Annual Benson Mule Days Festival set for Sept. 20-23
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 9, 2012 1:50 AM
BENSON -- The town of Benson will hold its annual Mule Days celebration on Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 20-23.
The festival is considered one of the largest in North Carolina and will kickoff with a barrel exhibition and open barrel race on Thursday night.
The festival, which draws approximately 50,000 people annually, is full of family fun and activities for everyone young and old. The weekend is packed with rodeos, a mule pulling contest, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, bluegrass shows and more.
The parade alone attracts about 20,000 people and will take place on Saturday, starting at10 a.m. It will feature bands, floats, antique tractors and hundreds of horses, mules, and buggies.
Visitors come from as far away as the West Coast, Alaska and Europe.
Benson Mule Days was inducted into the Library of Congress in Washington, DC in May of 2000. This festival was submitted by Congressman Bob Etheridge who attended the 50th celebration and served as a parade judge. The local chamber of commerce prepared information on the event, which is on display at the Library of Congress.
A week prior to the beginning of this annual celebration, a golf tournament is held at Reedy Creek, a local golf course. The tournament features a four man superball with prizes and a big cookout following a day of golf. This is open to all levels of golfers except professionals.
For a complete schedule of events, or to obtain more information, including vendor, golf, and camping information, visit www.bensonmuledays.com, or call the Benson Area Chamber of Commerce at (919) 894-3825.