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Expanded 2024 Toledo Jeep Fest Tops All Previous Benchmarks

November 4, 2024

Could it get bigger and be even more fun? Indeed, newly expanded Toledo Jeep® Fest (TJF) No. 7 was the biggest and best event since the 2016 kickoff. More than 78,000 attendees from 40 states and 5 countries came to Toledo in 2024 to enjoy the All-Jeep® Parade, Vendor Midway, Glass City Center Exhibit and Friday’s new Glass City Crawlers Block Party, attended by more than 200 jeeps.  

While the 2016 event was expected to attract 20,000 attendees to northwest Ohio,  on All-Jeep® Parade Day (Saturday, August 6) Toledo hosted more than 40,000 people from around the Midwest and beyond.

Toledo Economic Boost in 2024

Bolstered by over 110 national and local vendors and 95 sponsors, Toledo Jeep® Fest 2024 produced $5.9 million in economic activity for Toledo, Lucas County and Northwest Ohio during the weekend of August 1-4. If you are wondering what a simple parade in 2016 has evolved into, take a look at these numbers for 2024:

  • 60,000+ ducks were distributed during the three-day festival.
  • 6,800+ attended the Friday night Jordan Davis concert.
  • 1,500+ people attended the Toledo Assembly Complex Family Day Party.
  • 6,500+ children participated in the RC Course and Kids’ & Family Zones.
  • 1,300+ Jeeps were part of the All-Jeep® Parade throughout downtown Toledo.
  • 1,300+ people participated in the 4-Mile Run and 1-Mile Walk.
  • 6,000+ pounds of recyclables were collected.
  • 600+ Jeeps traversed the obstacle course at the Welcome Party.
  • 300+ TARTA bus rides were taken as part of the Toledo Jeep® Fest Express.
  • 300+ volunteers supported the 4-day festival.

“TJF offers an unparalleled urban adventure that’s unlike anything else in the country – and it’s right here in our backyard! This event brings together Jeep® enthusiasts from all walks of life,  creating a vibrant melting pot of passion and excitement. It’s thrilling to connect with – and experience – the energy of fellow attendees in such a dynamic setting,” said Anthony Grosser, New Brands Supervisor for Summit Racing Equipment.

Toledo, Ohio has been the Home of the Jeep® for nearly nine decades,  employing more than 6,000 skilled UAW Jeep® workers. As the center of a strong and loyal Jeep® community, the tri-state area of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana consists of more than 60 Jeep® enthusiast clubs with approximately 1 out of every 5 registered vehicles in the region being a Jeep®. Most of these vehicles are stock vehicles or lightly modified, offering a tremendous opportunity for Jeep® aftermarket product manufacturers.

Getting Ready For TJF No. 8

The 2025 event on August  1, 2, 3 will be the 8th event since the inaugural TJF event in 2016. Event founders are striving to help TJF become the largest Jeep-related event in the United States. The weekend of August 1, 2025 will be action-packed, and thousands of Jeepers are expected to take part in the festivities – the All-Jeep® Parade through downtown Toledo, a large-scale Vendor Midway, and much more.

“This was my fifth time attending Toledo Jeep® Fest, and it gets better every year. I love the family-friendly vibe this event has. It’s amazing to watch a city like Toledo – with its rich history – coming together to celebrate the Jeep® brand. Everything from the Convention Center exhibits and speaker series to the Overland Base Camp show just how passionate everyone is about the Jeeps, their heritage, and their legacy,” said Dean Shirley of  East Coast Overland Adventures.

More Buzz After Amazing Toledo Jeep Fest

August 14, 2024

A blast from the past: Toledoan restores WWII-era Jeep® for showcase at Toledo Jeep® Fest

“I’ve always liked the old Jeeps. WWII, Korean era, stuff like that.”

And now, Toledoan Paul Cooper can call one his own.

“I didn’t know it was going to take me a little over four years to get it done, but it did and no regrets,” he said.

See more at WTOL.

A Jeep® Lover’s Paradise: My Toledo Jeep® Fest Takeover

A couple of Saturdays ago, I had the incredible honor of taking over the Toledo Jeep® Fest Instagram account, and let me tell you, it was a dream come true! As a Toledo native and lifelong Jeep® enthusiast, this experience was truly full circle.

For those unfamiliar, the Toledo Jeep® Fest is an annual celebration of the iconic Jeep® brand and its deep connection to our city. Every year, thousands of Jeep® owners and enthusiasts gather in downtown Toledo for a weekend filled with parades, exhibits, live music, and good ol’ fashioned Jeep® camaraderie.

Read more at Shana Was Here.

