(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Old Drum Day festival begins today with a re-enactment of the historic man’s best friend trial, a dog show and an unveiling of the BurgDogs statues.

Vendor booths open at 10 a.m. at the festival, which takes place on Main Street, starting at the corner of Main and Gay streets along the grounds of the Johnson County Historical Society.

A re-enactment of the Old Drum trial will take place inside the historic courthouse, where Sen. George Graham Vest delivered his famous summation to the jury, known as his “tribute to the dog” speech, in 1870.

The speech helped sway the jury in favor of Charles Burden who sued his neighbor and brother-in-law, Leonidas Hornsby, for killing his dog, Old Drum.

Festival Schedule:

10 AM: Booths open

10 AM-2 PM: Kids activities

10-11:30 AM: Live music on the square (Mojo Dogs)

10:30 AM: Showing of the film ‘Road to Valhalla’

(90-minute Civil War reenactment film about Centralia, Missouri Battle)

11:30 AM: Unveiling of the new 2014 BurgDogs

Noon:    Demo by Warrensburg’s K-9 Unit

1 PM:    Best Friends Dog Show (Cutest, Biggest, Smallest, Most Like Owner, Most Like Old Drum)

1:30-3:00 PM: Live music on the square of the Old Court House (Lucky Dogs)

2:00 PM: Demo by Warrensburg’s K-9 Unit