Hit the Trail – The Mutton Trail – In Callaway County
Kick off a summer of fun in Callaway County at the Fulton Street Fair, June 20-21 on Court Street.
Alan Combs
With live music, kids’ activities, the annual bike show and craft vendors, the Fair offers two full days of family fun, hometown pride and local flavor … especially local flavor! After all, the Fulton Street Fair is the first stop for the Callaway County Mutton Trail, with this hometown favorite served up by the Fulton Kiwanis Club. Hours for the fair are Friday, 3 p.m.-11 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Every year, new visitors and regular attendees make a point of visiting the area to enjoy one of four events that feature mutton in a variety of forms. While some believe it’s an “acquired” taste, BBQ mutton is a rite of passage for many Callawegians and a great chance to try something new and delicious for newbies.
You don’t have to wait long for another chance to sample. The second stop on the Mutton Trail is Labor Day weekend, August 29-31, at the Mokane World’s Fair, sponsored by the Mokane Lions Club. The fair itself has been a fixture in the area since 1950 and features other food options as well as music, bingo, a beer garden, a carnival and fun for all ages.
Started in 1948 in another Missouri River community just 15 minutes east of Jefferson City, the Tebbetts Picnic & Muttonfest – the Mutton Trail’s third stop – will be held Friday, September 26 - Sunday, September 28. Choose from a variety of food options, including mutton, and enjoy live music, a pie contest and auction, kid’s pedal tractor pull, shopping and more. Hours are Friday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Both Mokane and Tebbetts are easy to access by bicycle via the Katy Trail State Park - one of the oldest and longest rails-to-trails conversions in the US.
The final stop on the trail - the 45th Annual Calwood BBQ Mutton Dinner will be held Saturday, October 4 from noon-7 p.m. at the Calwood Community Center, located 10 miles northeast of Fulton. The first dinner was held in 1980 and occurs each year on the first Saturday in October. It usually sells out well before the scheduled closing time, so you’d better get there early.
Whether you’re a curious first-timer or an experienced glutton for mutton – choose an event (or two or four!) this summer and travel the Mutton Trail the Callaway.