NORTHAMPTON — The Jaescke family wanted to help mark the Three County Fair’s 200th year, so they hatched a plan: a 200-tractor parade down Main Street.
Richard and Sandy Jaescke have organized tractor parades before, but something of this size is unprecedented.
Saturday morning’s tractor parade will be one of many highlights at the annual Labor Day weekend fair, which opens Friday afternoon at the Three County Fairgrounds off Fair Street.
Tractors of all shapes, sizes and models will descend on downtown, including horse-drawn ones and the Ford 3930 driven by Mayor David Narkewicz. While Narkewicz is no stranger to a tractor, he admits it has been some time since he worked the fields of Franklin County as a kid.
The parade happens on Saturday at 11 a.m. It will start on King Street, cut through Finn Street to State Street, head down Main Street and, ultimately, to the fairgrounds. A 12:30 p.m. ceremony and celebration will follow at the grandstand.
Anyone who has a tractor and is interested in joining in the parade should contact the fairgrounds office at 413-584-2237.
Gates open for the fair on Friday at 4 p.m., and it will boast all the usual food, rides and shows. Back by popular demand is the school bus demolition derby, which takes place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Monday at 1 p.m., both at the grandstand.
This year’s fair will also have a plowing contest that harkens back to 1818. Some 15 horse and ox-drawn teams will compete to see who can do the best work.