Annual Piedmont Antique Power Association July 4 Tractor Parade and Show

Annual Piedmont Antique Power Association July 4 Tractor Parade & Show in Mocksville, NC © Katrena

Where can you see Davie County's oldest World War II veteran, a shopping cart sporting a V-8 engine that is as high as the stop lights at the square, folks riding in the back of a manure spreader, and lots and lots of tractors? Head to downtown Mocksville in Davie County, North Carolina on a Saturday near July 4 and you might have a pretty good chance of seeing all of the above!

Parade in Mocksville, NC Around 4th of July © Katrena

I'll be honest...2012 marks a first for me. I had never been to the Tractor Parade in Mocksville. I figured we might see a couple of tractors, maybe 20 or 30 and that we'd be on our way. As my kids prepared to see the parade on Saturday, July 7 that started at 10:00 a.m., they decided to bring bags. Oh, I don't think you'll need bags...they probably don't throw out candy at a tractor parade. But my kids brought the bags just in case.

Department of Agriculture Giant Shopping Cart © Katrena

The shopping cart drew me. When I heard that the huge shopping cart from the Department of Agriculture would be in the parade, I decided this would be the year to go. I bet Jim Graham would have been proud. I could just imagine him riding on that cart waving to the crowds!

Shopping Cart with V-8 Engine © Katrena

My girls and I couldn't help but wonder how they got the giant shopping cart to Mocksville's modest streets. I bet more than one head turned to see the spectacle in the rear view mirror! The shopping cart was certainly a show starter, and I was a bit envious of that view of Mocksville from way up there. Hearing the sound of that V-8 engine put a smile on more than once onlooker! But the shopping cart was not the only great part of the parade.

Bill Angell, Davie County's Oldest Living WWII Veteran in Tractor Parade © Katrena

Davie County's oldest surviving World War II veteran sat up front as a very fitting Grand Marshall. The sign says that he is 97-years-old. And he looked like he would have felt quite comfortable driving a tractor or even a tank! The hot weather didn't dampen Bill Angell's spirits as he smiled and waved.

Patriotic Tractor Parade © Katrena

I would be willing to bet that Mr. Angell was not the only veteran in the parade. This parade called for farming hats, but many hats bearing witness to service to the country probably were hanging at home for many of these hard-working people in the Piedmont. Many tractors displayed American flags for the parade.

Small Tractors in Parade in July © Katrena

Big Tractors in Mocksville Tractor Parade © Katrena

The wide array of tractor sizes was great to see. We saw small tractors that were about the size of my riding lawn mower and also were dwarfed by huge tractors with wheels much larger than my car. And, of course, everything in between.

Older Tractors in Tractor Parade at Downtown Mocksville © Katrena

Newer Tractors in Piedmont Tractor Show © Katrena

The tractor parade also featured the new with the old. Farmers all around must have been cleaning and polishing for hours before the trip down Main Street. You would not believe the shine on so much farm equipment!

Farmer in Tractor Parade © Katrena

But this parade was not simply about the machines. The people made the parade. Farming is big industry in these parts, and those who choose to make a living from the earth often get very little credit for what they do. Summer vacations must be rare. When the temperatures reach triple digits, the fields aren't exactly air conditioned. At times, days in the field must feel as long as the school year during the last month of school. Farming is hard work, but the rewards are there too, and folks lined main street to watch, cheer, take photos, and wave.

Piedmont 4th of July Tractor Parade © Katrena

We didn't see even one beauty pageant parade wave down the center of the street....nope, this was more of a tip of the hat, point to your friend, grin at the camera kind of parade. I think it would be fine to say howdy to a few who rode by. My aunt once rode through Cleveland, NC's Christmas parade as Miss Raggedy Branch. I bet she would would have been welcomed here too!

Family-Friendly Tractor Parade in Mocksville © Katrena

4th of July Parade © Katrena

The Tractor Parade has become a family affair for many, from the tiny ones riding on play tractors to the youth who had to stand to reach the clutch as he proudly drove. From the little girl riding on her grandfather's lap to groups riding behind the tractors.

Woman Driving Tractor in Parade © Katrena

Farmer With Dog in Davie County Tractor Parade © Katrena

Women were driving some tractors too. We cheered when we saw the first lady driving in the parade! A dog was nestled proudly on one driver's lap. I couldn't help but wonder if the little furry guy rode in the fields too.

Kids and Adults Riding in Tractor Parade in North Carolina © Katrena

Air Conditioned Tractor © Katrena

I hope the farming skills will be passed down to the next generation. My grandfather was a farmer. My mom said they didn't have a tractor when she was growing up – they did it by hand. Horses helped after she was grown and gone. Tractors certainly can make life easier, but we only saw one in the parade with air conditioning!

