It's Spring! Spring allows us to get outside and celebrate the beauty that surrounds us. While reflecting upon our many blessings brought to us all year long, The Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade committee is extremely grateful to everyone who supports the parade! Santa was particularly good to us this past Christmas, shattering fundraising goals again! Thanks to our sponsors and to our community participants (who rode and drove in the rain), the 2019 Parade raised over $24,000 – quite the “rainy day fund!” A very special thanks goes to our “Super Santa” Tony Locos, whose 2019 Preakness Party raised $3,400 for the parade. The Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade is a charitable event hosted by the Howard County Farm Bureau. Usually, the funds are presented to our beneficiaries at the annual spring HCFB dinner in April. Since Maryland is under a State of Emergency due to COVID-19, the Parade Committee believes our beneficiaries could use the funds NOW, instead of waiting until the dinner. Thanks to you, our beneficiaries will receive:
In addition to this, the two food banks received over 3,100 pounds of non-perishable foods! Since its inception in 2011, the Parade has now raised over $104,000. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Missed the 2019 parade? Visit The Lisbon Christmas Parade's Scrapbook to view photos from
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Since 2011, the Parade has raised over $82,000 and gathered many thousands of pounds of nonperishable foods to feed the local hungry. In 2018 alone, the parade raised just over $17,000 and more than 3,400 pounds of canned goods were donated. GETTING INVOLVED: There are several ways to participate in the parade; from entering horses and tractors into the parade to funding the parade as a Sponsor. As a spectator, you can also contribute to the Canned Food Drive that accompanies the parade by donating canned non-perishable foods within the bins placed along the parade route. THINGS TO NOTE FOR THE 2019 PARADE: The parade begins at 12:00 noon. Arrive early to secure parking and the best spot along the parade route. Route 144 and nearby roads along the parade route will be closed at 11:30 am. AFTER THE PARADE: All are invited to attend the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company’s Chicken & Ham Dinner fundraiser. Do your holiday shopping and take a “Reindeer Ride” at Days End Farm Horse Rescue Santa’s Village! LEARN MORE: Want to learn more about the 2019 parade, where to park, about the parade route? Visit www.LisbonChristmasParade.com. | |
The 2018 Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade kicks off on Dec. 8th, 12 noon!
11/15/2018
Holiday Fun for Everyone!The Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade, led by festively-decorated tractors followed by 250 seasonally-adorned saddle and carriage horses, kicks off on Sat., Dec. 8 at 12:00 noon! Presented by the Howard County Farm Bureau, it’s a day that promises holiday fun for everyone! |
What started as way to put the historic town of Lisbon (a town tucked in the far corner of Howard County, Maryland’s rural west) back on the map is now an annual holiday tradition and one of the most attended small town Christmas parades in the state. It is also when the local equine and agricultural communities gather to take part in one of Maryland’s biggest fundraisers to feed the hungry.
Keeping Community Spirit Alive!

The parade highlights the true meaning of community – the spirit of people from all walks of life who gather to give to those in need. Thousands of people will come together on Dec. 8 to take part in and/or watch the parade along the 1-mile swath the historic national road to enjoy watching beautiful horses and tractors (with lots of horse power) stroll down Frederick Road, Lisbon’s “Main Street.”
Now in its ninth year, the parade has brought in well over $65,000 in donations to the local food banks – Howard County Food Bank and Carroll County Food Sunday – plus Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company (which is conducting a fundraising campaign to build a new facility to be completed in 2019).
More than $15,000 was raised at the 2017 Lisbon Christmas Parade through the generous support of parade participants, and sponsors and spectators! These funds were presented to the beneficiaries at the April 12 Howard County Farm Bureau’s Annual Legislative Dinner. Both food banks received $5,000, while $2,000 was presented to both LVFC and FHFH.
Now in its ninth year, the parade has brought in well over $65,000 in donations to the local food banks – Howard County Food Bank and Carroll County Food Sunday – plus Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company (which is conducting a fundraising campaign to build a new facility to be completed in 2019).
More than $15,000 was raised at the 2017 Lisbon Christmas Parade through the generous support of parade participants, and sponsors and spectators! These funds were presented to the beneficiaries at the April 12 Howard County Farm Bureau’s Annual Legislative Dinner. Both food banks received $5,000, while $2,000 was presented to both LVFC and FHFH.
More Than a Parade

For some, the parade is a chance to showcase their tractors and horses; for the spectators, it’s a chance to get out to Howard County’s rural west to watch tractors make their way down the historic national road followed by hundreds of horses, to enjoy the day’s fun-filled festivities.
But for those who often go hungry, it means so much more.
But for those who often go hungry, it means so much more.
Food banks are essential; they play a central role during states of emergencies when demand can be tremendous.
