2023 April 1, Mule Day Parada Columbia and Mount Pleasant, TN. Grill & Museum

 Hubby and I had an excellent April 1st (April Fools' Day) We stopped at Jack in Lawrenceburg for breakfast. I ordered their single gravy, sausage, and biscuits. Hubby ordered their big breakfast with pancakes.

We rode to Columbia to watch the Mule Day Parade. Arrived a little early and found a place to sit. There were thousands of people there for the parade and other events. The parade began at 11:00 AM and was over a little after 12.  The Grand Marshall was Mike Wolfe from America Pickers.

At the end of the parade were a couple of big sweeper trucks to clean up all the horse and Mule poop.

Grand Marshall Mike Wolfe 

An unusual float, the Solo Cup 

Mules and Horses 

We left Columbia and drove through Mt Pleasant, stopping at Mt Pleasant Grill. It didn't appear much, but we thought we would try it. It was a lot bigger on the inside and very nice. The food was great. A little spicy and cooked differently. It was tender, fresh, and delicious. We definitely will eat there again. 

Fried Catfish, Fried Okra, Cole Slaw 

We asked about the museum next door, and one of the waitresses said it was worth seeing. So we toured the museum. It was filled with lots of memorabilia about the town. The things you would see in a doctor's office, war artifacts, gowns, dresses, furniture, and so much more.

doctor office

I bought several note cards: The Hamilton Place, The St Johns Episcopal Church, Walnut Grove, Rippavilla, and Fountain Creek Mills. (historic homes, church, and mill). The curator tried to sell us a 2023 Farmers Almanac she was telling us about some of the things she had read in it. 

Walked outside to the nearby park, where I saw those beautiful tin flowers and 2 blooming dogwood trees. The perfect time of the year to be blooming. We had a great time except for the 30 MPH winds. We saw hats, trash, and cotton candy flying everywhere. One bag blew off the vendor's rack and spooked several horses. All in all, it was a great day.

Dogwood Trees

2018 Dec 15, Leipers Fork Christmas Parade Leipers Fork, Tennessee

Hubby and I rode to Leipers Fork to attend the Christmas Parade, it was one of the biggest crowds I had ever seen.

The crowd at Leipers Fork Parade 

John Snider(Bo Duke) from Dukes of Hazzard was the Grand Marshal. John rode atop a replica of the Bright Orange General Lee #1 from the Dukes of Hazzard Show (1979-85).
Followed by the Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane's Police Car.

John Snider, Grand Marshal 

Kid Rock came riding in a White Car that had a bull horn on the front grill, packing guns on both sides of the car. The backside on the tire covering was Hank Jr. Kick Rocks & Michigan Plates 64 Nudie with shotgun, horses, and horseshoes on the trunk, fenders, and bumper.
The kid was dressed in White, trimmed in gold, and wearing a black hat, drinking a Cooler Light beer.
The guy from American Pickers came riding in the parade in a Polaris Jeep.

Kid Rock and his granddaughter

We saw a Grinch 

Cindy Lou-Who 

Santa Clause in his sleigh with Reindeer 

Hubby and I stopped at Jack's Restaurant in Lawrenceburg for breakfast. I ordered a sausage and cheese biscuit.
Hubby ordered a big breakfast.
We arrived at Leipers Fork around 11:00 AM, set up our chairs, and walked around taking pictures and talking to local shop owners.

Christmas Ball hanging from the ceiling at one of the local stores also in the attic area was a Manger Scene 

People already had a chair set up in front of Pucketts Grocery, a local restaurant. 

fireplace a warm, cozy spot 

Cowboy boot Sign

There were several portlets set up, but not near enough for the crowd.
Where we sat were a couple of firepits with marshmallows and gram crackers to make smores.
It was nice to sit by the fire it was an overcast day with temperatures around 50+ degrees with some sun.
At the portlets, I met a woman who was building a house in the Leipers Fork area. She said we have 2 dogs and 2 cats, and they were renting in the Nashville area but were originally from Atlanta, GA.
I also met a woman wearing a Mad Hatter hat, she was covered in Christmas rope, bells, and balls.
She gave me and the woman next to me a bell. I tied my bell on my tennis shoe, and everywhere I went, I would hear bells, I forgot it was me that was ringing.
I met a family from near Dickson, TN, she said she was an artist, and he was a landscaper (from Nashville until he married). They had two children, and they had never been to the Leipers Fork Parade. I told them they were in for a treat. They were waiting to eat at a local restaurant, and when the parade began, they came and stood nearby. The man said after they ate that, the kids rode horses in the fields, and there they saw Kid Rock.
The little girl said she wanted one of the bears that were going to be thrown out during the parade. Both she and her brother caught two each.
They left after the bears were thrown out.
Hubby and I both made smores, but they sure were messy. The parade began around 2:30PM  and lasted until about 4 or a little after the sun was setting, and it was beginning to get dark. The cleanup crew began to clean up all the debris left from the parade and the crowd. Hubby and I sat by the fire pit as we watched a steady stream of cars leave the grass-filled parking area.
A young man stoked the fire, and we warmed our hands and bodies.
A man with his daughter was warming up at the fire pit. We were talking about the Shoals area that we were from, and the man said that he had a friend who played in a band that played at the Shoals Marriott.
We finally braved the traffic and began our travel home.
At 5:22 PM, we stopped at Panda Express in Sring Hill.