Shiny Tractor in Piedmont Tractor Parade © Katrena

Farming is a distinct way of life. Even if a farmer doesn't have extra cash on hand, it doesn't surprise me one bit for a local farmer to haul a load of haybales to another state to help out a farmer in an area hit hard by natural disaster. They often share what they have and tend to help one another, similar to bonds developed by firefighters or soldiers in combat. Farmers know the weather can change just around the corner and the economy can be brutal.

Fun Summer Parade in North Carolina © Katrena

Just in case any of y'all are wondering about my kids' bag...yep. They do throw candy at this parade. If we had gotten much more candy, I think we might have needed that big ole' shopping cart to carry it home. We were near the end of the parade, and I think a few people must have unloaded everything they had left. Don't worry...the kids have already bagged up a bunch to share.

Farming Through the Generations © Katrena

This might be the first time I've seen Mocksville's annual tractor parade, but I bet it won't be the last. I know of a step-father who would love to see this in the future...and I know of just the family to escort him to a shaded spot at the square!

4th of July Tractor Parade and Show © Katrena

For more events offered by the Piedmont Antigue Power Association in Mocksville, visit their official web site. Find more of my articles about family-friendly activities in the state at the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Extreme Play at Carolina Mall in Concord NC Offers Active Indoor Fun

Extreme Play at Carolina Mall in Concord NC © Katrena

Carolina Mall in Concord, North Carolina hosts a great kid-friendly spot called Extreme Play. As soon as my kids saw this area from the hallway, they were ready to head that way! This place proves that exercise can be quite fun.

Fun Indoor Activity for Kids in Concord NC © Katrena

Extreme Play offers huge inflatables and indoor games for children. Before entering the area, the staff will go over basic safety rules and place armbands on the kids and adults. These armbands have matching numbers for security reasons. Make sure that the kids are wearing socks because they are required to wear them while playing here.

Indoor Games at Extreme Play at Carolina Mall © Katrena

Parents are invited to walk around with the kids or they may choose to relax in the lounge area that features a large television and couch. Picnic tables are also available for those who wish to sit or enjoy a snack from the snack bar. Several games, such as a huge checkers/chess set, are on tables for those who need to rest or want to play games while seated. This can be very helpful if you have children of varying ages and interests.

Indoor Jumping Castle at Carolina Mall © Katrena

My kids were all about trying out the inflatables! The front two play items are reserved for kids aged three and younger. My youngest is four years-old, and I think this is one of the few times in her life that she actually wanted to be younger because she was really wanting to jump in that jumping castle!

Inflatable Playground for Small Kids

The younger kids' area also has a fun inflatable with penguins, tropical trees, and a sort of maze on the inside. This is a real eye-catcher from the hallway, and to tell the truth, all of my kids looked a bit wistfully at this one reserved for the little ones. I saw several younger children playing in that area, and they looked to be all smiles. They also have a few play items on the floor that look similar to rocking horses for the smaller kids who might not be sure about going into an inflatable.



Indoor Sports at Extreme Play © Katrena

Just behind the smaller kids area is an inflatable with two basketball goals and several small basketballs that roll back to the front after you shoot. I saw one guy shooting basket after basket. Smaller kids may need some help getting the balls because a net holds them in at the front. This area will probably attract those who love sports.

Fun Kids Activities in Concord © Katrena

The next inflatable is to the right. It offers an huge obstacle course that runs more than half the length of the room. My kids like to try to race as they would climb, squeeze, and slide through the course. Several areas on the side of the obstacle course have mesh so that you can see the kids and they can see you if they aren't sure where to go next or just need a little encouragement. The obstacle course ends in a slide where the kids can head back to the beginning of the course or enjoy the two inflatables in the center.

Fun Things to do at Extreme Play © Katrena

A shorter obstacle course is in the middle. My kids seemed to be drawn to this one in particular. I think it was the fun slide at the end. My second oldest loved to hold up her feet so that the slide would deposit her onto the floor, while my youngest would laugh and giggle every time she would finish this particular inflatable.



Huge Slides at Extreme Play in Concord NC © Katrena

The other center inflatable featured a huge slide. Climb up the ladder on the left, have a seat and prepare for a super fast ride on this one. Even the kids that screamed as they slid would quickly return to the slide for another ride.



Fun Indoor Exercise Opportunities Near Charlotte NC © Katrena

The inflatable on the opposite side of the room combined an obstacle course with another large slide. This is a nice one for adults who are watching because a bench is positioned right in front of it. The entrance on this one is fun as the kids climb through a circle.



