Lighted tractor parade a 'smash success'
By Erik Pekar, Town Historian
Another Granville event made a successful return after a year’s absence. The fourth annual Granville Lighted Tractor Parade was held on Dec. 10. At 4 p.m. that afternoon, and until 5:30 p.m., the participants entered the gathering location, on the shipping driveway at Telescope.
The parade kicked off at 6 pm. The route commenced at the Church Street entrance to the Telescope factory, continuing north along Church Street to Potter Avenue, then going west to Quaker Street, then up Quaker and around Veterans Park onto West Main Street. The route then continued along Main Street, turning onto North Street and continuing past the village line, up a short distance along County Route 24 (the Middle Granville road) to the parking lot of the former Manchester Wood factory.
Some had concerns about the weather; reports had indicated that precipitation would begin during the evening. A cold drizzle had hampered the numbers of participants and spectators for the third tractor parade back in 2019. Luckily for participants and spectators alike, the snow held out this year until well after 9 p.m. There was, however, a somewhat chilly breeze, but otherwise a calm late fall evening. Turnout, as a result, was better than in 2019.
There were more than 50 participants in the tractor parade. Many entries were from area farms, using farm tractors and hay wagons. However, not all entries were from farmers or using farming implements; some were flatbed trailers and trucks.
Among the participants were the Granville Central School District’s “Rockin’ Round the School Bus,” a well-decorated school bus; several area fire companies, including those from Granville and Whitehall; the Granville Masons, with a trailer having the “North Pole,” a sleigh, and a chimney with an elf; Warner’s Auto, with a flatbed trailer carrying a 1930s vintage car; Telescope Casual Furniture, with their float consisting of a lit-up trailer packed with a layout of many of their furniture and chairs that have been produced by the company over their hundred years in Granville
As the parade progressed and the floats moved along the route, the participants passed the judging booth, set up on a trailer parked on Main Street. The judges were Heather Ayers, Rebecca Dittmeier, Kathy Juckett, Paul Labas and Rick Roberts.
The parade did not clear Main Street until after 7 p.m. The parade winners chosen by the judges were announced over Facebook around 7:30 p.m. The first-place winner was the Aldous family’s “Polar Express.” This entry consisted of a tractor with its front dressed as a steam locomotive, pulling two hay wagons, the first decorated as a coal tender, and the second as a passenger train car. Second place went to Hammond’s “Gingerbread Christmas;” third to Border Town dumpster services. The honorable mentions were Ettori’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and Pedone’s “North Pole Reindeer Party.”
Open voting for a “People’s Choice” was also held; this closed the following day. “Polar Express” won first place in voting as well, and “Gingerbread Christmas” reached second place with votes. “Brownie Christmas” received the third-most votes, Slate Valley Auto had the fourth-most, and Richview Farm’s “Holiday Barbie and Candy Cane.”
After the parade was over, spectators slowly began to drive out of the parking lots and off the streets where they had parked. Some left Granville, but others went to get dinner. Every place that was open, from the Granville Family Diner, to Stewart’s, to the Granville McDonald’s, was busy with full parking lots or long drive-thru lines. By 10 p.m., everything had settled down, and Granville was back to the normal stillness of a quiet late Friday evening.
The recently held lighted-tractor parade was a smash success. Many are looking forward to next tractor parade. Some people who didn’t decorate tractors or make floats this year are already considering plans to enter next year. The parade is the fourth such event to be held in Granville; the first was held in 2017.
Thanks to all who were involved, including the participants, judges and organizers, for making the fourth annual Granville Lighted Tractor Parade a success.
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Decorations are up on many houses and businesses in the Granville area, including in the village and in the town. The spread of Christmas decorations in the area runs from those simple and rustic decorations, to the elaborate; and to the extravagant, with timings and flashing lights. It is nice to see the charming decorations that decorate the area this time of year. A big thank you to all in the area who have decorated.
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The Granville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Granville sponsored a Christmas decorating contest, open only to residents and businesses of the village. The winners of the contest were announced Dec. 13. The residential winners of the award were: Griswold Award, for having lots of lights, Heather Ayers, Mettowee Street; Misfit Toy Award, for best use of inflatable decorations, Robert and Michelle Bryant, Broadview Terrace; Santa’s Favorite, for most organized appearance or theme, Mike and Jen Rock, Church Street; Judge’s Favorite, favorite display of judges, Diane Wescott, Bulkley Avenue; Frosty’s Recognition, for best-decorated business, Second Time Around, Main Street; North Pole Award, for best-decorated neighborhood, to Northwood Terrace, consisting of the houses of Jim and Sharon Maranville, Dwayne and Joanne Nadeau, and Lisa Ackert.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours this season.
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