Glass City Center Exhibit Archives

Overlander Experience at Toledo Jeep Fest

August 21, 2026

East Coast Overland Adventures recaps a successful weekend of overland education, hands-on demonstrations, and community engagement at Toledo Jeep Fest 2026. The Overland Demo Area brought together experienced adventurers Walt Middleton of M4Expeditions, John Jacobs of New Horizons Overland, and Dean Shirley of East Coast Overland Adventures, who shared their knowledge, vehicles, gear setups, and real-world experiences with attendees. Through interactive workshops and discussions covering topics such as overland travel, navigation, vehicle preparation, recovery techniques, and outdoor adventure skills, the team helped introduce Jeep enthusiasts to the overlanding lifestyle.

The Overland Demo Area highlights the continued growth of the overland presence at Toledo Jeep Fest and emphasizes the collaboration, mentorship, and sense of community that make the event a valuable experience for both seasoned overlanders and newcomers alike.

Thank you to East Coast Overland Adventures. Read the entire article!

Overland Skills Area Continues Growth

August 11, 2025

East Coast Overland Adventures lead Dean Shirley returned again to showcase and share overlanding skills at the Glass City Center during Toledo Jeep Fest.

The “Off-Road and Overland Skills Area” showcased a mix of overland vehicles as well as a number of off-road and overland themed workshops. Shirley also spoke on the main stage in our Speakers Series.

Read a summary of Shirley’s great efforts during TJF 2025 in his great blog post at eastcoastoverlandadventures.com.

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.

S ee 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.

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.”

S ee more on WTOL.

Shirley and Middleton Stage Offroad & Overland Skills Area

August 12, 2024

Big thank you to Dean Shirley (East Coast Overland Adventures) and Walt Middleton for staging our Offroad & Overland Skills Area during Toledo Jeep_® Fest. Dean and Walt also presented on the main stage and in the Base Camp overland Jeep_® camping area.

Check out Dean’s podcast E choes of Adventure.

R ead more about their TJF experience.

Talking Toledo Jeep Fest

July 31, 2024

Toledo Jeep Fest expected to draw 72,000

It’s almost the time when Jeeps and Jeepers take over downtown Toledo to celebrate the city’s iconic product.

The four-day Toledo Jeep Fest kicks off at 3 p.m. Thursday with a Jeep off-road course welcome party and concludes on Sunday afternoon. Between the start and finish, the major events at the festival include an indoor exhibit at Glass City Center with 100 vehicles on display, a parade of Jeeps, a rock-crawling course, a Jeep-themed four-mile run and one-mile walk, a block party thrown by the Glass City Crawlers, and a free concert by Mark Farner’s American Band.

Everyone is welcome at unique Toledo Jeep bar

You know you’re at the right place when you see the rusty 1974 Jeep CJ with a bullet hole in its windshield parked out front.

That place is Wheelin’ On The Rocks, a thoroughly Jeep-themed bar located on West Laskey Road between Secor and Douglas roads.

WTOL Good Day – Here’s what to expect Toledo Jeep Fest 2024

Whitney Rofkar talks Toledo Jeep Fest 2024, which kicks off Thursday (Aug. 1).

See more on WTOL.

13ABC’s The Nine Covers Toledo Jeep Fest 2024

What You Need to Know About Toledo Jeep Fest

Toledo Jeep Fest Merc h

S tart Your Engines

See more on 13abc.

Tag: Glass City Center Exhibit

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

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

Toledo Jeep® Fest celebrates iconic brand, local workforce