Whether you missed out on Turlock’s Independence Day celebrations this past weekend or want to continue relishing in the patriotic spirit, the town of Denair is offering family fun with a parade of their own.
On Fourth of July morning, tractors and classic cars will be cruising the streets of downtown Denair for the city’s fourth annual Independence Day Tractor Parade.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Community Center parking lot on 3850 North Gratton Rd., the parade will make a circle, first going down Main Street towards Monte Vista Avenue. After a short drive along Monte Vista, the parade will go through Sandling Way and McCauly Avenue before turning back onto North Gratton. From there, the route cuts back through Monte Vista before heading back up on Story Road and turning left on Zeering Road. The route will go back down on Lester before turning onto Main where it will return to the Community Center parking.
It’s a fairly new event, explained event organizer Martin Squires, that began with the help of late community member Dan Casale in the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Dan loved antique tractors. A group of us participate in the local parades every year,” Squires said in reference to his friends who participated in Turlock’s festivities last week. “When the government shut everything down in 2020, he was just extremely upset that we couldn't do parades and get together. So he put together this bootleg parade… He started calling around to a bunch of neighbors and our group of tractor guys and with about 15 tractors, we just set out on the streets. We didn't really make any announcements or anything. And people came running out of their houses, clapping and giving us the thumbs up and telling us how much they enjoyed it.”
Due to popular demand, the group began making it an annual event. Even with minimal social media promotion, the streets of Denair were lined up with folks of all ages. But in October, the future of the festivities were in question after Casale passed away from health complications at the age of 84.
“We just decided that, even though he passed and he was the main guy behind it, in memory of him and how much the people in Denair want it, to keep this going,” Squires explained.
This year, the Denair Gaslight Theater will be involved, with participants of the Little Miss Denair pageant performing songs and dances before handing out popsicles to combat the high temperatures. It is expected to reach 110 degrees on Thursday, which has promoted an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service.
“I’m not sure what the turnout will be this year since it will be getting pretty hot out, but no matter the size, people come out to watch,” Squires said. “There’s no organized list or anything, we just put out word the route we're going and people come and have a good time.
“It's really neat that there's so much interest in these antique tractors. The whole thing started with tractors and then guys with cars and trucks started showing up. It’s just very humbling to me that so many people want to come out and see this. It's kind of hard to put into words, but it truly is what you call a grassroots thing.”
Those interested in having their tractor or vehicle be in the parade are encouraged to reach out to Squires at (209) 652-6997.
