American Mule and Bluegrass Festival

09/22/2025

🎟️✨ Reminder! Don’t forget to grab your festival tickets today—only $15! 🐴🎶🎪

This year’s festival is packed with fun for the whole family:

🐴 Mule and Donkey Competitions

🎵 Live Music & Bluegrass Bands

🧑‍🌾 Homesteading Speakers

🤠 Cutest Cowboy & Cowgirl Contest

🍔 Delicious Food & Treats

🎨 Family Activities, Crafts & More

🐎 And don’t miss your chance to WIN A MULE! 🎉

Bring everyone out for a day full of laughter, learning, and memories! This is a festival you won’t want to miss. 💛🎊

www.ambftn.com

09/22/2025

3 days away from the 5th Annual American Mule and Bluegrass Festival, and we want to take a moment to thank the incredible team that makes it all possible!

From planning and coordinating events, to organizing the Jr. Mule Skinner Education Program, scheduling bluegrass music, preparing the cast iron cook-off, arranging mule pulling contests, managing vendors, and even caring for Rachel the Giveaway Mule this group pours their heart and soul into bringing heritage, history, and music to life here in Shelbyville, TN.

It takes months of dedication and countless hours of hard work to create a festival that blends education, entertainment, food, family fun, and tradition all in one place.

Mark your calendars: September 25–28, 2025

Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds – Cooper Steel Arena & Champions Arena

This team is the heartbeat of the festival, and we are so grateful for everything they do to celebrate America’s mule heritage and the sounds of bluegrass.

09/21/2025

We’re just 4 days away from the American Mule & Bluegrass Festival!

Marty Gordon takes you on a quick behind-the-scenes look at two of the main venues at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville: the Cooper Steel Arena and the Champions Arena.

These are the spaces where mule and donkey shows, clinics, and big competitions come to life from mule and draft pulling to the crowd-favorite Cast Iron Cook-Off. And don’t forget family favorites like the Fastest Mule Race and the Mule Giveaway featuring Rachel.

The countdown is on! History, music, food, and family fun all come together this weekend!

September 25–28, 2025

09/21/2025

🐴🎉✨ Exciting News! We are thrilled to welcome the American Donkey Association to this year’s festival! 🐾🎪

Join us on Saturday, September 27th, from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM 🕗 for an incredible lineup of donkey competitions 🐴🏆. Whether you’re a longtime donkey enthusiast ❤️🐾 or just curious 👀, this is a unique opportunity to see these amazing animals in action 🐎💨 and learn more about their care, training, and versatility 🌿🥕.

Bring the whole family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 for a morning full of fun 🎈, laughter 😂, and maybe even a few surprises 🎁! Don’t miss your chance to cheer 🎉👏 on the competitors and experience the charm of these remarkable animals up close 🐾💛.

📅 Mark your calendars and come early—this is a festival event you won’t want to miss! 🎊🎠

🐴✨

09/21/2025

We had such a great time today at Roots Rendezvous in Murfreesboro! Our booth gave us the chance to share what the American Mule and Bluegrass Festival is all about, and it was a real treat to see so many folks stop by, ask questions, and even pick up a $5 ticket for a chance to win Rachel the mule.

The best part? Rachel was right there with us, meeting new friends and stealing the show. Kids (and adults too!) loved getting to pet her and learn more about the important role mules play in our history.

And of course, her buddies Willie and Clyde gave wagon rides throughout the day. Seeing the smiles, laughter, and excitement as families climbed aboard made the whole day extra special.

We’re just 5 days away from the big event:
September 25–28, 2025
📍 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds – Shelbyville, TN

09/20/2025

🎶🐴 AMBF Entertainment & Workshops! 🐴🎶

📍 Hall of Fame Room – Cooper Steel Arena

Friday, Sept. 26
🕒 3:00 PM – Dr. Jordan, TennSouth Veterinary 🐾 Basic Animal Care
🕔 5:00 PM – Grasskickers 🎻 Bluegrass Music

Saturday, Sept. 27
🕙 10:00 AM – Sharmyn Smith, CS3Farms 🌿 Natural Medicine
🕚 11:00 AM – James Stembridge Family Band 🎶 Live Music
🕛 12:00 PM - Wild West Showdown 🤠 - Cooper Steel Arena
🕧 12:30 PM – Sarah Burton, Sabbaticus Farm 🏡 Starting a Homestead
🕑 2:00 PM – Cutest Cowboy & Cowgirl Competition 👒🤠
🕒 3:00 PM – Noelle Goodin 🎵 Live Music
🕔 5:00 PM – Stones River Bluegrass 🎻 Closing Performance

✨ Workshops + Music + Family Fun = Perfect Festival Day!

🔗 Full schedule & tickets: www.ambftn.com

09/19/2025

🎨🍔 Arts, Crafts & Food Trucks at AMBF! 🍔🎨
The American Mule & Bluegrass Festival isn’t just about music—it’s also your chance to shop, snack, and explore!
🛍️ Arts & Crafts Vendors – discover handmade treasures, unique gifts, and local creations.
🍴 Food Trucks – bring your appetite for tasty eats and festival favorites.
Featuring:
Simply the Best
RuckArtzTN
D&D Farms and Homegoods
Local Edge
AT&T
Jones Knives
Harvest Gourmet
Barbwire Custom Leather
Queen Valley
Laney Ware
Renewal Anderson
Silly Goat Farm
Don King's Leather Goods
Sweet to the Soul
Mallies
Pop's Krazy Ketlle Korn
La Casita
G'Ma's Peanuts
Jordan's BBQ
📅 Friday, Sept. 26th & Saturday, Sept. 27th
📍 Cooper Steel Arena – Shelbyville, TN
✨ Come for the mules & bluegrass, stay for the shopping & food!
www.ambftn.com/vendors

Learn how to become a vendor or who is going to be vending at the American Mule and Bluegrass Festival

09/19/2025

6 DAYS AWAY from the 5th American Mule and Bluegrass Festival coming to Shelbyville, TN, September 25–28, 2025 at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds!

Get ready for:

✔️ Live Bluegrass Music
✔️ Mule & Donkey Shows
✔️ The Cast Iron Cook-Off
✔️ Food, Vendors & Family Fun
✔️ The Jr. Mule Skinner Education Program (for all Bedford County 4th graders!)
✔️ And the highlight — the Mule Giveaway featuring Rachel! 🐴 One $5 ticket enters you for a chance to win, with proceeds supporting Mission Mules.

Mark your calendars!!

09/18/2025

🔥🍳 Cast Iron Cook-Off Competition! 🍳🔥

Think you’ve got the best campfire skills in town? Prove it at the American Mule & Bluegrass Festival!

📢 Get your entries in NOW for the ultimate showdown featuring:
🥩 Brisket
🥘 Beans
🍞 Cornbread
🍏 Apple Cobbler

Bring your cast iron, your secret recipes, and your A-game!

📍 Cooper Steel Arena – Shelbyville, TN
🎶 Good food, great fun, and live bluegrass in the air!

👨‍🍳 Enter today and show us what you’ve got!
👉 Register at www.ambftn.com