The Ionia Fall Festival: A 28-Year Tractor Parade Tradition in Ontario County — September 19

Ionia is a small Ontario County hamlet that most people drive past. On September 19, it earns a detour. The 28th annual Ionia Fall Festival centers on one of the most specific events in western New York: a tractor parade described as one of the largest in the region, rolling through the countryside at 1 PM with machines on display all day. Alongside the parade: a chicken barbecue, hayrides to the Wolk Observatory, historical displays, and the particular warmth of a gathering that has been doing this for almost three decades.

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 Time: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (tractor parade at 1 PM) Location: 2120 Elton Rd, Ionia, NY 14475 (off Route 64, north of Routes 5 & 20) Cost: Free (food available for purchase)

No registration needed. Coffee and donuts are served 7:30–9:30 AM; The Chow Hut opens at 10 AM; Gale-Win chicken BBQ begins at 11:30 AM while supplies last. Visit ioniaumc.org for details.