contributed graphic This year’s poster was designed by Darvin Graham. The festival has traditionally had community members assist in the design, this year being no different.

TOLEDO — With July in full force, that can only mean one thing for Toledo, the Stoplight Festival presented by the Tama Toledo Chamber of Commerce is back. The event is set for the evening of Friday, July 11 on the east courthouse lawn and down Broadway.

The festival will include a wide variety of food vendors including the Tama County Pork Producers, Ward’s Indian Tacos, Dave’s Mini Donuts, and Olive or Twist providing their mobile bar. Galen Musgrave has made commemorative Stoplight Festival souvenirs that will be for sale at the festival with limited quantities available.

After their first skirmish during the Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival in Tama, the battle of mayors named Brian — Sokol from Toledo, and Hanus from Tama — will return for round two. This year’s Stoplight Festival will host the epic rematch, the grudge match, the mayor vs mayor showdown that history will forever know as the second battle in the Tama vs. Toledo Dunk Tank War.

As Tama suffered a defeat at the wet and shivering hands of Toledo Mayor Brian Sokol during this year’s Lincoln Highway Festival, the Stoplight Festival is Tama’s opportunity for redemption. “This is Mayor Brian Hanus, and I’m challenging Mayor Sokol; you are going down, buddy! You won the first round; this one’s mine. We froze to death the first time; we’re gonna roast this time, but you are going down!” Hanus said.

Fresh from his first win, and comfortable with having the rematch in his town, Mayor Brian Sokol is ready to defend his title.

“Nothing better than a Toledo-Tama challenge. I’m looking forward to another win, this time on our side of the border,” he said.

On a lighter note, live music will be provided by UpRoar! from 5-6:30 p.m. and The Schmidt Brothers from 7-9 p.m.

Outside of food, beverage, and band, some STC classes have chosen to hold their class reunions in conjunction with the festival. One new booth will be from the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle this year, running a subscription drive at the festival and encouraging patrons to support their local newspaper. Forms to subscribe, along with some free cookies for anyone who subscribes will be available at the #buyapaper Subscription Drive.

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

Sponsors of this years event include: State Bank of Toledo-Bandstand Sponsor, the City of Toledo, Snyder & Associates, Moore, McKibben, Goodman & Lorenz, Marquess Law, Hrabak Lumber, Assured Partners, Iowa Step and Tank, Appraisal & Real Estate Services — Jason and Mandy Lekin, S&S Carwash, Scharnweber Inc., Stein-Hrabak Flooring, USS Polaris, Birkwood, Gary Bock, State Farm, WCF, Hardons, K&M Sanitation, Manatts, Norton’s, Tama County, Abstract and LattaHarris.

The 2025 edition of the festival has been organized by Toledo Mayor Brian Sokol. Sokol encourages all community members to join in on the fun. Also reminding attendees to bring their best lawn chairs. The festival begins at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9.