The Wichita Toy Run will be held on November 2, 2014. This will be the 35th annual run and, this year, the event is getting back to its basics. For the past two years, the Toy Run has been held as a rally instead of a run or parade. The rally was held in Delano, and the motorcycles were all parked. However, organizers noted that the event, which was designed to bring in toy donations for the less fortunate, suffered the past two years. Fewer motorcycle riders participated because there wasn't an actual ride.
In 2013, the rally brought in only 2,000 toys in donations. Prior to that, in 2011, the last year for the parade, the number of toys the event brought in was over 10,000. People would line up along the parade route to see the motorcycles, check out the bikers wearing their cool iron on patches, and cheer them on. Each of the bikers had toys and other donations strapped to the back that were given to charities at the end of the parade. The Wichita Toy Run works with organizations like the Kansas Food Bank and Toys for Tots.
In 2011, the organizers decided to change the event into a rally due to some safety concerns after a couple of accidents happened during the parade. Participants were all asked to be aware of the other bikers and drive safely. Barricades and police officers will make certain the route is blocked to other traffic, and no alcohol will be allowed at the event.
