Revving Up Tradition and Tractors: The Lamar Township Tractor Parade and Community Day Returns September 14!
By Emily Wright
SALONA—The Lamar Township Tractor Parade and Community Day event will return to Salona on Saturday, September 14, 2024, rain or shine. After a years-long hiatus caused by the pandemic, tractor lovers are eager to roll out a fleet of tractors in a parade that will begin at the grounds of the Old School Market. The parade will be followed by a fun-filled community day event featuring activities for kids, prizes, and, of course, indulgent food options.
At the heart of the festivities is Steve Kerstetter, a dedicated Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company member, who has been instrumental in reviving the event. “They used to have the tractor parade before COVID, but COVID took its toll, and we haven’t held it since then,” Kerstetter said. With almost 48 years of service at the fire company, Kerstetter was determined to see the tractor parade and community event make a comeback. “I said to the fire company, ‘I’d like to get this up and running,’ and they said to go ahead, see what you can do.”
Held in the heart of Lamar Township, this event showcases the deep agricultural roots that characterize the area. The tractor parade begins at 9:00 a.m., starting at the Old School Market at 34 East End Mountain Road in Mill Hall. From there, the parade will head toward the Mill Hall Ingram’s Market and proceed through Mackeyville. The parade route will continue through Rote before circling back through East End and returning to the Old School Market. “The tractor parade will be roughly an hour and 45 minutes long because the tractors move along at about 10 miles per hour,” Kerstetter explained. Please note that the Old School Market will not be open on the day of the festivities.
Following the parade, the Old School Market grounds will burst with family-friendly activities and food vendors at 11:00 a.m. The event promises a delightful treasure trove of fun for kids, featuring activities such as face painting, barrel train rides, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, a dime pitch, and a cake wheel.
Attendees can also look forward to a raffle drawing at 3:00 p.m., featuring nearly 120 enticing prizes donated by local businesses. Raffle tickets are available for $5 each, or you can purchase five tickets for $20. A few of the prizes that will be raffled off include cash awards ranging from $20 to as much as $1,000, a meat bundle from Stolzfus Butcher Shop valued at $135, a $25 gift card for 64 Beer Store, a $125 gift card for Dotterer Equipment, an oil change valued at $75 from McIntyre Chevrolet, and much, much, more.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at several businesses throughout Lamar Township, a few of which include Ingram’s Market in Mill Hall, Dotterer Equipment, The Cottage Restaurant, Puff’s on Hogan Boulevard, and Millers Gun Shop. They can also be purchased by contacting any member of the Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company or by calling Steve Kerstetter directly at 570-295-9311. Tickets will also be available to purchase at the event.
No community event is complete without delectable food, and this year, several members of the local Amish community will be cooking and serving some mouth-watering options. Attendees can indulge in pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, hot sausage, funnel cakes, and ice cream. Breakfast sandwiches will be served to tractor drivers exclusively.
Kerstetter aims to showcase at least 30 tractors in this year’s parade, and spots are still open for those interested in participating. In previous years, tractor drivers have asked to join on the day of the event, however, Kerstetter encourages interested individuals to contact him in advance. Note that the parade is exclusively reserved for tractors; no side-by-sides or other vehicles will be included, and there will be a meeting for all tractor drivers at 8:45 a.m.
This year, the tractors will be judged across six categories: Best Restored, Most Original, Oldest, Most Authentic from the Factory, Best Paint Job, and Best of Show. Among these, one winner will receive a trophy, and a winner in each category will be presented with a tractor magnet commemorating the 2024 Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company Tractor Parade. Winners will be announced at 1:00 p.m.
All proceeds from the Lamar Township Tractor Parade and Community Day will go directly to the Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company, highlighting the community’s enduring support for our first responders.
This year’s parade will honor tractor aficionados Walter “Buck” Weaver and Charlie Kephart, whose memories continue to resonate with the community.
As September 14 approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be a day filled with family fun, prizes, and tractors galore. So mark your calendars and come out to a memorable event that supports our first responders in Lamar Township.
For more information and the latest updates, keep an eye on the Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company Facebook page or contact Steve Kerstetter.
Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LTVFC11/
To participate in the tractor parade or get more information, call Steve Kerstetter at 570-295-9311.
