The third Toledo Jeep Fest ended just a little over two months ago, but on Tuesday the event’s organizing committee announced that the popular weekend tribute to the iconic Toledo-made vehicle is returning next summer.
The 2020 Jeep Fest will be held the weekend of Aug. 7-9 at a variety of downtown sites, organizers said during a news conference held outdoors at Promenade Park downtown.
“We’ve decided, after a very short window, that we’ve going to come back and do this again next year,” said Jeep Fest organizing committee member Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, whose members build Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Toledo Assembly Complex.
“That’s a quick turnaround. We just got done with Jeep Fest about two months ago and we kind of were scratching our heads and asking, ‘Is it too early to be doing this?’” Mr. Baumhower said while standing before a podium adorned with a new Jeep Fest logo: a Wagoneer with a canoe on the roof rack.
But the Local 12 president said all concerns were alleviated when both Dana Inc. and ProMedica said they wanted Jeep Fest to return in 2020 and committed to again being the primary sponsors of the three-day event, which drew nearly 70,000 people this past August over a Friday-Sunday weekend.
Next August, Dana will have a large semi-trailer on display to showcase company products used to make Jeeps. Organizers added that the 2020 event will once again have a kickoff concert on Friday night, a Jeep parade, an All-Jeep exhibit, a large vendor midway, several other events on Saturday, and a runners road race on Sunday.
Kathleen Merrill, vice president of marketing and communications for ProMedica, which sponsors the Friday concerts, said the health provider will announce fairly soon who the performer will be for Jeep Fest weekend. She declined to provide further clues, but said it will be “the biggest act all season.”
Once again the Toledo Mud Hens will be in town for games during Jeep Fest weekend. For the 2019 Jeep Fest, the team renamed itself the Toledo Mud Crawlers and wore special Jeep Fest uniforms.
"Our TJF team is already searching out unusual, interesting, and unique Jeep vehicles to bring new excitement and surprises to our event. The long history of innovative design and the unlimited modifications that are possible with a Jeep will be on display again, thanks to the proud owners and enthusiasts who participate in our event,” said Jerry Huber, Jeep Fest steering committee chairman.
Mr. Huber said past, present, and future Jeep vehicles will be showcased at the 2020 event.
“Coming off our huge success in 2019, we are looking to expand the opportunities to experience the Jeep lifestyle options for both our participants and visitors to the Toledo Jeep Fest,” he said. “Our experiences with engaging the Toledo community should provide new and exciting refinements to our already wide range of activities as the entire city comes together to put its best foot forward. Filling downtown Toledo with thousands of Jeeps and tens of thousands of visitors is an amazing experience. "
For 2020 Mr. Huber said organizers want to provide a bigger role and presence for Jeep clubs, like the local Glass City Crawlers.
Mr. Huber also said planners are thinking of holding a three-day swap meet or flea market where Jeep enthusiasts can buy and sell parts.
There also is a desire to make the event more family friendly by setting up a safe and simple obstacle driving course for children who would be able to drive small electric motorized toy Jeeps.
“After the event we could have an auction or raffle and give away these toy Jeeps — we can’t give away the real things unfortunately,” Mr. Huber said.
Jeep Fest organizers, which include the Lucas County Convention & Tourism Bureau, United Auto Workers Local 12, the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, the City of Toledo, and many others, said one big change in the event will likely be a rerouting of the parade and locations for things like the Midway. There is more construction slated for downtown next summer to ready the city for the upcoming Solheim Cup golf tournament in 2021.
“We may have to shift from the current footprint and trend more towards Hensville,” Mr. Huber said.
This past August the 2019 Jeep Fest drew participants and spectators from 32 states; Washington, D.C.; Canada; the Czech Republic, and New Zealand. It generated $5.6 million for the Toledo economy, with 4,000 people attending a kickoff concert at Promenade Park.
Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, another member of the steering committee, said organizers will ride the current momentum to pull in ever more Jeep enthusiasts.
“Guys, we’re after all 50 states,” he said.
About 100 local and national vendors set up booths or participated in last August’s event, and organizers said vendor registration for the 2020 Jeep Fest opened Tuesday via a website, toledojeepfest.com. Meanwhile, a spokesman said registration for the popular Jeep Fest vehicle parade — which drew 3,000 people to drive or ride in the 20-block long Jeep parade — will begin in January on the Jeep Fest 2020 website.
First Published October 15, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
