Canadian Christmas parade features decked-out vehicles, vintage John Deere tractors

Nineteen years later residents and local farmers are still stringing Christmas lights around their vintage John Deere tractors.
Nineteen years later residents and local farmers are still stringing Christmas lights around their vintage John Deere tractors.
Nineteen years ago, residents of Rockwood, Ontario, gathered in a local tavern to discuss potential ideas for a Christmas event for the town. They came up with an idea to use their favorite used tractors, adorned with Christmas lights, as floats in an annual parade, according to the Guelph Mercury.

The news source reported that this idea grew into a tradition for the town, as nineteen years later residents and local farmers are still stringing Christmas lights around their vintage John Deere tractors.

"There was no advance warning, we just did it," Murray Swanston, one of the pioneering paraders, told the Mercury. "People were somewhat surprised."

Several other town residents noted that there were no nighttime parades before they had the idea of using lights on used tractors, and the popularity of the event reflects the dedication of the founding farmers.

The Rockwood's Farmers' Annual Santa Claus Parade of Lights is an annual celebration that features large sculptures of St. Nick, a variety of light-adorned farm equipment and local food and fare for attendees, according to the event's website.