Foosball at Extreme at Mall in Concord © Katrena

Extreme Play also has coin-operated arcade games, computer-based games, and several small rides. They also have a dance station, foosball, and air hockey game. Several coin operated machines have balls, toys, candy, and more. Everything is quite colorful in this indoor playground.

Mr. Potato Head Ride at Carolina Mall © Katrena

We visited Extreme Play in July, when the heat in North Carolina can be rather relentless. Sometimes the temperatures reach triple digits this time of year! Air conditioned indoor play areas can be quite nice when you don't want to melt outside. My kids played hard for two hours almost non-stop! The four-year-old actually fell asleep on the way home and ended up taking about a two-hour nap. She usually vetoes any mention of a nap. Even my climber had red cheeks when we were ready to head home.

Party Room at Extreme Play © Katrena

If the kids in your life enjoy climbing, sliding, and jumping on inflatables, they will be enthralled by Extreme Play. This indoor playground also offers options for parent who wish to shop while the kids play. Party rooms and group rates are also available. Check the Extreme Play web site for current rate information and additional offers.

If you are in the Concord area, you might also want to stop by Village Park in Kannapolis or the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville. Find more family-friendly indoor, outdoor, free, and fee-based travel destinations in North Carolina at my Travel NC With Kids site map.

Old Salem Tour of 1784 Tavern – See George Washington's Letter and More!

Guided Tour of Tavern at Old Salem © Katrena

The Salem Tavern at Old Salem, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, provided some interesting tidbits of history on our walking tour of this historic Moravian town in Forsyth County. We visited the tavern after seeing the Timothy Vogler Gunsmith Shop.

Learn Moravian Culture at Old Salem Tavern © Katrena

The Salem Tavern was built to be on the edge of town because the Moravian community preferred not to have too many influences from "outsiders." They held certain religious beliefs that travelers might not practice, yet the income from the tavern helped the economy of the town.

Parlor Room in Salem Tavern © Katrena

Before heading upstairs, tour guides will gladly show guests the large front rooms. Several games are laid out on tables. We thought it was interesting that games like checkers were allowed as long as the game involved skill and not simply luck.

Salem Tavern Tour of Guest Rooms © Katrena

The largest bedroom available for travelers did not have a price tag and was reserved for more affluent travelers. The tavern owner and traveler would come to an agreement on the price for this spacious and private room.

Bedroom of Tavern Owner at Old Salem © Katrena

The owner and his family lived in the tavern, but women and children would not mingle with tavern patrons. Some think that perhaps George Washington may have stayed in the owner's bedroom on his famous visit to Old Salem.

Water Buckets in Case of Fire © Katrena

Large bags with handles hang in the downstairs hallway. These were filled with water in case of fire in the hopes of extinguishing the flames. Larger buildings like this would have more bags than the smaller homes nearby. An uncontrolled fire could easily devastate an entire town. I have several friends who are firefighters...I bet they are glad we have more modern ways to extinguish flames now!

Bedroom in Salem Tavern © Katrena

Upstairs Bedroom in Tavern at Old Salem © Katrena

Regular rooms in the tavern are located upstairs. Several beds were in each room upstairs, and travelers might share beds if necessary. Prices for these rooms were much less than the large private room downstairs.

Trying Out a Bed at the Tavern in Old Salem © Katrena

My daughters were quite excited to have the chance to try lying down on a bed that was made to resemble those of the time after we got upstairs. They all decided it was quite comfortable!

George Washington's Letter After Visiting Old Salem © Katrena

This tavern must have had an excellent reputation because the first President of the United States, George Washington, stayed here. His letter commending the community and their hospitality is upstairs in the tavern. The Moravians were quite progressive for the time. They believed in formal education for girls and boys and mentored the youth so that they could support themselves and their families once they became adults.

Kitchen in Salem Tavern © Katrena

The kitchen is located at the back of the tavern, and the guide there mentioned that she has been working at Old Salem for eleven years. She kept a fire going in the fireplace and showed how the women would have taken some hot coals out and placed them on the floor in order to cook some of the food.

Silverware and Dishes at Old Salem © Katrena

The oven in the tavern kitchen resembled the one in the Winkler Bakery. They use wood to heat it and must carefully time baking of the bread. Herbs were hanging from the ceiling and plenty of older silverware and dishes seemed to beckon guests to stay a while.

Dining Room in Salem Tavern © Katrena

The dining area in the tavern was decorated quite nicely. My 4-year-old was ready to have a meal!

Tavern Was Important for Old Salem Economy © Katrena

Our next stop on the walking tour was the Blum House. Find more family-friendly travel destinations, including additional Old Salem tour stops, at my Travel NC With Kids site map.