CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC The eye-catching poster for this year’s Toledo Stoplight Festival was designed by Marshalltown artist and teacher Nick Beard.

TOLEDO — After a year away from the event to focus on RAGBRAI, the Toledo Stoplight Festival is back and happening tonight.

Over the past four years the Stoplight Festival has been hit or miss with weather and other earthly factors. In 2020, it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic at the time. In 2021, the event was moved inside due to poor weather conditions. The 2022 event went off without a hitch, but 2023 was canceled due to RAGBRAI consuming the community’s focus.

Organizer Travis Mullen is confident the event will have stellar weather for the community to enjoy tonight.

Some vendors that will be at the festival include Marshalltown staples like Most Wanted Coffee, Dave’s Mini-Donuts, Kayella’s, Last Ride BBQ, and Olive or Twist hosting the beer garden. Live music will be provided by Barefoot Becky and the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Outside of food, beverage, and band, many STC classes have chosen to hold their reunions in conjunction with the festival. Most notably this year, the STC Class of 1974 will celebrate their 50th.

The festival runs concurrently with the Toledo Farmers Market, providing an element of shopping as local as one can get. The Toledo Fire Department will be set up for their yearly kids water fights as well.

When asked why people should come out to Stoplight Festival, Mullen, one of the original organizers and founders of the event, spoke about the importance of fostering a sense of community.

“I believe that over the past decade our society has become more isolated. We all got used to living in our own bubble during COVID. We said we were ready to get back to normal, but so many people have continued to stay home,” he said. “We were created for community and it’s a healthy thing, I encourage people to come out and experience some community. Experience a good time, and even meet a few new people.”

The 2024 edition of the festival has been organized by Mullen, Mayor Brian Sokol and Chamber Coordinator Marlys Upah. All three encourage community members to come experience free entertainment and have a great time! The fun begins at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9.