TOLEDO, Ohio — This weekend kicks off a four-wheeled family reunion of sorts as thousands of Jeeps rumble back to where it all started - Toledo - for Jeep Fest. The fest is free and open to the public.
Official events kick off Friday, with the Jeep Off-Road Course Welcome Party. This course has 18 obstacles for Jeeps to play on.
Also on Friday, the kickoff concert at Promenade Park features headliner Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx. Tickets can be purchased at PromenadeConcerts.com and are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. VIP tickets are available for $45 and that provides access to stage-front seating, VIP cash bar and VIP restrooms.
Jeep-themed promotions are on tap for Friday night's Toledo Mud Hens game vs. the Pawtucket Red Sox at Fifth Third Field. Use special offer code JEEP to purchase tickets here. Fireworks and a free concert by Hard Days Night Beatles tribute at Hensville Park follow the conclusion of the 7:05 p.m. game.
Saturday is the All-Jeep Parade at 11 a.m. through downtown Toledo. The parade starts at Lafayette Street, travels north on Summit, and turns west on Jackson Street. Come out and see WTOL's First Alert Defender, which is getting specially tricked out for the festivities.
Traffic will be restricted beginning at 8 a.m in the areas bounded by Huron St., Jackson St., Summit St. and Lafayette St., also including Water St., Owens Corning Parking Lot and Washington St. east of Summit.
After the parade is over at around 12:30 p.m., traffic will be allowed on Washington and Monroe Streets and well as Summit up to Monroe St. within the festival area.
Parking on these streets will be restricted. A detour will be set up using Washington/Monroe to Erie to Michigan to Jackson Streets.
Parking will be prohibited in the following locations where festival and car show areas and the vendor midway will be set up:
- Adams - Huron to Summit
- Huron - Lafayette to Jackson
- Jefferson - Huron to Summit
- Lafayette - Huron to Summit
- Madison - Huron to Summit
- Monroe - Huron to Summit
- St. Clair - Lafayette to Monroe
- St. Clair - Jefferson to Jackson
- Summit - Lafayette to Jackson
- Superior - Lafayette to Washington
- Superior - Monroe to Jefferson
- Superior - Madison to Jackson
- Washington - Huron to Summit
- Water - Jefferson to Monroe
The following parking garages will be open within the festival area for the public to park expect during the parade:
- Superior Street Garage (via Madison to Superior)
- Port Lawrence Garage (via Madison to the back entrance off Madison)
- Seagate Center Garage (via Summit)
- ProMedica Garage (via Summit to Jefferson)
TARTA will be running regular shuttles from Franklin Park Mall and dropping off at Monroe and St. Clair.
Tow trucks will be on duty to remove vehicles illegally parked prior to and throughout the event.
RELATED: Ladies, get dirty and have fun!
RELATED: Jeepers, your clubhouse is open
Check out the Park 'n Shine Show at SeaGate Centre, which will include historic and concept displays, and vendors, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The official program and commemoration is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Additionally, kids and family activities are set for the Family Zone at Hensville Park, with live bands and entertainment, food trucks and beer gardens.
Jeep-themed promotions again are on set for Saturday night's 7:05 p.m. Toledo Mud Hens game vs. the Pawtucket Red Sox. Downtown fireworks will light the night sky starting at 9:30 p.m. The night winds up with another free concert at Hensville Park, this time featuring Dueling Pianos.
Runners and walkers can get their motors running Sunday morning at 8:30 during the Toledo Jeep Fest 4-miler and 1.3 mile walk. The run starts at Promenade Park. Participants can register online up until race time.
Temporary road closures will occur on the following streets at about 8 a.m.:
- Cherry, eastbound - Erie to MLK Bridge
- Huron - Jackson to Cherry
- Jackson - Summit to Erie
- Main Street - entrance to International Park
- MLK Bridge, Eastbound Summit - Cherry to Adams
Local traffic will be permitted when it does not create a safety problem for participants or spectators.
From 8 a.m.-1 p.m., the the Park 'n Shine Show is open again at the SeaGate Centre. Catch more Family Zone activities from 10 a.m-2 p.m. And the weekend's final event is the 4:05 p.m Mud Hens vs. Red Sox game, followed by a postgame kids run and a screening of "Field of Dreams."