Redneck Christmas Parade An Annual Hit

2020 - Volume #44, Issue #6, Page #39

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

If people can have parades in town, why can’t country folks have a parade on county roads? That was the thinking of Dan Stacks and a few of his buddies back in 2011 when he was a high school senior.
“It started out as a joke,” Stacks says, but the Riggsville Redneck Christmas Parade has turned into a beloved tradition for folks in the Michigan communities south of the Mackinac Bridge.
The first parade took 2 hrs. with 13 “floats” traveling about 9 miles of county roads. The parade scheduled for this year already has all the necessary permits, road closures, and law enforcement assistance planned, says Stacks, who now works for the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department.
“This has truly become an annual event in Riggsville, and one where families plan their Christmas parties around. If you take a drive around Riggsville hours before the event, you will find driveways, fields and parking spots full of bonfires, tailgating and celebration,” Stacks says.
People travel from other communities to park in farm fields along the route, courtesy of landowners and people who plow snow.
“It takes our volunteers a couple weeks of nonstop plowing to keep the parking lots free of drifting snow,” Stacks says. “Last year the plowed hayfields could barely accommodate all the spectators.”
While parade participants throw out candy, spectators are equally generous in what they give to local charities including Toys for Tots and Coats for Kids. The St. Thomas Food Pantry has been especially pleased with donations at a crucial time of year.
“Last year, we could not fit all the food donations in a full-size livestock trailer,” Stacks says.
Along with charity, humor and goodwill that are part of the country parade, there’s been a little romance. One participant’s float “broke down” in front of the Catholic church. When his girlfriend came to help him, he surprised her by changing his “Merry Christmas” lights to “Marry Me.”
Stacks emphasizes that the event succeeds because of community backing, plenty of volunteers and participants eager to come together as a community.
“Despite snow, bitter cold, and wind, the parade has grown every year,” Stacks says. And unless there’s a major executive order, Covid-19 won’t stop it this year. The 9th Annual Riggsville Redneck Christmas Parade starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19. About 30 floats are expected to travel the 6-mile route around Riggsville.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Facebook: 9th Annual Riggsville Redneck Christmas Parade.

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

Redneck Christmas Parade An Annual Hit FARM HOME Miscellaneous If people can have parades in town why can’t country folks have a parade on county roads? That was the thinking of Dan Stacks and a few of his buddies back in 2011 when he was a high school senior “It started out as a joke ” Stacks says but the Riggsville Redneck Christmas Parade has turned into a beloved tradition for folks in the Michigan communities south of the Mackinac Bridge The first parade took 2 hrs with 13 “floats” traveling about 9 miles of county roads The parade scheduled for this year already has all the necessary permits road closures and law enforcement assistance planned says Stacks who now works for the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department “This has truly become an annual event in Riggsville and one where families plan their Christmas parties around If you take a drive around Riggsville hours before the event you will find driveways fields and parking spots full of bonfires tailgating and celebration ” Stacks says People travel from other communities to park in farm fields along the route courtesy of landowners and people who plow snow “It takes our volunteers a couple weeks of nonstop plowing to keep the parking lots free of drifting snow ” Stacks says “Last year the plowed hayfields could barely accommodate all the spectators ” While parade participants throw out candy spectators are equally generous in what they give to local charities including Toys for Tots and Coats for Kids The St Thomas Food Pantry has been especially pleased with donations at a crucial time of year “Last year we could not fit all the food donations in a full-size livestock trailer ” Stacks says Along with charity humor and goodwill that are part of the country parade there’s been a little romance One participant’s float “broke down” in front of the Catholic church When his girlfriend came to help him he surprised her by changing his “Merry Christmas” lights to “Marry Me ” Stacks emphasizes that the event succeeds because of community backing plenty of volunteers and participants eager to come together as a community “Despite snow bitter cold and wind the parade has grown every year ” Stacks says And unless there’s a major executive order Covid-19 won’t stop it this year The 9th Annual Riggsville Redneck Christmas Parade starts at 7 p m on Saturday Dec 19 About 30 floats are expected to travel the 6-mile route around Riggsville Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Facebook: 9th Annual Riggsville Redneck Christmas Parade

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW