Several world-class artists, crafters, photographers, sculptors, and writers make their homes in Toledo, taking inspiration from the small-town atmosphere, our beautiful river, estuaries, and rural vistas. Some have converted downtown commercial and residential space into working studios. Landscape artists such as Ivan Kelly and Michael Gibbons open their homes during monthly “First Weekends” in addition to many such creative types that hold open studios during Art Walk each year over Labor Day weekend.
Toledo is host to several other annual events including the Toledo Summer Festival, celebrating the timber industry roots of this pioneering town. The fireworks display at the Toledo Summer Festival is the best small town display in the Northwest!
The Summer Festival includes a great parade, logging show, carnival, and dances. The Toledo Waterfront Market, at Memorial Field, features over 30 vendors selling crafts, produce, food and much more. It runs every Thursday June through August. The railroad society has all their restored equipment on display during the Waterfront Market, encouraging folks to come and see the velocipede (a bicycle with an outrigger that runs on the tracks) and the restored sixteen man crew car. Swap Meets are planned in June and August, where people can come and sell their wares. This event brings in anywhere from 450 to 500 buyers and up to 30 vendors.
Trick or Treating on Main Street happens every Halloween and is always a great success, with hundreds of children participating and store owners handing out candy. A Christmas tree lighting celebration and holiday party is a yearly event happening on Thanksgiving weekend to kick off the Christmas season.
