Mule Camp Market
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Downtown Gainesville
Cost: Free
More info: www.gainesvillejaycees.org/about/projects/mule-camp/
Mule Camp Market 5K
When: 8:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: Downtown Gainesville
Cost: $35
More info: 770-297-9622 or www.gamountainsymca.org/mulecamp5k
Breaking out from his day job, Lloyd Hendricks forged a new passion in a bygone profession.
Dressed in overalls on the downtown Gainesville square, Hendricks fashions some old horseshoes to make new napkin holders.
Hendricks is the owner of Mountain Park Forge, one of the dozens of vendors throughout the downtown square for Mule Camp Market this weekend. The fall festival runs from Friday through Sunday.
Before retiring, Hendricks worked making electronics. The hobby started 25 years ago as the Roswell man searched for a creative outlet away from a department of 35 people.
“After five days of them, I had to get rid of some tension, some frustration,” he said. “This was my out.”
Kids and their parents gawked at Hendricks as he hammered away at his creations, which range from the fist-sized napkin holders to 10-piece railings.
The blacksmith said the steel has to get up to 1,850 degrees to make it malleable for Hendricks to bend and twist.
“If it gets too cold and you hit it the wrong way, you run the risk of cracking it,” he said.
The festival marks Hendricks’ 21st appearance at the Mule Camp Market.
