Benson Mule Days

From Benson Mule Days Website:

Benson, North Carolina celebrates Benson Mule Days the 4th Saturday of September each year. The kickoff concert is held on Thursday night in the Benson Singing Grove (located in Downtown Benson).

This festival, which draws 40,000-50,000 people, is filled with 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 draws about 20,000 people. This festival is considered one of the largest festivals in North Carolina and the parade has hundreds of horses, mules, buggies, and unusual entries. Visitors come from as far away as Alaska, Germany and California.

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 Chamber prepared information which will be on display at the Library of Congress and on their web-site.