You know it is approaching the time for Mule Day when the red flags with black mules on them start showing up around Enfield!
Mule Days started in 1921. Millage C. Miller, an Enfield merchant and the mayor of Enfield, is credited with originating Mule Days.
Mule Days is one of the oldest continuous festivals in Southern Illinois. It began as a picnic for the community in conjunction with an auction of mules held in the fall. Mule owners appeared to have been attracted to Enfield because of local breeders who raised superior quality mules.
I can remember seeing a field full of mules back in the early 1950s each time I went east from the Enfield intersection toward Carmi. Some of those mules were bought in Missouri and brought to the Enfield area to sell to local farmers. My maternal grandfather had mules on his farm south of Norris City. I have some pictures of some of his teams of mules in my collection. I drove a team of mules in a re-enactment wagon train in 1989. The mule on the right would go straight ahead; the one on the left kept trying to turn left when I wanted to go straight ahead. I guess incidents like this is what caused the term “stubborn as a mule” to be used.
Enfield has had a parade at Mule Days since 1921. At times they have had a special Illinois license plate that could be displayed on automobiles for 60 days before Mule Days. Of course, in the beginning, Mule Days’ big event was the judging of mules entered in a contest.
Now, Mule Days is a time for the local residents, former residents, and visitors to come to Enfield on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday leading up to the weekend of the first Saturday in October to have a good time, watch the parade, and just visit with old friends. There are different events each evening – gospel singing, Mule Day Queen Contest, Princess and Prince Contest, Little Tot Contest, a Pet Parade, Cake Walk, Kid’s Games, a Street Band, a Two-Mile Run, Bingo every night and several times on Saturday, as well as carnival rides and vendors with all the normal foods that go along with a carnival. Everyone comes to Mule Days to eat, eat, & ride!!!
Congratulations to Enfield, hopefully for another successful Mule Days in 2015. Hopefully, there will be mules in the parade.
If anyone has any information about or pictures to share with the readers of these articles, please contact me at Edward Oliver, P. O. Box 456, Norris City, IL 62869, telephone 618-378-3176, or email me at edoliver2@yahoo.com.
