Six years ago, Toledo City Council members Travis Mullen and Brian Sokol along with Mike Gilchrist decided Toledo needed a summer event. The 4th of July festivities had pretty much run their course save for a fireworks display.

They came up with the Toledo Stoplight Festival – named because there was only one in town in 2010 – at High and Broadway on the Tama County Courthouse Square, there since 1949.

There had been some moves to get rid of the stoplight over the years, but no one, no matter how irritated at stopping on a slippery winter street for it made that much a campaign to get rid of it.

The Stoplight Festival has flourished since and this year will prove to be no exception with events beginning at 3:45 p.m. this Friday, July 10, on the Courthouse Square.

Not only is there music and entertainment to draw young and old, the Toledo High School All-Class Reunion expects nearly 300 grads and spouses this weekend. At the Stoplight festival, they’ll be joined by South Tama High School reunion attendees from the classes of 1970, ’85, ’90, ’95 and 2000.

A reunion of former Iowa Juvenile Home / State Training School for Girls staff and residents is also planned at the?Stoplight Festival.

There is also a Customer appreciation to which everyone is invited at the State Farm Insurance Office at West High and U.S. 63 beginning at 3 p.m.