Parade of Lights roars through Holmes and Wayne counties Sept. 20

A low rumble echoes across a rural valley. Soon after, the sound of growling engines can be heard as a dust cloud filters up and the sun sinks slowly into the western horizon.

Then the sound of blaring horns follows suit, followed by the emergence of a lineup of large semi-tractor trailers, all shining brightly as day turns to night.

A cherished tradition will return to Holmes and Wayne counties, with a new group attached to the effort, but the convoy that has drawn thousands of fans over the years will beckon to both drivers and fans this September.

The Parade of Lights and Truck Show will start at noon on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Holmes County Fairgrounds, where anyone with a big rig with a Department of Transportation tag is invited to join in the festivities.

The festivities at Harvest Ridge will go throughout the day with great food and fellowship, culminating later that evening with a parade of trucks slowly making their way through the rolling hills of Berlin, Mt. Hope and finally Kidron.

“We are tentatively planning for the parade leaving from the Holmes County Fairgrounds at around 6:30 p.m. and ending at Kidron Auction Barn,” said Dannel Weaver, one of the committee members heading up the parade. “We invite everyone to join us along the journey and watch and greet us as we move along the path to Kidron.”

Families and friends are invited to set up lawn chairs, have gatherings or just stand along the road to wave to the truckers as they pass by en route to Kidron.

Before the actual parade takes place, the invitation is being sent out to any and all big rig drivers to stop in at Harvest Ridge and sign up for the ride, even if they don’t preregister online.

With registration beginning at noon, participants will be able to park their rigs at Harvest Ridge, where someone will be available to show them where to park. They can then spend time fellowshipping with other drivers, talking tales of the trail, swapping job stories and discussing their shared experiences of being on the road.

“This event is designed to create an enjoyable, friendly and happy experience, a good time of fellowship where people can share stories,” Weaver said. “We all know how truckers like to talk, and stories can be pretty entertaining.”

The cost for drivers to enter their rigs in the parade is $20, with all proceeds from the event going to help a local family facing financial needs.

The Parade of Lights and Truck Show was created to take the place of a similar truck parade that cruised through the area for many years.

While the organization committee has had little time to prepare for this year’s event, Weaver said the hope is that with more time to prepare for next year’s event, it will grow into something bigger.

One thing the organizers wanted to ensure was the lights on these big rigs became a focal point of the parade.

“Hey, it’s called Parade of Lights, so let’s make sure we show off all of these trucks in all their glory, with the lights shining brightly,” Weaver said. “We want this to be a celebration of an old-time truck parade.”

He said the group is already making plans on creating even more family-friendly additions to the event, but one time-honored tradition is seeing little children with arms raised at a 90-degree angle at their side, fists clenched and arm pumping, hoping the responding truckers will blare their horns, something Weaver said the drivers truly cherish as they drive the route.

Don’t miss this family-oriented chance to support area truck drivers and have a night celebrating with family and friends.