Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Thousands Line Ukiah’s State Street for Last Night’s Annual Truckers Light Parade

Categories:
[All pictures of the parade taken by Matt LaFever. Please note, not all participants were photographed. Apologies to any excluded]

Ukiah’s State Street was lined yesterday evening by thousands of community members with rosy cheeks and festive hearts to watch the Truckers Light Parade, an annual holiday gathering centered around local businesses and participants decorating their vehicles with Christmas lights and parading down State Street competing to be declared “The Grand Champion.”

Ukiah Mayor Juan Orozco, Executive Director of Visit Mendocino Travis Scott, and Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall [Picture from the City of Ukiah Recreation Facebook page]

Ukiah Mayor Juan Orozco, Executive Director of Visit Mendocino Travis Scott, and Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall served as judges for the event.

The participating vehicles had a particularly Mendocino County flavor ranging from a semi-truck hauling felled redwood, a convoy of off-road-ready Jeeps, an 80s Ford Bronco sporting two American flags, and a caravan of utility terrain vehicles.

There were several participating vehicles that were replete with social gatherings. One semi-truck had cut large openings in the container and over a dozen friends and family were inside, waving at the parade go-ers and being merry.

The following vehicles were the winners of the 2021 Truckers Light Parade:

  • First place and “Grand Champion”- Granite Construction
  • Second Place and “Best of Show”- Greater Ukiah Business and Tourism Alliance
  • Third Place and Honorable Mention- Hernandez Electric
  • Best of the City of Ukiah- the Rudolph Truck (2nd District Supervisor Mo Mulheren noted, “city vehicles are just doing it for fun and not prizes so they get their own category.”)

Remember, for any residents craving more holiday festivities, the City of Ukiah is hosting the Let it Glow Lighting Competition where Ukiah residents can decorate their homes, and then be included on a map of all participants, and the winner is chosen by Ukiah residents make the drive and vote on best of the best. Check-in on this website for more information.

- Advertisement -
May be an image of text

Also, Ukiah has once again installed a holiday skating rink near Alex Thomas Plaza. Residents can rent a pair of skates and feel the ice beneath their blades. Throughout December, the ice rink will host various theme nights including Star Wars Night, Couples Night, Super Hero Night, 80s Night, and Harry Potter Night.

And now, for your visual pleasure, some of our choice pictures from last night’s Truckers Parade:

The Rudolph Truck that won best city vehicle
Parade go-ers illuminated by the glow of the Christmas lights
“If you don’t believe, you don’t receive.”
The Diaz Electric truck sporting an illuminated lighting bolt
Utility Terrain Vehicles decked out with Baby Yoda and Elmo
A savage modified Jeep with subtle but gorgeous nods to the holidays
The red and green were popping on this semi with a shiny gas container
City, law enforcement, and firefighter vehicles near the parade’s staging area
The splendid simplicity of a seasonal grill
A Christmas Tableau
Rugged Jeeps have to take a break and celebrate the holidays too
- Advertisement -

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Matt LaFever
Matt LaFeverhttps://mendofever.com/
For the past seven years, Matt LaFever has covered the North Coast of California in both print and radio news. A Humboldt State graduate, he has lived in the Emerald Triangle for nearly 20 years. His reporting spans local issues like crime and wildfires. When not writing, Matt is an avid outdoorsman, exploring Northern California’s rugged landscapes. Reach out to him at matthewplafever@gmail.com.

Today's News

-Advertisement-

News from the Week

Discover more from MendoFever – Mendocino County News

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading