Christmas is coming, and one of our favorite signs of the season is the Olympia Toy Run. Each year thousands and thousands of riders each carry a toy to donate to the Salvation Army’s Toy ‘n’ Joy shop, which provides gifts for children who wouldn’t otherwise get them.
This year the Toy Run is on Saturday, December 3. It begins in the Sears parking lot of the South Sound Center, 711 Sleator-Kinney Road SE, in Lacey. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. when the gates open to an array of vendors. From 11 to 12:30, you will see performances by the Seattle Cossacks and the Tenino Motorcycle Drill Team.
Then, at 1 p.m. the big parade begins. Nearly twenty thousand motorcycles roar to life and follow Santa on his toy-delivering mission. Each motorcycle carries a toy to Marathon Park off Deschutes Parkway.
To participate, you can either bring a new unwrapped toy (not a stuffed animal) or pay $10.00 per person or $15.00 per couple. This includes the price of a raffle ticket.
All riders and street-legal bikes are welcome to participate in the Toy Run, but you do have to obey state laws—especially as to licensing, motorcycles, and helmets. Please don’t use the Toy Run to promote other events and don’t sell raffle tickets except the official ones from the Toy Run.
Several years ago, riders tossed candy to watching children, but for safety reasons that is not allowed anymore.
The Toy Run is a great opportunity to give back to the community we all love. It’s also a chance to see old friends and make new ones. The Toy Ride is a family-friendly event and everyone is welcome.
If you can’t get to the Toy Run and want to donate a toy (or lots of toys), you’ll find drop-off locations here.
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