Thirty years ago a mule fancier named Eddie Craft had the bright idea of bringing the first annual Alabama Draft Horse and Mule Show to Hartselle.

It didn’t take long for the idea to sprout roots.

Hartselle was not far removed from being a farm town.

A few years earlier farm folks flocked to town on Saturdays to buy provisions, watch a movie, get a haircut and a shave and play a game or two of pool. A whittler’s bench at the old gin scales was the place to be if you wanted to trade a knife, swap political talk or crack a joke. You could buy a slice of hoop cheese at Stewart & Bennett’s, a pair of overalls at E.R. Roberts or a Coke float at Fowler’s Rexall Drugs.

Now why wouldn’t a Mule Days festival be a barrel of fun?

Main Street was lined with onlookers for the first annual Mule Days Street Parade. They gawked and reminisced as wagon after wagon pulled by mules and horses rolled down Main Street. Riders sat proudly dressed in overalls, white shirts and straw hats. They included bank presidents, merchants and elected officials.

Later in the day, half the town turned out at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds to witness show animals competing in show and weight—pulling classes and being sold at auction.

What was being witnessed at that time was the forerunner to this week’s Depot Days celebration.

The crowds are now bigger. Food and merchandise vendors have been added. There’s a tractor show, car, truck and bike show, stage entertainment, 5K run, children’s rides and games and much more.

The focus is still on attracting widespread interest to Hartselle’s business community by giving visitors a fun time for the family. If you’ve never taken in a Depot Days festival, this year is a good time to start.