Tractor parade returning to East Charlotte

After a one-year hiatus, the tractor parade is returning to East Charlotte.

At its meeting on Monday, the selectboard decided to make the East Charlotte Tractor Parade an official town event this year.

The tribute to Charlotte farmers will run 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, with the parade beginning at 1 p.m.

The parade will start at 3238 Spear Street about a half mile south of the intersection of Spear Street and Hinesburg Road. The tractors will head north on Spear Street and at the intersection will turn east and travel down Hinesburg Road to Bean Road. At Bean Road the parade will turn right and head south to Prindle Road where it will travel back to Spear Street and back to its starting point.

There will be local vendors selling a variety of goods; barn animals; face painting; food; and treats. And there will be signs indicating where to park. Dogs are not welcome at the event.

“I really expect if the weather’s as good as it probably should be that there’ll be kickball games out in the field or croquet,” Spear said.

She predicted there will be at least 60 tractors participating in the celebration of Charlotte’s agricultural roots.

This is “a practice year,” board chair Jim Faulkner said, Spear has bigger plans for subsequent years.

The board left open the possibility of the tractor parade becoming a permanently official town event.