Tag: park-n-shine

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!

Jeep ® Event Registration is Open!

February 13, 2024

There are a lot of Toledo Jeep® Fest activities that you can participate in on the weekend of August 2-4. Most of these activities are totally free like the Vendor Midway, Glass City Convention Center Jeep® Exhibit and watching the amazing All-Jeep® Parade.

However, you might want to participate in one of our Jeep® events like the All-Jeep® Parade, Park-N-Shine or Glass City Convention Center Exhibit. These events require registration. Here’s a description of the All-Jeep® Parade.

All-Jeep® Parade

Saturday, August 3, 10 a.m. – $55

Participants in the All-Jeep® Parade will stage downtown during the morning, drive in the parade, and be parked in the 20-block downtown footprint (TJF staff direct parking from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). Once parade Jeeps are parked (in free, centrally located spaces), participants can experience the Vendor Midway, live music, food trucks and much more. 

  • You need only buy one ticket per Jeep® (not per person). You may have as many people or animals as will safely fit in your Jeep®.
  • If you purchase an All-Jeep® Parade ticket you cannot take part in the Park-N-Shine or Glass City Convention Center Exhibit. Jeeps cannot participate in multiple activities, and therefore drivers must pick only one of these three popular options.
  • Each All-Jeep® Parade ticket comes with a swag bag and an exclusive participant T-shirt.

Register for the All-Jeep® Parade

Park-N-Shine

Saturday, August 3, 8 a.m. – $45

TJF’s Outdoor Park-N-Shine area is a special two-block designated area where 100+ participating Jeeps will be parked in the early morning on Saturday, August 3. (TJF staff direct this parking effort from 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.). Once parade Jeeps are parked (in free, centrally located spaces), participants are encouraged to circulate and experience the Vendor Midway, live music, food trucks and more.

  • You need only buy one ticket per Jeep® (not per person). You may have as many people or animals as will safely fit in your Jeep®.
  • If you purchase a Park-N-Shine ticket you cannot take part in the All-Jeep® Parade or Glass City Convention Center Exhibit. Jeeps cannot participate in multiple activities, and therefore drivers must pick only one of these three popular options.
  • Each Park-N-Shine ticket comes with a  swag bag and an exclusive participant T-shirt.

Register for the Park-N-Shine

Indoor Jeep® Exhibit

Saturday, August 3-4 – $45

Space is limited to 100 Jeeps, and subject to approval. The Glass City Convention Center Jeep Exhibit is for select Jeeps only (historical value, rare model, customized or built rigs). After registering, TJF staff will contact you via email within two weeks to let you know if your Jeep® is approved. All approved Jeeps will be secured inside the Glass City Convention Center from Friday, August 2 until Sunday, August 4 at 2:30 p.m. for display.

  • Once your Jeep® is parked in the Glass City Convention Center Jeep® Exhibit, it cannot exit to take part in the All-Jeep® Parade or Park-N-Shine. Jeeps cannot participate in multiple activities, and therefore drivers must pick only one of these three popular options.
  • Each Glass City Convention Center Jeep® Exhibit ticket comes with a  swag bag and an exclusive participant T-shirt.

Register for the Glass City Convention Center Jeep® Exhibit

Weekend in Toledo

Are you visiting from out-of-town? Toledo offers an outstanding selection of hotels for you to choose from, both in the heart of downtown and the suburbs. From new hotels, to freshly renovated properties, you will find accommodations that are perfectly suited to your needs. Reach out to these Toledo-area hotels for special Toledo Jeep® Fest rates.

Toledo’s downtown is booming with high-end dining, local breweries and spirits and great local coffee spots – not to mention beautiful riverfront views! Explore Toledo’s many suburbs for even more unique options throughout the area. Hungry for a Hungarian hot dog from the world-famous Tony Packo’s or searching for local brews? Find food and drink options in and around Toledo.

Have you visited Toledo, Ohio lately? The Toledo area has many amazing attractions for travelers. Toledo classics like the world-renowned Toledo Museum of Art and Toledo Zoo & Aquarium are one-of-a-kind attractions not to be missed. Get a unique perspective of our area from the water with a boat ride on the Sandpiper Boat or Canal Experience or visit the fascinating National Museum of the Great Lakes. Check out Toledo-area attractions.