The inaugural lighted tractor parade in 2017 boasted 15 spectacularly decorated tractors with familiar faces like Donny Foyer, the Fantarellas, the Holden Girls, Rob Hassenmayer, the Gagels and other local families. It ws new and thrilling, and received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd at the Orange Holiday Festival.
This year’s parade was a little different, with 64, count them, 64 tractors in a steady stream of unique decorations, some were simply smothered in lights, others, with trailers were elaborately adorned with inflatable characters or beautiful scenes — a Christmas tree with electric fireplace, old wooden chair and braided rug. One had All of Santa’s reindeer (carved wood figures) lined up with red nose Rudolph flying up into the sky.
This was the biggest and best lighted tractor parade we’ve ever seen, with participants from Monroe, Northford, Bethany, and all corners of the state.
After the tree lighting, many spectators made their way down to the Orange Fairgrounds to take a closer look at the tractors and meet the families who painstakingly decorated them.
Town resident Jeff Cap filmed the entire thing and posted it on YouTube. Seeing it in action is much better than looking at still photos. (the link to that video is below)