Tara’s Takes
The frontpage says it all: Box Car Days is fast approaching. While the weekend may be the end of the summer for many, it is really a culmination of months of work, huge commitment from many sponsors and an unending line of amazing volunteers.
The best part of the weekend: It’s our time to make Tracy shine! I know I write this same message every year about this time, but I also believe we all need that gentle reminder.
We are one week out from the kick-off to Box Car Days. Now is the time to take a step back and look around. We will welcome many to our community, including those that “come home” to Tracy.
Just like you do when you have company over, it’s time to clean up. Take a few minutes to clean up your yard and your business. Get ready to welcome all those who are joining us and show off what Tracy has to offer since the last BCD.
Need a reminder on how amazing our community is? No problem. Since our 98th Box Car Days, we have opened the long-awaited Tracy Area Community Center. We have had two new businesses open downtown. We’ve had new people and families move to town.
While the Central Park playground equipment was installed last summer, for those who only make it back once a year, it’s still a brand new asset to our small community.
We also have several businesses that continue to thrive in Tracy. Encourage family and friends to visit the many businesses in town.
And, of course, take advantage of the FULL weekend of events. From Friday-Monday, Tracy is the place to be.
There are events for people of all ages. There are the staples like the burger feed, street dance, bingo, midway, scholarship program and, of course, the grand parade.
We’ve also added new events, including the pulled pork meal and a pie eating contest.
Speaking of eating, there is no reason to cook next week. Start at the Burger Feed on Friday night, enjoy a breakfast of eggs, sausage and Bloody Mary’s Saturday morning, moving right into the pulled pork meal for lunch. Sunday morning you can enjoy Dad’s Belgian Waffles and Monday morning enjoy pancakes at the airport. From Saturday evening through Monday, the options are plenty from Asian, pizza, Mexican and the midway. And, lest we forget, the famous Lions Burger Stand. I’m already drooling about the amount of calories I’m going to consume.
And while Box Car Day weekend gives us a chance to show off our amazing community, connect with friends and neighbors and bid farewell to another summer, it is also a lot of work. Every event takes volunteers. Some have worked the same shift for years. Others are just giving it a try. But every single volunteer is taking time from their weekend to give back to Tracy.
Have you considered doing so? We have a few beer stand shifts left. Have time free to set up or take down? While the saying is, it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to pull off a four-day town celebration.
That being said, if we are not working that weekend, we will be volunteering. Therefore, the Headlight office will be closed all weekend. Don’t worry, we’ll reacp all the fun in the paper on Sept. 10.
Until then, jump aboard and don’t miss the World’s Only Box Car Days!
