Festive tractor parade lights up Suffolk roads for charity

20 December 2023

Guy Campbell & Shannon EustaceBBC News, Suffolk

News image — Almost 100 tractors participated in the parade, which toured East Suffolk villages

JW Photography Ariel photo of Suffolk Tractor Light Parade — Almost 100 tractors participated in the parade, which toured East Suffolk villages

An event that saw almost 100 tractors take to a county's roads in Christmas lights has raised thousands for charity.

The colourful Light Parade, which launched last year, travelled through villages in East Suffolk on Sunday.

It raised more than £6,000 for Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (SULSAR) and the Woodbridge charity, Just42.

Lead organiser Liz Quickenden said the response had been "overwhelmingly positive".

The parade began at Clarke and Simpson's Campsea Ashe auction centre in Woodbridge and travelled around villages including Wickham Market, Eyke, Rendlesham, Melton and Tunstall.

Andrew Mutimer A tractor decorated with Christmas lights — Each tractor was decorated with Christmas lights, to help spread festive cheer to the community

"We are over the moon with the response from the Suffolk farming community and of course, the public, who took to the streets to cheer on our drivers as they made their way across East Suffolk," Ms Quickenden added.

"To have 94 vehicles partake in the event is staggering and they well and truly put on a show."

Ms Quickenden said the parade was spurred on by the cost of living crisis, which forced many families to make the decision not to decorate their homes with Christmas lights.

She said the event, sponsored by NFU Mutual, aimed to bring some festive cheer to the local community - and would return in 2024.

Clarke and Simpson Auctions A tractor decorated with Christmas lights — The parade raised more than £6,000 for two Suffolk charities

Ms Quickenden added: "The feedback we have had from people who watched has been overwhelmingly positive and all I can do is thank them for their support.

"Communities have come together and what they have achieved is nothing short of astounding. Because of them we have been able to raise over £6,000 for two fantastic causes, and more is continuing to come in."