CALVARY, Ga. (WTXL)- Thousands turned out this weekend to the small town of Calvary, Georgia for the 39th annual "Mule Day".

Mississippi, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Ohio are just a few of the states from which some of the thousands traveled from for the annual event.

Calvary, Georgia once relied heavily on mules to work on shade tobacco plantation.

"Mules Day is our way of thanking mule for letting us make a living," said event organizer Arthur Tatum

To kick off the event, dozens of people riding mule-back, ended a 5 day trek from Tifton, Georgia to Calvary, Georgia.

In years past, the event has drawn in some 90,000 people. Those who turned out this weekend say it's an event that provides an opportunity to enjoy the slow pace of life.

"This is what folks think about what home used to be like and there aren't a lot of communities left," Arthur Tatum said.

"It's like an old fashioned thing, and where we live this is all gone, there are very few horses and mules and stuff like that," said Ray Broadus who traveled from Biloxi, Mississippi.

"It's nice going back to the country life, it really is, I like the animals and the cars they have in the parades," said Brenda Williams who traveled from Greensboro, North Carolina.

To parades from plantations, a mule's job in Calvary, Georgia has changed over the years. But, for a small town, whose economy relies so much on this event, it's a reminder about what mules have done for the town in the past, and what mules continue to do for the town today.