Toledo Jeep® Fest celebrates iconic brand, local workforce  

Another year marked another weekend to celebrate a staple in downtown Toledo.

Wranglers, Gladiators and more rolled through the streets as Toledo Jeep® Fest returned to the Glass City at the heart of the Jeep® brand.

“For me, working at the event is really special,” Toledo Jeep® Fest organizer Whitney Rofkar said. “I’m from Toledo, born and bred, and so to shine a bright light on the city I call home is really special.”

See more on WTOL.

Dana, Presenting Sponsor of 2024 Toledo Jeep® Fest

June 28, 2024

MAUMEE, Ohio – Toledo Jeep® Fest, presented by Dana, will be held August 1-4 in downtown Toledo. The annual Toledo Jeep Fest celebrates the home of the Jeep® brand.

“Since the inaugural Jeep Fest, Dana has proudly sponsored this popular annual event.  We are eagerly anticipating another chance to honor the Jeep brand, this time as presenting sponsor,” said Dan Griffin, senior director, aftermarket and digital solutions for Dana.  “For more than eight decades, Dana has supplied innovative driveline products for iconic Jeep vehicles, and the upcoming Toledo Jeep Fest gives us an exciting opportunity to showcase our latest premium product offerings.”

The weekend-long Toledo Jeep Fest includes the festival’s staple attraction, the All-Jeep Parade through downtown Toledo.  Other activities include concerts, a vendor midway, various Jeep history and military programming, and a 4-mile run.

Dana will participate in the event’s enhanced vendor midway with a 53-foot semi-trailer that will feature a variety of Dana products.  Five Dana-customized Jeep vehicles will also be on display, all modified with Dana and Spicer® aftermarket products.  Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the “Dana Twin and Win” game for a chance to win a prize when finding a matching number among the crowd of attendees.  Jeep enthusiasts can register their vehicles for the event and learn more about the weekend activities at ToledoJeepFest.com.

For more information about Dana performance products visit DanaProParts.com and DanaAftermarket.com.

TJF Mourns Passing of Duck Ambassador Allison Parliament

June 24, 2024

The Toledo Jeep Fest family is mourning the recent death of a friend and advocate of the Jeep community – Allison Parliament. She believed that small gestures could make a significant impact, and she proved this through her commitment to spreading smiles one small duck at a time.

The influencer and brand ambassador died suddenly on June 22. Parliament’s random acts of kindness gave birth to a core part of global Jeep culture.

DuckDuckJeep Origins

The uplifting and virally beautiful DuckDuckJeep movement actually began with a negative experience.

Parliament, 36, a native of Orilla, Ontario was driving her Jeep home from Alabama in 2020, where she lived, when she found herself in an angry confrontation at a gas station. A man noticed her U.S. plates and approached, yelling that she needed to return to her country, saying she was “a dirty American spreading COVID and just wanted to hurt people.”

Parliament, a dual U.S. citizen, was shoved and bruised during the confrontation but resolved to do something positive and fun as a counter gesture. 

She bought a bag of rubber ducks and planned to prank her friend, hiding them around the house. But when she ran into a nice Jeep in a parking lot, she decided to use one of the ducks to place as a little gesture to say, hey, “nice Jeep.” The owner noticed her and came out to investigate.

This encounter with a stranger was completely different. He loved the idea and suggested that she should share it on social media with the hashtag #duckduckjeep.

Advocate for Off-Road Community

Parliament was the founder and CEO of DuckDuckOffroad and Duck Duck Jeep. The organizations worked to build confidence for new off-road drivers, organized local and global events, and shared kindness within the off-road community. She was partnered with Jeep/Stellantis and RTX Wheels and other companies to deliver engaging and memorable experiences for off-road enthusiasts.

Her DuckDuckJeep movement brought together a diverse Jeep community, building new friendships and creating a shared sense of belonging among Jeepers. She was known for her generosity, her infectious enthusiasm, and her dedication to making the world a better place through simple acts of kindness.

TJF Duck Ambassador

Parliament was Toledo Jeep Fest’s Official Duck Ambassador during the 2023 event rolling though hype events, the Adam’s Street Invasion and the Park-N-Shine spreading smiles and rubber ducks from her duck-capped golf cart.

The DuckDuckJeep community and Jeep enthusiasts around the world will continue her legacy of spreading joy – (#duckduckjeep | #ducksforallison) – by placing rubber ducks on their vehicles as a symbol of camaraderie and goodwill. Parliament’s family has set up a GoFundMe to support memorial costs.

The Toledo Jeep Fest community will miss Allison Parliament, but we are grateful for her lasting efforts to make the world a better place!