Farmers Day in Robbins is hitting the limit this year.

This will be the 55th edition in the northern Moore County festival's long line of summer adventure days. As ever, horses and mules will draw every sort of wheeled wagon, from Conestoga to buckboard, through the streets of Robbins.

The opening blast will be the sound of gospel music from the rail-side stage by the Old Elise Depot at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, starting off with Moore County group Hammer-N-Song. That will be followed by Keith Plott from Myrtle Beach at 7:20 p.m.. The Webbs from High Point wind things up at this first night of the three-day event.

Farmers Day remembers how rural families came to town on Saturdays to stock up on "store-bought" necessities - and took time to visit with each other and enjoy downtown life in old Robbins. That weekend day came to be called Farmers Day, and just over a half century ago, the town's volunteer fire department started celebrating it with a festival that grew, and grew and grew.

Thousand crowd the "L of a downtown," where several stages show off local and visiting bands, soloists, quartets, cloggers and other entertainers. Friday's entertainment fills all three stages with bluegrass and country music, ending in lots of big bangs and bright lights in the sky with the 10:15 p.m. fireworks display.

A highlight of Farmers Day every year is the big parade on Saturday. The procession heads uptown at 11 a.m. with trophies in nearly 20 categories. There's one for the best dressed girl, boy, woman or man; one for the best pony, and the best country horse riders, male and female.

The best work horse will take home a trophy. So will the best mule, the best team of mules and the best team of little mules.

Horses are not left out. There's a trophy for the best team of horses and another for the best team of little horses. The best parade horse gets a trophy. So does the best saddle horse, the best rig and the oddest rig. Not to be left out, the best donkey also gets one.

At 4 p.m. Saturday, more trophies go to winners in the parade of tractors, awarded by makes from Fords and John Deeres to lawn tractors.

Stages are located by Fidelity Bank, in the middle of Middleton Street, by the post office across from the rail-side stage, where the official welcome ceremony and singing of the national anthem takes place at 12:30 p.m. That's where parade trophies are to be handed out to winners with help from Miss Moore County and wagonmaster Odell Hussey.

In the afternoon, the lumberjack competition follows the mule show, and tractor and lawn tractor pulls. Antique tractors and farm equipment will be on display all day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

That night, Albemarle's Mountain Creek Harmony will be followed by the Sons of Thunder from Clemmons and finally by Michael Combs, of Todd, N.C.

Over on the Fidelity Bank stage, Moore County's own Sand Band - with Terri Gore - will perform from 8 p.m. to midnight. That same slot on the post office stage will feature Outshyne from Greenville, S.C. and then Robbins' own Johnny & The Cadillacs.

Besides the grand parade and all the music, visitors can ride a mechanical bull, learn from guitar makers and gunsmiths as they watch these craftsmen at work. There will also be the usual carnival rides that are set up each year for Farmers Day.

Except for games and rides, there is no charge of any kind for Farmers Day. This year's 55th annual event is dedicated to the memory of the late Steven "Big Boy" Sheffield.

"Riders, come join his friends and family in the Farmers Day parade as we remember him and how much he enjoyed this annual event," says the Farmers Day Committee.

Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@thepilot.com.