Category: Announcements

Local car dealer Denny Amrhein’s love of the Jeep connected him to Toledo Jeep Fest. Amrhein had become an All-Jeep Parade staple as the event’s Grand Marshall. Each August he could be seen waving to the crowds along Monroe and Huron streets. Amrhein was a partner at Grogan’s Towne Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Charlie’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram dealerships and supported many local organizations.

Amrhein, 73, died tragically Dec. 2 in a crash along I-75 in Wood County. Sadly, Denny’s wife of 56 years, Shirley, died in September of ALS.

Amrhein loved Toledo from Toledo Jeep Fest to the University of Toledo basketball teams, the Toledo Walleye, Toledo Mud Hens as well as high school and youth sports.

“Denny was always a big part of our Jeep Parade and a big part of our Jeep community,” said Whitney Rofkar, Toledo Jeep Fest Event Director. “Denny knew Toledo and the sports and activities that made this city move. We’ll really miss his unwavering support for our event and the parade.”

Denny was best known for his love of cars. He joined the automobile business in 1970 as a salesman and by 1976 he was ranked as one of the top salesman in the nation. In 1985, he purchased his first dealership, Wauseon Ford and then sold that dealership to purchase Grogan’s Chrysler Plymouth in 1990. In 1997, he moved his dealership and renamed it Grogan’s Towne Chrysler. In 2008, he became the managing partner of both Grogan’s Towne and Charlie’s.

“Toledo Jeep Fest is building a tremendous tradition on 80 years of Jeep tradition and Denny Amrhein was a great representative of automotive tradition,” said Jerry Huber, Toledo Jeep Fest co-founder. “The Toledo automotive and Jeep community have lost a friend. Denny will be sorely missed.” 

Toledo Jeep Fest is honored to have shared a connection with such a great representative of the automotive industry and the Toledo community.

Stay cozy and grab your Toledo Jeep Fest official merchandise during our Black Friday Flash Sale! The sale rolls from Nov. 21-Nov. 29. Save up to 30% on 2022 merchandise.

Check out all the gear in our Toledo Jeep Fest merchandise store.

#tjf2023 #toledojeepfest #blackfriday

Toledo, Ohio – Get ready to register your vendor position for the 2023 Toledo Jeep Fest on August 4-6 – we’re ready for you!

Toledo Jeep_® Fest is a unique opportunity for Vendors to reach their target audience in the Midwest and NW Ohio. Toledo, Ohio, has been the Home of Jeep for more than 80 years and the center of a strong and loyal Jeep community.

This year we have six vendor position options:

• 80′ x 30′ Vendor Midway Position
• 60′ x 30′ Vendor Midway Position
• 30′ x 20′ Vendor Midway Position
• 20′ x 20′ Vendor Midway Position
• 10′ x 10′ Vendor Midway Position
• 10′ x 10′ Glass City Center Vendor Position

Go to our Become A Vendor page to register.

The Vendor Midway is sponsored by Yark Jeep! Please join us to both market and sell your products to thousands of attendees. In 2022, our festival hosted an estimated 65,000 people including Jeep enthusiasts from 37 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and The Netherlands.

This event is meant to celebrate the Jeep brand and the Jeep lifestyle; therefore, we’re looking for vendors that support the theme with automotive-related products and services. Vendor applications are subject to approval and should be related to the Jeep brand and lifestyle.

Space is limited and priority will be given to returning vendors and automotive product manufacturers and retailers.

All accepted vendors will be promoted on social media and on the Toledo Jeep Fest website.

Please understand that booth locations are determined annually. We will do our best to provide returning vendors with similar locations, but it is not guaranteed. Booth assignments are determined based on sponsors, premier vendors, registration date and booth size.

Food vendors and vendors that are not sure if their brand will be accepted due to our automotive-related products and services theme requirements, can email i[email protected] or contact us with questions.

Toledo, Ohio – The 2022 Toledo Jeep Fest, presented by Dana Incorporated and ProMedica, posted another record crowd this weekend. Estimates show that more than 70,000 people visited from 39 states, along with the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Netherlands.

“On the heels of a record-breaking 5^th annual event, we’re thrilled to announce our 2023 date,” said Whtiney Rofkar, Toledo Jeep Fest’s Event Director. “The weekend of August 4^th will host the 6^th festival in downtown Toledo, and we can’t wait!”

The Grogan’s Towne & Charlie’s All-Jeep Parade was also its largest ever, with 1,400+ Jeeps participating in the event. Tourism experts are still calculating the economic impact of the event, but event organizers expect it will be well over $5 million in economic activity spread across Northwest Ohio.

“This was our best event yet,” said Jerry Huber, a former Plant Manager at Jeep and Toledo Jeep Fest Board Member. “We are celebrating our love of a vehicle, but the event is about people who build Jeeps and people who love them. There’s no better place to do that than the city where the Jeep was invented and where its heart beats every day.”

In addition to the parade, the Vendor Midway was also better than ever, with well-respected and sought-after vendors hailing from all over the U.S. More than 70 vendors including Dana, Rancho, OMIX, Rock Krawler Suspension, Helltraxx, Mopar, and Katzkin will stock the Yark Jeep Vendor Midway in downtown Toledo.

“When we talk to the vendors, they are thrilled with their experience at Toledo Jeep Fest. Customization is a big part of the Jeep culture, and our visitors love to talk shop on the Vendor Midway,” Huber said.

Community support is what fuels Toledo Jeep Fest. That starts with the title sponsors – Dana and ProMedica – and extends to more than 110 organizations that have provided funds or services to support the event.

“Once again this year, our community and sponsors have been amazing,” said Rofkar. “It is rewarding to see how this vision has grown, and how both the Toledo community and the Jeep community have lent their support to make this happen.”