NEWPORT--- For the first time in a decade, an old-fashioned wagon train will come to Newport. The event will be held in cooperation with the Old Timey Night festivities of the annual Newport Harvest Street Festival.

As a fundraising effort for Cocke County Relay for Life 2009, members of the courthouse Relay for Life team "The Volunteers," along with Alton Cureton, are planning the event.

Scheduled for Friday, October 3, the wagon train will feature Joe "The Mule Man" Long, Jimmy Taylor, and members of the East Tennessee Draft Horse and Mule Association, said Cureton.

"We're very excited to welcome Mr. Long to our event," said Cureton. "He has driven in the Macy's Christmas parade in New York and has been featured on The Heartland series."

The train will leave the Cocke County A & I Fairgrounds, travel eastward along Hwy. 25/70 to Food City East, and return to the fairgrounds.

A special feature of the event will be the Grand Chariot Wagon.

"If you would like to honor a family member or friend, you may reserve a slot where the person's name will be displayed on the wagon," explained Cureton. "This will be a wonderful chance to help the American Cancer Society. You may honor a living family member or friend or, if you wish, you may purchase a slot in memory of a deceased person."

Slots are 4 x 11 inches and may be reserved by a $10 donation to the ACS.

"Everyone is welcome to bring their horse and ride with us," added Cureton.

"The Volunteers will also be serving taco soup, corn chips, and drinks at the fairgrounds," said Margaret Sorrell, Cocke County Property Assessor and captain of The Volunteers. "For a donation of $6 to the ACS, visitors can enjoy a delicious meal along with the wagon train."

For more information about riding in the parade, call Cureton (423) 608-2542.

To reserve a slot on the Grand Chariot Wagon, contact the Cocke County Property Assessor's office - (423) 623-7024 or see a member of The Volunteeers: Margaret Sorrell, Susie Moore, Cindy Holt, Angie Shelton, Harry Lamb, Dwight Self, Alton Cureton, or Karen Butler.