The Daily Record
