Star Staff Reports
The 26th Annual International Goat Days Family Festival returns to USA Stadium Complex in Millington Sept. 11 -12. Goat Days is a fun and funky community festival unlike any other. Millington is the only place in the world where you can find arts and crafts, inflatables and games for the kids, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, the West Tennessee Mini Pullers, Dixie Irons Tractor Pull, an Antique Tractor Show and Parade, NBHA Barrel Racing, Community Village vendor booths, live music and great food, a KCBS Championship BBQ Contest, Show and Shine Car Show, Fishing Rodeo, horseshoe tournament, hay rides and goats. That’s right! International Goat Days draws more than 30,000 participants and spectators from throughout the United States for this multi-day community festival. This year, Millington is thrilled to welcome back the nationally acclaimed Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. This action-packed lumberjack show features World Champion Lumberjacks log rolling, chopping, sawing, axe throwing and more! The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is a historical, educational, humorous show, filled with audience participation. This is a must see event! Whether it be the KCBS Championship BBQ contest, arts and crafts, equestrian events or the tractor show that brings you to Goat Days, the goats remain the main attraction. In addition to the Babe Howard and Robin Cotten Memorial MGR Goat Shows, the Tennessee Dairy Goat Association will be on hand with demonstrations, milking contests and more. You are welcome to bring your own “Billy” or “Nanny” and enter the KIDS ON PARADE with prizes for the silliest goat, best goat look-a-like and funniest goat. What? You don’t have your own goat? No worries! You can “rent” one from the Tennessee Dairy Goat Association that is already trained to walk on a lead. It is also rumored that Millington’s famous Painted Goats will also make an appearance at the annual event. The event kicks off with The World’s Greatest Goat Parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday followed by Opening Ceremonies for the 26th Annual Event. Festival gates will be open from 6–10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m.–10 p.m. on Saturday. Other Friday night fun includes the first of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows, NBHA Barrel Racing, West Tennessee Mini Tractor Pull, Goat Milking Demonstrations, and The Pardners in Concert, MGR Babe Howard Memorial Goat Show, and KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Contest, Arts and Crafts, the Kid Zone and more! Saturday is packed with even more activities from the time the gates open at 7 a.m. for the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast through the finale at 10 p.m. The entertainment planned for Saturday includes the El Toro Taco and Hot Rod Barn Show and Shine Car Show benefiting the Millington Crisis Center, an Antique Tractor Show and Parade, Dixie Irons Tractor Pull. There will be 3 more chances to catch the nationally acclaimed Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show on Saturday, Model Aviation Demonstrations by the Barnstorms throughout the day and the KCBS Championship BBQ Contest benefiting NSA Mid-South’s Chief Petty Officers Association. Saturday features a Fishing Rodeo, the Kids’ Tractor Pull, Powder Puff Pull, Horseshoe Tournament, Live Music, Arts and Crafts and more. The Myotonic Goat Shows, Goat Chariot Races, Goat Obstacle Course, Junior and Senior Milking Contests, Kids on Parade and other fun are sure to please any goat enthusiast. The 26th Annual International Goat Days Festival is presented by the City of Millington and sponsored by Republic Services, Homer Skelton Ford, Homer Skelton Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Ritter Communications and many Millington area businesses and individuals. The cost is $5 per carload to park. The festival admission is free. Make plans to attend this fun and funky community festival that raises money for a variety of charitable, non-profit organizations in the area. For more information, contact Millington Arts, Recreation & Parks at 873-5770.
Go to: Millington-News.com
