From Oct. 11-13, Jaycees hosted their annual Mule Camp Market at the Midland Greenway marking the 30th anniversary of the festival.
Jaycees is a nonprofit organization that provides men from their early twenties to their early forties tools for success in their community and personal lives. Since their founding in 1945, the group has used community projects to allow participants to gain group work and team leadership skills.
The Mule Camp Market is one of their largest community projects, but the festival began as a small event. With humble beginnings as a farmer’s curb market near Gainesville’s Downtown Square, the market evolved into the Corn Tassel Festival to support local craft businesses. Jaycees changed the event name to Mule Camp in 1993 to honor the city’s original name Mule Camp Springs.
The Mule Camp Market is a three-day annual event with over 75,000 attendees from all over Northeast Georgia.
“My favorite part of the event was walking around the festival with my friend and looking at all the vendor options.” – Vicki Land, attendee of the Mule Camp Market
The event offered many activities people of all ages were able to enjoy. For the young attendees, there was a petting zoo, bouncy houses, face painting and a playground area. Adults also received a free concert performed by Ben Chapman on Saturday night at Midland Greenway’s Amphitheater.
Alongside the multitude of activities offered, the main attraction of the festival was the more than 150 vendors on display. Not only do the merchants give attendees the option to shop to their hearts’ content, but the festival also helps small businesses increase exposure and gain customers.
Nearly all the vendors were artists pursuing their passions by attempting to build a business out of their creative abilities. Multiple displays of handmade creations like paintings, pottery, home decorations and clothing were presented in vendor tents giving attendees options based on their preferences.
Kalie Smith was operating the vendor booth for the small Christian business Rohi Clothing. “The Mule Camp has helped Rohi to pursue its mission: to provide Christians with clothing that resonates with their beliefs and shares their faith,” she said.
A handful of vendors showcased their expert culinary abilities by offering their top selling food options ranging from savory bites to sweet treats. Sugartopia, founded by Wendy Tedder in 2014, highlighted many southern classic desserts in their colorful display. El Tepache Mexican Grill, owned by Salvador and Fran Barcenas, utilized a food truck to mobilize their local restaurant.
