It's that special time of fall in Gainesville. The weather is unseasonably warm, a spike from the week before's cooler temperatures. The Square's streets are closed, and a carnival has set up shop near Jesse Jewell Parkway. It's the one, the only, Mule Camp Market.
Mule Camp is a fall festival, unique to Gainesville. First, it shuts down the entire downtown area, making it a walking square for the weekend, an homage to the old town before Gainesville: Mule Camp Springs.
Mule Camp Springs became the city of Gainesville when a charter was established on April 21, 1821. Before then, it was a place between two Indian trails followed by settlers. Shortly after Hall County was created, Mule Camp Springs was selected as the county seat, and renamed after General Edmund P. Gaines, a War of 1812 veteran and road-builder.
Mule Camp Market, as we know it, began as a farmer's market, then evolved into the Corn Tassel Festival, a crafts fair. The street festival changed hands to the Gainesville Jaycees in 1993, and became Mule Camp Market.
The street festival features arts and crafts, vendors, food, and live entertainment. Like many other fall festivals, there's always something to look at, buy, munch on or the like, but it's the people who come and the overall feel of the event that makes it unique.
My favorite part about Mule Camp is the folk art and crafts for sale and on display. I think I've already mentioned that I'm a huge sucker for folk art. Quilts, crafts, hand-made toys and dolls, all of it makes me emotional. I feel like folk artists are sharing a gift, and the endgame is to bring joy, and I like stuff like that. Folk art and crafts also reminds me of my ancestors, even as young as my grandmothers, who would make crafts with me as a kid and who still make me quilts, knit blankets and other items, handmade with love.
In fact, I turned up for work Saturday, before heading to Mule Camp myself to find a little stuffed cat on waiting for me. Editor B.J. Williams had brought it for me and I almost cried. Probably not the reaction she was expecting but I absolutely love it. It's such a cute little Siamese cat, like a cartoon you can squeeze.
Mule Camp begins each year on Friday, and goes through the weekend. It starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and last until 7 p.m., then on Sunday, from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. Don't miss it!
Join me next week as I head a little southwards and visit the Eastern Continental Divide Monument in Duluth. Supposedly, water flows to both to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Does it really? We'll find out!
Until then, stay curious.
This article merely scratches the surface of the longstanding Mule Camp tradition, but the real fun is up to you. The comments made in this feature article, by myself and by those who have been mentioned or quoted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Jacobs Media Corporation. Read, enjoy and explore at your own risk.