End of the parade, and the sun was setting. 

We ordered broccoli and beef, honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, chow mein, egg roll, and 3 creams cheese Rangoon.

We ordered broccoli and beef, honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, chow mein, egg roll, and 3 creams cheese Rangoon.

At 7PM, we stopped at Big Lots in Lawrenceburg for some bread and Archway gingerbread cookies.

(I love me some gingerbread cookies) we bought three bags and a bag of Archway gingersnaps. 

We were home around 7:30, took a hot shower, put on my pajamas, crawled into my warm bed, turned on the TV, and were asleep in no time.
Hubby had a great day; it was a little on the cool side, overcast, and the sun tried to sneak out a time or two. Saw John Snider, Kid Rock, and the guy from American Pickers. Made a few new friends, ate some good food, and had a safe trip home.

2016 April 2, Saturday Mule Day Parade in Columbia, TN

I once again find myself on the road alone. I rode to Columbia Tennessee to watch the Mule Day parade. I found a parking spot whipped my van into an empty spot. I got my camera, cell phone, coat, and chair and walked across the road. 

I picked out a spot opened my chair and sat down. Decided it was too cold so I went back to the van for my bigger coat. 

Both sides of the road started filling up. 

I went back to my chair and I sat patiently waiting for the parade.

A couple from Sheffield sat right next to me. They said this was the first time coming to the parade. We discussed which direction the parade was coming neither of us sure. 

The woman's husband said he was going to walk down the road to Hardees to use the restroom and for some snacks. 

The woman placed two chairs next to mine and we began to talk. 

It never fails that I meet someone I know or someone from the same area. She asks me where I went to church and I told her thinking she had never heard of our church. Wrong! She knew a couple that had been going to our church for years. It goes to show, that we should behave where ever we go. The Lord is watching us and he is sending his angles to make sure we behave.

The man returned, stayed only a few minutes before he was wearing short pants and he told his wife it was too cold to sit outside so he went back to his car. 

He told his wife to call him on his cell phone when the parade began.

There were over two hundred entries in the parade which made for a very long parade. 

I was taking pictures with my big camera as well as taking videos with my cell phone. 

Once I heard a man say the horse almost sniffed your butt. I had turned around and was taking pictures of the parade that had already passed. I was standing very close to the road so I could get pictures of the parade. The parade started with a motorcycle police escort. Next was men & women dressed in black pants and vest-wearing yellow shirts carrying the US Flag and three other flags. One was red, white and blue with three stars in the middle. May have been the Tennessee State Flag. The other two were different shades of blue. 

Mule Day Parade

Next, we saw the grand marshal riding in a wagon being pulled by two dark gray and black mules.

Next, we saw a couple of brown mules pulling the first, second, third and fourth runners-up of the Mule Day court. The girls were dressed in orange, green, purple and white gowns
Next was a couple of white mules pulling a red wagon.
We saw wagons being pulled by one mule, two mules, three mules, and four mules. 
We saw people riding mules, horses, & ponies in every shape and color. 
We saw a young girl dressed in blue, she was riding a brown and white horse, and she was waving to the crowd. Many riders were dressed in western attire. Many of the horses and mules were harnessed in black,& silver.
There was a couple of riders pulling a horse without a rider. They said that they lost their rider. 

We saw floats, horses, and riders.
We saw a 1394 train with wheels rolling down the road. 

We saw a bright blue Corvette in the parade.
We saw a man wearing a red, white and blue flag shirt. He had an American flag hanging on the back of his wagon, that was pulled my two miniature mules. 
He was wearing a smile on his face. 

Mule Day Parade

We saw a group of very scary clowns. Their float turns at the entrance of the academy just before they reached us. 

Mule Day Parade

We saw a man riding a brown mule he was wearing a red shirt and a long white beard. He could be Santa Clause at Christmas. 

We saw a girl riding a horse with orange hoofs, orange ears and tail.
We saw a float with "Old George" a mule and a man singing.
We saw an all white male with orange hoofs. 
We saw a wagon train. 

Mule Day Parade

In the distance, we could see the wagon train, the crowds of people watching the parade passed as it crossed the highway headed up the hill to the Maury County Park. 

Mule Day Parade

A very pretty pair of mules

Many riders had their pets

Many different riders

We had riders in jail

We saw a team of mules pulling a HURST

There were many who loved getting their picture taken while others turned away or covered their face with their hats. 

The kids jumped for joy when they saw Spongebob Square Pants.

the kids also loved Batman and Wonder Woman

We saw a horse performing tricks

We saw mules wearing overhauls

What a day! What a great parade!
If you missed this parade be sure to tune in for the next one!