Paul Ricker always loved Christmas lights. As a kid, he said, the Christmas tree went up right after Thanksgiving. One day, he decided to decorate a truck for his local parade.
“From there it was like: more lights, more lights, more lights, more lights,” he said, clapping his hands to emphasize each mention of lights.
It’s no wonder Ricker now coordinates the Lower Valley Christmas Trucks. The venture started just in Yakima, but it quickly spread to the lower valley.
The trucks also made a stop in the Tri-Cities. On a windy Monday, the lighted parade wheeled around the Tri-City Raceway for the second year in a row.
Cars honked and sirens sounded, many imitating parts of “Jingle Bells.” Onlookers lined the raceway in their cars, a few braving the wind and dust to wave back to the parade.
Just about any vehicle you can imagine circled the track, lit “ from the tail end to the front end and everywhere in between,” Ricker said.
The parade includes vehicles like semi-trucks, buses, side-by-sides, Broncos, classic trucks and Volkswagen beetles, he said.
This year, Ricker is driving his personal truck, outfitted with at least five multi-colored strands, with 200 lights each. It takes him about a week to decorate his truck.
“ That is a lot less than what I used to do, but it still brings me joy. It still brings everyone else joy,” he said.
Some drivers have multiple cars, spending a month getting ready, Ricker said.
The lighted trucks really took off during the COVID pandemic, he said. The group decided to bring their joy to as many people as possible, especially because some people couldn’t see their families or friends.
“We spread Christmas cheer from Roslyn all the way to Walla Walla, and everywhere in between,” Ricker said. “We tried to hit every single city.”
It’s the best when people don’t expect them to arrive, especially in smaller towns, Ricker said.
“If we had an open night, we're like, ‘What are we doing tonight? Our trucks are already decorated. Let's go somewhere,'” he said.
It’s a lot of ground to cover. Their motto: smiles per gallon.
The expensive gas prices don’t matter, Ricker said. He expects the festivities to continue for years.
“ If I (didn’t do) it, Christmas wouldn't be the same,” he said.
For a schedule of routes, visit the Lower Valley Christmas Trucks’ Facebook page.
