Mule Camp Market begins Friday

GAINESVILLE - A number of streets in downtown Gainesville will be closed starting early this evening for the annual Mule Camp Market which begins tomorrow at 10:00.

The streets will be closed until 5:00 Sunday when the fall festival ends.

Mule Camp Market began years back as a farmer's curb market near the downtown square, organized by James Mathis, Sr. of Home Federal Bank.

It evolved into the Corn Tassel Festival, which was a fall festival with local craft exhibitors.

In the early 1990s, the Gainesville Jaycees began running the festival and changed the name to Mule Camp Market. Crowds of up 75,000 typically attend the three-day event. The Jaycees also sponsor a carnival that is held in conjunction with Mule Camp every year. The festival also features craft vendors from all parts of the U.S., a petting zoo and other activities for youngsters, country and Blue Grass entertainment, and plenty of food.

The festival derives its name from Mule Camp Springs, which is what Gainesville was originally called.

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