LEYDEN — Small towns like Leyden, with rolling hills and farm fields, seem almost synonymous with tractors and the hardy farmers who operate them.
Even visitors driving along Greenfield Road are greeted by a tractor, poised in an open field and lit by decorative lights when darkness falls. So when thinking about what to incorporate into a fall festival, Police Chief Dan Galvis said tractors seemed like an obvious choice.
“There’s a lot of tractors in Leyden,” he said simply. “And the guys who do antiques always wanna show ’em off, take ’em for rides.”
So, tractors will be front and center for “Heartbreak of the Hills,” a fall festival to be held at Avery Field behind Pearl Rhodes Elementary School on Brattleboro Road on Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8.
Galvis is the primary organizer and promoter of the event, one that he’s been working on for about two months. Originally, Galvis thought he might hold a 5K run, calling it “Heartbreak of the Hills,” hoping to bring festivities back to Leyden.
“We used to have a Summerfest, a thing called Building Bridges,” he explained, noting the events died out more than a decade ago. “And I kept saying to (Selectman) Bill Glabach we’ve gotta do something … Everybody’s got some sort (of fall festival), but we need to get something here.”
Galvis’ idea gradually coalesced around tractors, with resident AJ Egloff, a collector of antique tractors himself, proposing a fun pull, Galvis said.
So the event will include a tractor fun pull on Saturday, with classes for antique, late model and compact tractors. Registration will start at 8 a.m. and pulling will start at 10 a.m. The entry fee is $10, and $5 for each additional tractor.
Additionally, Galvis said there’ll be a “Show and Shine” all day for those who want to display their tractors, but aren’t interested in pulling. Being a fun pull, it won’t involve awards.
“Everybody’s there to have some fun and just pull ’til they can’t pull no more,” Galvis explained. “We’ll give ’em name recognition on the mic and we’ll pick on ’em and find out who has a sense of humor and who doesn’t!”
Galvis said he and John “Zeke” O’Connell will be announcers while entrants attempt to pull as much as 25,000 pounds. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Meanwhile, the Leyden United Methodist Church will sell hot dogs and hamburgers, the Council on Aging will sell popcorn and water, children can play in a bounce house and attendees can purchase beverages from a Lefty’s Brewing Company booth, all on Avery Field, Galvis said. In the evening, Leyden Police Sgt. Tina Riddell will act as DJ.
“We’re hoping other entities in town will bring tents and show off their wares,” Galvis added.
Adding to the Columbus Day weekend festivities, cemetery tours organized by the Historical Commission will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. for the second year.
“We’re hoping that’ll feed off of this and vice versa,” Galvis said.
“Heartbreak of the Hills” continues into Sunday with a unique idea: a tractor poker run.
“I’ve never seen one with a tractor, but it’s done with everything else,” he said. “Motorcycles, boats, why not tractors?”
Tractors will travel on a specified route through town, stopping at five checkpoints to receive playing cards. The person with the best hand at the end of the route, as well as the person with the worst hand, will win cash prizes, Galvis said.
Registration for the poker run starts at 8 a.m., and the poker run itself will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The entry fee is $20.
Outside of the cash prizes for the poker run, proceeds from “Heartbreak of the Hills” will benefit the Historical Commission and the Leyden United Methodist Church.
Galvis said the event has attracted significant interest, with tractors coming from as far as Northampton.
“I’m afraid we’re gonna have to shut down Brattleboro Road for trailers,” he said. “I could see 100 (tractors) showing up.”
If the event is successful, Galvis said it could become annual, and could later be called the Leyden Fall Farm Festival. The 5K, or perhaps a mountain biking challenge, could be future additions.
“That would definitely be the heartbreak of the hills because I’d start ’em off right on Frizzell Hill!” Galvis exclaimed.
Reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
413-772-0261, ext. 257