This proved true when assisting families displaced/effected in the aftermath of the 2018 Ellicott City flood. During the 2018 fiscal year, the Howard County Food Bank “provided 942,000 pounds of food to 30,520 people,” according to Anne Brinker, Director of Operations at the Community Action Council of Howard County. That shot up by 292,000 pounds distributed to 3,520 more people from the previous fiscal year when 650,000 pounds were given to 27,000 people. “We serve 300-400 families each week,” conveyed Frank Baylor, President of Carroll County Food Sunday, the largest distributor to Carroll residents in need each week. “We distribute 8,000 pounds of food each week, with two part-time employees.” The $5,000 contribution is the second largest single donation annually to the CCFS, covering roughly a week’s worth of groceries for the families combined. In addition, thanks to community support, over 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food was collected at the 2017 parade and was divided equally between the Howard County Food Bank and Carroll County Food Sunday. “We are extremely grateful for the generous support [from the parade] which helps our ministry provide nutritious meat for thousands of meals to the hungry of Maryland,” said Josh Wilson, Executive Director, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry. “The $2,000 contribution helped pay for the processing of 30 deer equaling 1,200 lbs. or 4,800 servings." Getting InvolvedThere are several ways to participate in the parade; from entering horses and tractors into the parade to funding the parade as a sponsor, hero or helper. As a spectator, you can also contribute to the Canned Food Drive that accompanies the parade by donating canned nonperishable foods within the bins placed along the parade route, at the fire hall, and at Days End Farm. | Maryland and Local Hunger Facts |
Things to Note for the 2018 Parade: The parade begins at 12:00 noon. Arrive early to secure parking and the best spot along the parade route. Route 144 and nearby roads along the parade route will be closed at 11:30 am. After the parade: All are invited to attend the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company’s Chicken & Ham Dinner fundraiser. Do your holiday shopping and take a “Reindeer Ride” at Days End Farm Horse Rescue Santa’s Village! Want to learn more about the 2018 parade, where to park, about the parade route? Visit www.LisbonChristmasParade.com.
The 2017 Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade presented by the Howard
County Farm Bureau held on December 9 was a grand success!
Seasonal Weather
The snow added such merriment to the annual Christmas Parade which brought together over
1,500 people – parade participants and spectators – to the charming historic Town of Lisbon sitting
toward the edge of Western Howard County.
Led by local farmers driving their festively decorated tractors hauling wagons full of spirited
people, followed by seasonally adorned horse drawn carriages, and saddle horses trotting up
Lisbon’s “Main Street” – the holiday parade with a mission to feed the hungry went off without a
hitch!
Feeding the Hungry
Thanks to a generous community, over 2,000 pounds (one ton) of nonperishable food was donated
on-site along the 2017 parade route and evenly distributed the two food banks - Howard County
Food Bank and Carroll County Food Sunday. This presented an increase of over 1,200 pounds from
the 800 pounds food donated in 2016!
More than $15,000 was raised at the 2017 Lisbon Christmas Parade through the generous support
of parade participants, and sponsors and spectators! Including this year’s parade donations, the
parade has raised more than $65,000 dollars to feed the hungry; helping people in need.
These funds were presented at a check presentation to the beneficiaries at the April 12 Howard
County Farm Bureau’s Annual Legislative Dinner. Both food banks received $5,000 while $2,000
was presented to both LVFC and FHFH.
County Farm Bureau held on December 9 was a grand success!
Seasonal Weather
The snow added such merriment to the annual Christmas Parade which brought together over
1,500 people – parade participants and spectators – to the charming historic Town of Lisbon sitting
toward the edge of Western Howard County.
Led by local farmers driving their festively decorated tractors hauling wagons full of spirited
people, followed by seasonally adorned horse drawn carriages, and saddle horses trotting up
Lisbon’s “Main Street” – the holiday parade with a mission to feed the hungry went off without a
hitch!
Feeding the Hungry
Thanks to a generous community, over 2,000 pounds (one ton) of nonperishable food was donated
on-site along the 2017 parade route and evenly distributed the two food banks - Howard County
Food Bank and Carroll County Food Sunday. This presented an increase of over 1,200 pounds from
the 800 pounds food donated in 2016!
More than $15,000 was raised at the 2017 Lisbon Christmas Parade through the generous support
of parade participants, and sponsors and spectators! Including this year’s parade donations, the
parade has raised more than $65,000 dollars to feed the hungry; helping people in need.
These funds were presented at a check presentation to the beneficiaries at the April 12 Howard
County Farm Bureau’s Annual Legislative Dinner. Both food banks received $5,000 while $2,000
was presented to both LVFC and FHFH.
The 2018 Parade
Mark your calendars! The Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade is
scheduled to kick off on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Stay tuned and learn more by
visiting www.LisbonChristmasParade.com
Started in 2011, the Lisbon Christmas Parade - known as The Great Lisbon FARMERS FEED THE HUNGRY Christmas Parade - has grown to include more than horses, carriages and the people who ride them. It's grown to include the local farmers, and more! Check out our press archive for information about past parades.
As published by The Business Monthly, May 2018, Page 20. |
Author
Alice Settle-Raskin
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