MURFREESBORO, TN--One of the most popular events of the festival is the "motorless parade" on Saturday morning. The beautiful buggies, wagons, mounted entries and more gather at Central Middle School before pulling out of the parade grounds at 10 a.m. onto East Main Street. Large crowds gather under the large shade trees to watch this event as it heads toward the historic Rutherford County Courthouse.
The parade ends at Cannonsburgh.
Each year the Heritage Award Winner and the Trail Blazer Award Winner ride in a place of honor in the parade. The 2010 honorees are Norman and Nancy Blake and Curtis McPeake, respectively.
The unique event began under the watchful eyes of the late John Blankenship and the late Forrest Pascal. Their goal was to start a motorless parade. The parade began because Uncle Dave Macon's mule transportation company was put out of business by gas-powered engines.
Earl Lamb and Jimmy Francis, parade coordinator, will provide the pony and buggy that will carry the 2010 Heritage Award Winner.
The parade has several competitions for its entrants. Fifty-dollar premiums will be given to the best entry in each of these categories: Carriages, Wagons, Mounted Riders, and Junior Mounted Riders.
