Dozens of people lined up along Main Street to watch the 32nd annual Timber Truckers Light Parade pass through John Day on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Air horns blaring, engines throbbing and colored lights twinkling, 28 rigs of all shapes and sizes did a slow roll through downtown to shouts and waves from the onlookers. And this year, someone added to the festivities by launching fireworks from a hill south of town.

All of the vehicles were covered in festive holiday lights and many bore fanciful decorations as they competed for prizes in four categories: timber, commercial, farm and ranch, and community. The first prize in each category was $200 (plus 100 gallons of diesel fuel for the timber winner), with $100 going to the second-place winner and $50 for third place.

The timber industry was still going strong when the first parade was held back in 1991 with financial support from the D.R. Johnson Lumber Co.

While it is much diminished today, the industry still accounts for one out of every five jobs in Grant County, according to the Oregon Employment Department, and the Timber Truckers Light Parade remains a cherished local tradition. The parade still gets a check from D.R. Johnson (as does a similar event in Riddle), as well as support from numerous local businesses.

Those contributions cover the cash prizes as well as the cost of a chili feed for the participants and their families at the John Day Elks Lodge after the parade, where the winners are announced and additional prizes are handed out.

A committee of six volunteers starts working in October to organize the annual event, and the Elks Club provides another five volunteers to help with the chili feed.

“The timber industry supported this community for decades,” said Leslie Traylor, who heads up the organizing committee and has been involved in putting on the parade for more than two decades.

“Even though the timber industry is not what it once was, the parade is still going and the community still supports it.”

In addition to honoring Grant County’s connection to the timber industry, Traylor said, the Timber Truckers Light Parade is just a fun event that has become an integral part of the holidays for many local residents.

“It’s just a great way to welcome in the season,” she said. “I always feel like the Christmas season has started once the parade is over.”

The winning entries in the 2022 Timber Truckers Light Parade, by category:

Timber

First place: No. 8, Dakom Logging

Second place: No. 24, Morris Forestry

Third place: No. 5, Prairie Wood Products

Commercial

First Place: No. 14, TDN Services LLC (Tyler Nodine)

Second Place: No. 25, Iron Triangle Logging

Third place: No. 26, Iron Triangle Logging

Farm and Ranch

First Place: No. 11, Loop Ranch

Second Place: No entry

Third place: No entry

Community

First Place: No. 3, Santa (Howard Gieger)

Second Place: No. 12, John Day Rural Fire District

Third place: No. 7, Keith and Eva Dougherty

People’s Choice

First Place: No. 8, Dakom Logging

Second place: No. 3, Santa (Howard Gieger)

Sweepstakes Award

No. 14, TDN Services LLC (Tyler Nodine)