The Maple Festival didn't disappoint. People came out both days, despite questionable weather on Saturday. The festival included several vendors (both new and old), many of which had maple-flavored or maple-themed foods and products. There were several food trucks from around the area (such as Pizza Pixie and Creamery Brook Bison), nearby vendors and organizations (like Hebron Parks and Recreation, Hebron Democrats and Hebron Republicans), as well as several activities (balloon darts and inflatable bouncers). And of course, we can't forget maple syrup, the local maple sugar houses and the Lion's Pancake Breakfast. The Hebron Maple Leaf made his return, accompanied by Alexandra the Mermaid, a newcomer for this year. Of course, this is only the short list. The festival had so much to offer and became a fun event to get everyone outside after a long two years of dealing with the Covid-19 virus.
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| Hebron Maple Leaf in the tractor parade |
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| Alexandra the Mermaid in the tractor parade |
But one thing to me that truly brought home the Maple Festival wasn't just the return of all of these fun events, but the tractor parade itself. Put together by Kevin McDonnell, the tractor parade was bigger than it has ever been before. Just recently, Chester had had a tractor parade of 44 tractors, and Hebron was out to beat that mark.
On Sunday, March 20th, 2022, the Hebron Tractor Parade took place on Main Street and looped around Colebrook Village on Horton Boulevard. In the last 6 or 7 years since the tractor parade became popular, it has been increasingly bigger each year. That being said, it was little by little. This year, however, was astounding. After a 2-year hiatus because of Covid-19, 92 tractors became a significant growth from 2019's tractor parade. Nearly twice as many tractors lined and filled the lower section of Ted's parking lot. There were several participants from within town and surrounding towns, with some participants coming as far as Rhode Island to join the tractor parade (according to the Hebron Maple Festival Tractor Parade Facebook page). And it all came after two years of the Maple Festival's absence.
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| Kevin McDonnell, organizer of the 2022 Hebron Maple Festival Tractor Parade |
This was the largest tractor parade in the Maple Festival, which according to the Hebron Maple Festival Tractor Parade Facebook page, included "92 tractors, 13 trailers, over 100 participants, and thousands of thrilled spectators." One can attest to the size of this tractor parade, as some of the tractors had already made their journey through Main Street, and were returning to Ted's, while the last few tractors were still just setting out and beginning their trek down Main Street.
Many of the tractors were spring-themed and decorated for St. Patrick's Day. On some of the trailers, participants threw candy to the onlookers alongside the road. The event was very festive, with hats, balloons, flower pinwheels, and flags decorating the tractors. Even the Hebron Maple Leaf and Alexandra the Mermaid found their ways onto the tractors, accompanied by the many cheers of citizens alongside Main Street and watching the parade. The tractor parade at the Maple Festival was even filmed by a drone as tractors rode along Main Street (click the link below to see the sky view video on Facebook).
Sky View of Hebron Tractor Parade
While the Hebron Maple Festival has had tractor parades before, this one was different. It was bigger, twice the size of what the "little farm town" had ever done before. The 2022 Hebron Maple Festival Tractor Parade showed that the citizens of Hebron, Connecticut and other surrounding towns wanted to come out and celebrate. This pivotal tractor parade showed that the citizens of Hebron wanted to put Covid-19 behind them and look toward a promising spring and summer. It showed how resilient and strong our town truly is. And it showed our farm-town spirit, which is forever strong in Hebron, Connecticut.
Is it possible that next year, the tractor parade can be even bigger? 100 tractors? 150? Who knows. It is certainly a goal Hebron can reach. One thing for sure, however, is that the 2022 Hebron Maple Festival Tractor Parade was special, not just because it was the biggest, but because it showed how strong Hebron is coming out of the pandemic. Now, we must look toward the summer, 2023, and an even bigger tractor parade next year.
If you have any pictures, videos, or further information about the 2022 Hebron Maple Festival Tractor Parade you would like to include (or you feel fit this story), please email hebronmapleleaf@gmail.com.
