Thousands gather in Geyserville for a lighted tractor parade

The population of Geyserville doubled Saturday evening, with families from all over Sonoma County gathering here for the eighth annual tree lighting and lighted tractor parade.

With the fire scar on Geyser Peak still visible to the east as the sun set, nearly ?4,000 people lined a milelong stretch of Geyserville Avenue for the first large-scale community event since the Pocket fire threatened the unincorporated town.

“Thank you for your patience and resilience during the fires,” Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore told the large crowd shortly before the 6 p.m. tree lighting at the Geyserville Park and Ride.

“Tonight shows a small community coming together to welcome you to their streets,” Gore said.

The festivities kicked off at 5 p.m. as families gathered in the twilight. Young children stood in line with their parents waiting to visit Santa Claus and recite their Christmas wish list. Restaurants along the street were at capacity and Geyserville firefighters sold hot dogs and chili at the end of the parade route.

As they waited for the tree lighting, Geyserville residents Lisa Valtenbergs and her son, Max, 4, recounted the evacuation order that kept them away from their home for eight days during the fire.

“I think we’re seeing so many people this year because people want to come together after what we went through,” she said.

Valtenbergs and her family went to a pancake breakfast at the Geyserville Fire Department in late October and found more people in attendance than could fit in the firehouse at once, she said.

At 6 p.m. state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, and Santa Claus led the countdown to the tree lighting. The crowd chanted along: “Five, four, three, two, one.”

Alas, the lights didn’t turn on. The crowd murmured and Gore sounded an “ummm” over the public address system. After a few seconds the lights flickered to life and the attendees roared in unison, “Yay!”

The road was then closed to through traffic as 26 tractors, trucks and flatbeds decked with lights and holiday adornments prepared to cruise down Geyserville Avenue. The parade was led by a CHP officer in a Santa hat, his patrol car covered in holiday lights with the siren wailing.

Cookouts were set up in front yards and people lined both sides of the dark street for about a mile. Those in the parade waved from tractor cabs, and the flatbed of trucks and onlookers waved back.

At Geyserville Elementary School, Kristen and Tyler Elliff of Windsor sat waiting for the parade with their two young sons, CJ and Brandon, and Dixie, their black Labrador. Kristen’s brother, mother and six nieces and nephews were also on hand for an event they mark as a reunion every year.

This year the feeling is a little different, Kristen Elliff said. Her husband agreed.

Since the deadly wildfires burned through Sonoma County last month, “People want to spend more time with their family and more time at community events now,” Tyler Elliff said.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203.