Jeep Fest has joined the Jeep itself as an inseparable part of life in Toledo. The three-day event over the weekend brought more than 70,000 visitors downtown to celebrate all things Jeep.

Happy, excited people brought their energy to Toledo from 37 states and Puerto Rico, along with the nations of Mexico, Canada, and the Netherlands.

They were joined by locals from around the region who’ve come to know the Jeep Fest as a visual feast for auto buffs and history lovers.

The best illustration of the scope of Jeep’s impact was the parade Saturday with more than 1,400 vehicles covering more than 80 years of the Toledo-produced product. The crowds both inside their Jeeps and watching along the parade route were a multigenerational mélange with a spiritual connection to Toledo.

Seeing Jeep Fest is believing that Jeep ownership is a defining characteristic for a multitude of people. The economic impact of an estimated $5-million dollar weekend is worth applause, but the special value of Jeep Fest is linking the people who build Jeeps and the people who love Jeeps to the city where the magic has been made since 1911.

Jeep Fest presents an incredible opportunity for Toledo to show its best face to visitors while the visitors remind all in our region how important a defining product of this and past generations is and has been to so many for so long.

It’s impossible to attend Jeep Fest and feel anything but pride about Toledo. That simple fact makes Jeep Fest far more important than its economic impact.

First Published August 17, 2022, 4:00 a.m.