Saturday's mile-long parade is Mighty Moo's signature event. The Grand Marshal is Jac O. Ullman, the last commanding officer of the USS Cowpens CG63, taken at the 2025 festival. Photo courtesy of Kristopher Chadwick.
Never mind the party favors, hats and streamers, or even a large cake and candles: This Father’s Day weekend, get ready for 49th annual, three-day Mighty Moo festival in Cowpens – which, alongside America’s 250th birthday, promises to be the biggest Mighty Moo of them all.
The festival will be held June 18-20 in the heart of Cowpens with rides, golf, food, music, and an atmosphere of never wanting to go home – even if you live there.
“This is a big deal,” said town Mayor Jared Spencer. “It’s our biggest event of the year, and everybody loves it.”
And with good reason, since the festival is expected to draw more people than ever before.
“We’re expecting 5,000-6,000 for all three days,” said co-chair organizer Pam Camp, who has been present for each festival. “And we’ll have at least 3,500 on Saturday night under the streetlights.”
Along with all the fun and hoopla, however, is the reason for the festival: to honor the crewmen of both the World War II aircraft carrier USS Cowpens CVL-25, and the 1989 guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens CG-63.
“It’s a patriotic way to show our appreciation to them and tie it all in with the Battle of Cowpens in the Revolutionary War,” Mayor Spencer said. “Veterans have actually moved to Cowpens after getting out of the service because they were treated so well when they came to town for the festival, and they fell in love with the place.”
Before being decommissioned in January 1947, the aircraft carrier was awarded 12 Battle Stars and a Navy Unit Commendation for service.
“Last year was the first time we didn’t have a crew member from this ship attend,” said Kristopher Chadwick, director of the Cowpens Depot Museum. “The last one, Ray Williams, from Georgia, passed away in 2025 at age 100.”
As for the CG63 guided missile cruiser, known as ‘The Thundering Herd’, it was considered not only one of Seventh Fleet’s finest ships, but the epitome of the best of the 21st century U.S. Navy.
“We have a ton of veterans who come to the festival, including 25-40 from the CG63,” Chadwick said. “It’s their reunion, and we roll out the red carpet for them.”
Not bad going for an event that started out as a single community day in 1977 with only one original crewman and a crowd of 400-500. The first official festival began in 1978.
But while this year will resemble many previous ones, with a mile-long parade, professional floats, arts and crafts, and a Veterans Walk of Honor, it is expected to be the last of its kind in one important way.
“This celebration is going to be special in that it could potentially be our last year with the fireworks,” said Fire Chief Tony Blanton. “We always hold the fireworks on the site of the old Cowpens Middle School, which is going to be demolished and turned into a recreation complex.”
And, given that town leaders are expecting extra interest in this year’s festival, people wanting to be in the parade can register up until 4 p.m. June 19 with Cowpens town clerk Teresa Carter – 864-463-3201 ext. 2.
“When we started this, my grandmother used to churn butter,” Camp said. “Now it’s much more diverse, and a great opportunity for townspeople to have a relaxed weekend, breathe a little bit, and listen to some good music.”
