In Iowa, antique tractor parades are popular ways to enjoy the state's rural heritage while enjoying spending time with friends and family. Many communities throughout the state sponsor agricultural equipment shows and festivals that include parades, displays, and demonstrations of the beauty and power of antique tractors.
Attending an Antique Tractor Event
If you admire antique farming equipment, you'll really enjoy seeing Iowa antique tractor parades. If you live in Iowa or plan to visit the state, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are many opportunities for you to enjoy antique tractor parades throughout the summer and fall months. Yesterday's Tractor Company publishes a directory of antique tractor shows by city and month. The listings are updated frequently, so it's a good idea to check back often to see if new events that interest you have been added.
Annual Iowa Antique Tractor Parades
Many of the most popular antique tractor parades held in Iowa are integral components of annual festival celebrations. Individuals who appreciate the beauty of antique tractors and related implements are likely to enjoy the following events:
Old Threshers Reunion
The Old Threshers Reunion is one of Iowa's premier tractor-related events. This festival is held the last week of August each year, from Wednesday through Sunday, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The reunion is sponsored by the Old Threshers Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to historic preservation, and it celebrates rural life in the Midwest.
Each year, the five-day reunion kicks off with the annual harvest parade, featuring local marching bands, antique tractors, floats, and other forms of entertainment. Additionally, a Cavalcade of Power parade is held at the grandstand each day of the event at noon. Attendees will get to see antique tractors, steam engines, classic cars and trucks, horses and wagons, and more (weather permitting).
The Old Threshers Reunion also features concerts, equipment exhibits, and many other forms of entertainment. There are over 125 activities scheduled for each day, and programs can be purchased on the grounds. There is a campground on the site, and many visitors choose to take advantage of this option for their lodging needs. Train and trolley transportation are available, as well as electric scooter rentals.
Albert City Threshermen
The Albert City Threshermen & Collectors Show is held each August. It is organized by the Albert City Threshermen & Collectors Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and exhibiting agricultural and pioneering equipment. The event features all types of antique tractors, along with a variety of other kinds of agricultural equipment. The event is held on the Heritage Site, a 15-acre tract of land that was donated to the group in 1975. On-site camping is available during the show.
Attendees will enjoy viewing and participating in a wide variety of activities, including:
- Antique Amateur Tractor Pull
- Antique Car and Truck Displays
- Antique Tractor Displays
- Arts & Crafts
- Blacksmithing
- Broom Making
- Flour Making
- Garden Tractor Display
- Gas Engine Displays
- Horse Drawn Equipment
- Horse-Drawn Trolley
- Old Farmhouse Displays
- Saw Mill
- Shingle Mill
- Threshing with Steam and Gas Tractors & Hand-Fed Separator
- Tractor Pedal Pull for Kids
- Many Other Interesting Exhibits
Mid-Iowa Antique Power Associations
The Mid-Iowa Antique Power Association holds a three day "power show" each August in the town of Marshalltown, featuring all brands of tractors and other equipment. One of the main highlights of the event is the Parade of Power, which features antique tractors and other impressive agricultural and production paraphernalia.
Event activities include:
- Arts & Crafts
- Corn Shelling
- Flea Market
- Kids' Pedal Tractor Pull
- Horse Plowing
- Sawmill
- Shingle Mill
- Steam Engine Threshing and Plowing
- Straw Baling
- Tractor Games
- Tractor Plowing
- Tractor Teeter Totter
- Working Blacksmiths
- Working Dog Demonstrations
- Much more
County Fairs in Iowa
Many county fairs held throughout Iowa include parades featuring antique tractors. County fair activities and events vary each year, but it's a safe bet that classic farm equipment will be center stage at any major fairs and festivals in Iowa. The county fair events listed below are likely to feature Iowa antique tractor parades and displays. Event schedules are usually published online a month or more before the event begins.
- Butler County Fair- June
- Harrison County Fair- July
- Clay County Fair- September
- Lee County Fair- July
- Wayne County Fair- July
- Winneshiek County Fair- September
- Many other locations throughout Iowa
Enjoying Antique Tractor Parades
The best way to get a sense of what it was like to actually work with antique tractors is to see them in action. When you attend a parade that highlights these amazing pieces of equipment, you'll get a glimpse of what life was like in rural America's agricultural communities many years ago.
