The city of Toledo is set to welcome the holiday season with the seventh annual Santa Quad Parade on December 6, 2023. Participants will gather at 4 p.m. at the Toledo Middle School, located at 155 N. Fifth St., with the parade commencing at 5 p.m.. This community event invites residents to decorate various vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), riding mowers, and golf carts, to join in the festive spirit.
Participants wishing to take part in the parade must register in advance and complete a liability waiver, which is accessible online. Special guidelines for riding mowers dictate that their decks must be lifted during the parade. The procession will wind through the South Lewis County community, culminating at Kemp Olson Memorial Park, where attendees will enjoy hot chocolate and other refreshments.
Elizabeth Buell, Chair of the Toledo Parks Board, highlighted several engaging activities planned for the event. “I have met with the high school principal, Mr. Shawn Leggett, and he, along with the wood shop teacher and art teacher, have agreed to build cutout boards from plywood that Mayor Cherie Devore purchased and donated with her own money,” Buell stated. These cutout boards will provide a fun photo opportunity at the end of the parade, alongside hot chocolate, candy canes, and caroling for the participants and community members.
The Toledo Santa Quad Parade was first held in 2019, initiated by former Mayor Steve Dobosh in response to dwindling attendance at the city’s Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. Buell noted the collaboration with local officials to promote the idea of a parade featuring decorated quads and side-by-sides, which quickly gained popularity. The inaugural event concluded at the gazebo near the boat launch, but last year, Mayor Devore shifted the parade’s ending point to Kemp Olson Park, enhancing the community experience.
Buell expressed optimism about the event’s future, stating, “We hope to continue to make this event better and better every year. We hope to bring the community together in festive cheer.” The Toledo Parks Board encourages everyone to participate in this cheerful celebration, which aims to strengthen community bonds during the holiday season.
For further details about the parade and to stay updated, residents can follow the official Toledo Santa Quad Parade Facebook page.
