Lights, Tractors, Action!
Lights, Tractors, Action!
together. It’ s amazing to see what we can create as a small group.” For Ogden, the parade is about more than competition.“ The joy is seeing the kids’ faces light up when we throw candy, and knowing the community comes out in the cold just to watch all of the floats go by. Even the adults are excited— it feels like the whole town is celebrating together.”
The tradition also brings in multiple generations of the Levis family.
Levis elaborates:“ They always include my sister, Tajlei and my father, Albert, on the float, which is very special to us. Our guests become like family.” The floats are also woven into The Wilburton’ s larger seasonal programming, particularly the annual“ Canine Christmas Slumber Pawty,” a weekend of holiday fun for guests and their dogs, hosted by The Wilburton’ s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jetson, the“ Canine Concierge.” Guests and their dogs come from all over America and Canada for this magical weekend. In fact, The Wilburton’ s doggie slumber‘ pawties’ are so famous that they were featured on Animal Planet.“ The tractor parade is the icing on the cake for us and our guests,” says Levis.“ The Wilburton is like a Hallmark movie that weekend, and the parade is a big part of that magic.”
Participation and Traditions
The parade reflects the diversity of the community, drawing contributions from schools, nonprofits, families, and businesses. Burnham notes the“ repeat participants” who help define the event year after year: The Wilburton, Hildene: The Lincoln Family
Home, Manchester Elementary & Middle School( MEMS), Maple Street School, Burr & Burton Academy, Long Trail School, Sunderland Elementary School, and Special Olympics Northshire, among many others. Each brings its own character to the parade.
“ The lead person of the parade for the past five years has been Linda Benway,” Burnham says.“ She always does a themed look and feel for her tractor and outfit, and she follows right behind the police car as the first tractor in the lineup.”
Memorable floats and decorations abound. Burnham describes the variety with enthusiasm:“ One of my favorites is when they have live music, with guitars and drums and speakers playing Christmas songs. I also love unique themes. Last year, the Green Mountain Rock Climbing group created
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18 manchester life | manchesterlifemagazine. com