Carts Toy Drive and Christmas Parade Dec. 5

The Street Carts Toy Drive and Christmas Parade will drive down Canyon Lake Drive lined with cheering Canyon Lakers Dec. 5 to celebrate the season and to collect toys for the less fortunate.

The 11th Annual Toy Drive and Christmas Parade is a holiday tradition in Canyon Lake. The carts range in decorations from simple bows and garland to elaborate carts where the cart is barely visible under all its decorations.

The purpose behind the event, though, is to collect donations of new toys to those in need at Christmas, Mike Shroyer, the club president, said.

The parade line up will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Blue Bird Drive and the parade will start at approximately 5:00 p.m. from Blue Bird Drive, head down Canyon Lake Drive, and end at Eastport Park.

Awards will be presented for the best-decorated carts in the following categories: Best Lights, Best Theme, Most Outrageous and Toy Donations.

Everyone is encouraged to donate to the toy drive. New and unwrapped toys can be dropped off in a drop box at 22055 Mustang Court until Dec 15. The toy box is checked daily and the toys will be donated to Victory Calvary Chapel. Toys can also be dropped off at Eastport Park at the end of the parade.

Monetary donations are also being solicited. For those wishing to make these donations, they can call Mike Shroyer at 951-244-6461.

Friday Flyer File Photo

The Street Carts of Canyon Lake Club invites residents to decorate a golf cart and participate in the parade. All carts are welcome to join the parade, but participants must complete and return the Toy Drive & Parade Waiver downloadable at www.canyonlakepoa.com/toydrive. Waivers can be returned in person the day of the event at the formation line-up at Blue Bird Hall.

The entry fee for each cart entering the parade is one new donated toy. There are several rules on the waiver form that must be followed, including the requirement that each cart carry a fire extinguisher.

There will be no street parking on Canyon Lake Drive South/North (adjacent to the parade route) on December 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vehicles/golf carts may park on the opposite side of the street or on side streets during this timeframe.

During the parade (approximately 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) vehicle traffic will be reduced to 5 MPH and vehicle traffic will not be permitted to pass the parade.

Due to the event being in the evening, and for the safety of the spectators and participants, there will be no distribution of any items such as candy or promotional items on the parade route.

The Street Carts of Canyon Lake Club is much more than a group of people with golf carts. Its values are based on the notion of families helping families while emphasizing the neighborly values in Canyon Lake.