By Ian Smay
The Times 

Mule Mania Comes to Dayton Memorial Day Weekend

The three-day event is admission-free and open to people of all ages

 


DAYTON – Dayton will host its seventh annual Mule Mania, sponsored by Columbia REA, from May 26 – 28 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.

The events will begin on Friday at 8 a.m. in the fairgrounds outdoor arena. The mule showings and competitions are expected to conclude around 4 p.m. that day, giving spectators eight hours to watch a wide variety of classes.

Friday will also see the first of two nights of the renowned chuckwagon feeds, which feature many traveling groups that cook food using only the materials in their old-fashioned chuckwagon. The dinner has been well-received each year, and tickets usually sell out for both nights, before the weekend’s activities start. The feed will start at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7.50 for children.

Mule Mania will also be holding a parade immediately following the Dayton Days parade on Saturday. The parade starts at 10 a.m., with Mule Mania’s parade beginning directly after the completion of the Dayton Days parade.

Events will continue later Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in the outdoor arena at the fairgrounds, and will feature both mule competitions and exhibitions. Saturday night’s chuckwagon feed will also begin at 5:30 p.m., and will be followed by the “Nuke Town” band at 6 p.m. The concert will end the night at 10 p.m.

Sunday will be the final day of festivities, featuring more competitions and showings in the outdoor arena. There will be western and arts and crafts vendors, as well as a beer garden and food vendors open at the fairgrounds during the showings in the arena. The events will end around 4 p.m. and will be followed by an awards ceremony to wrap up the weekend.

Columbia REA is the main sponsor for Mule Mania this year, and various smaller sponsors help support the weekend. The event is run by the Mule Mania Committee and is helped by many volunteers, according to committee chair Bev Rising. The first Mule Mania in Dayton took place in July 2011. More information can be found at mulemaniadayton.com.

 

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