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Crowds lined Hillsboro Highway as the Hillsboro Homecoming Association returned for its third year, bringing Christmas cheer to the small Coffee County community Friday, Dec. 15.

Stepping off from Hillsboro Homecoming Park, the all ATV, UTV and tractor parade pays homage to the area’s strong agricultural ties.

“We made it just tractors, side by sides and ATVs because that kind of gets back to the agriculture roots of Hillsboro,” event co-founder Lesley Hennessee said. “Anybody can just put a truck and trailer in or something but this is more specialized to the agriculture and country roots of the community.”

This year’s parade featured more than 35 entries ranging from four-wheelers to large farm equipment and colorful floats all decked out in lights and decorations.

Coffee County 4-H was one of those entries, which featured a float pulled by a 275 Case tractor on loan from A.J. Teal.

“It is just something fun for the kids to do,” Neal Sloan, extension agent 4-H Youth Development, said. “It gives them some opportunities for their hands-on skills. A bunch of these kids actually helped us build this float and put it together and it is a fun activity they always enjoy doing.”

The Weaver Farms float, which has become known for its festive themes, was decked out in celebration of the song Feliz Navidad this year.

“We are a family farm, and we raise pork and beef and lamb,” Elliot Weaver said.

Wearing a poncho and sombrero Weaver fit the part, walking alongside the large pig pinata suspended from the family tractor driven by farm owner Jamie Weaver.

The Coffee County FFA was also on hand with a float featuring a living nativity.

“We were trying to go with something a little bit different, something true to the nature of Christmas,” Advisor Josh Barnard said. “We worked on it for a while in class and we have been working on it when we get out of an exam. The kids have helped us a lot.”

The Coffee County Rescue Squad also participated in the parade for the third year, just two weeks after a fire at their storage facility significantly damaged some of their equipment.

“This is our 60th anniversary and we are all one big family and we are not letting the fire stop us,” Squad member Jamie McCullough said. We actually did two calls not six hours after the fire and we all want to support the community because the community has really stepped up and supported us through this fire.”

Hennessee said the Hillsboro Christmas parade helps bring the community together, and all money raised through entry fees goes right back into the community through local nonprofit organizations.

“The Christmas spirit is there….it is just that small town feeling of Christmas,” she said. “There is nothing like it.”