Hillbilly Tractor Pullers mow down Main Street during our Weaverville Christmas parade

We joined our neighbors for a parade party today.

Macy’s may have its huge balloons in New York, but I’m willing to bet their Hillbilly Tractor Pullers convoy isn’t nearly as cute as Weaverville’s. And forget about their Future Farmers of America members waving their Christmas greetings from the bucket of a front-end loader. Bet they don’t even have FFA there.

And critters play a big role in our parade. In the past folks have brought pooches, but this time all the dogs were in laps in old cars or held by the arms that weren’t waving from floats. The horses were there again, though. Big magnificent work horses and mules, decked out in reindeer splendor, pulled wagons and carriages. And behind them in an ATV came a crew of city employees with a shovel. Way to go, Weaverville!

Our neighbors, Craig and Carolyn, hosted quite a potluck, with chicken chili and more kids than I’ve seen since we baby boombers ruled the streets. Their party lent even more of a flavor of old-fashioned, down-to-earth, celebration of humanity.

We at Inn on Main Street bed and breakfast wish everyone such a Christmas.

Party goers had streetside views and first dibs on candy tossed from floats.