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.

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! Taking place on the East courthouse lawn and down Broadway, the event is set for Friday, July 11.

With any local festival, the food is critical. Some fantastic vendors that will be at the festival include 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, you’ll want to be there early.

They will face off again, and this time, one of them is coming for retribution; I am talking about Brian vs Brian 2! 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. The Tama opponent stated, “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!”

Fresh from his first win, and comfortable with having the rematch in his town, Mayor Brian Sokol had this to say, “Nothing better than a Toledo-Tama challenge. I’m looking forward to another win, this time on our side of the border.”

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

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 News Chronicle this year. Running a subscription drive at the festival, come sign up to have the news delivered directly to you! 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

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

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.