Name: 35th Annual Nevada County Toy Run
Start: 2026-12-12T12:00:00-08:00
Location: Eric Rood Administrative Center

Join the Ride

Rider staging begins at 9:00 AM at the Eric Rood Administrative Center in Nevada City. At noon, it’s KSU (Kickstands Up).

Ride Day Details

Rider staging
Eric Rood Administrative Center — 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City. Staging begins at 9:00 AM; no rider registration is required.
KSU (Kickstands Up)
12:00 PM sharp. Be ready for the procession to leave at noon.
Destination
Nevada County Fairgrounds — Grass Valley. Riders start arriving at approximately 12:30 PM.

Donate Gifts Volunteer Donate Shop

Motorcycles filling a downtown street during the Nevada County Toy Run. — Nevada County Toy Run procession · Photo: Kial James

What to bring

New, unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, stocking stuffers, books, games, clothing, jackets, gift cards, teen gifts, and other age-appropriate items.

Rain or shine

The Toy Run rides rain or shine. Spectators are welcome to line the route and wave to the riders.

Route Map

The route

Rood Center → Downtown Nevada City → Downtown Grass Valley → Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Follow the approximately 6.63-mile ride from the Rood Center through Nevada City and Grass Valley to the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

The route follows Mill Street Promenade from Main Street past Bank Street, crosses Neal Street, and continues south on Mill Street. Riders enter the fairgrounds via Brighton Street.

Save the map before ride day. The PDF includes satellite maps, close-ups, turn-by-turn directions, and leg and cumulative mileage.

View route map (PDF)Download route map (PDF)

PDF in English · 3 pages · 6.5 MB

Satellite overview of the Toy Run route from the Rood Center to the fairgrounds, through Mill Street Promenade. — Route overview. Open the PDF to zoom in and see all three pages.
Imagery: Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community. Street / promenade data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What to Donate

New, unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, stocking stuffers, books, games, clothing, jackets, gift cards, teen gifts, and other age-appropriate items.

Please remember older children and teenagers. Gift cards, clothing, personal-care items, electronics accessories, games, and other teen-friendly gifts help give families meaningful choices.

Donation Drop-Off

Bring new, unwrapped gifts to the Nevada County Fairgrounds during these collection hours:

Friday, December 11, 2026

9:00 AM–5:00 PM · Nevada County Fairgrounds

Saturday, December 12, 2026

9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Nevada County Fairgrounds

Year-Round Donation Locations

What Happens at the Fairgrounds

When the motorcycles arrive, the ride is over—but the Toy Run is just getting started. Riders unload gifts, volunteers move everything into place, and the Fairgrounds becomes the center of family distribution.

The Toy Run is a welcoming, dignified community Christmas experience—not simply a bag handed over at the door.

Gift tables arranged by age group inside the Toy Run event hall. — From NCTR’s 2024 Toy Run photo archive

Family Distribution

1:30 PM–6:00 PM. Registered families attend during their assigned check-in window.

Gifts for Children & Teens

Each child can receive multiple new gifts chosen for their age and interests. With more than 2,000 children represented in 2025 registrations, thousands of individual gifts are needed.

Holiday Groceries

Each family receiving grocery assistance can choose a turkey, ham, or chicken, along with a sack of potatoes and the traditional holiday fixings.

Ride Details Volunteer Donate Family Assistance

Family Assistance

Register in advance so our team can plan for the number and ages of children attending. Families can receive multiple gifts for each child and holiday groceries.

December 12, 2026 · 1:30 PM–6:00 PM · Nevada County Fairgrounds

Apply for Family Assistance

Volunteer at the Toy Run

Friday — Setup

Prepare the Fairgrounds, organize gifts and supplies, and get everything ready.

Saturday — Distribution

Help with check-in, gift selection, groceries, restocking, and carrying items to vehicles.

Sunday — Cleanup

Break down the event, organize what remains, and leave the Fairgrounds ready for its next event.

You don’t have to ride. Volunteers are every bit as important as the riders who bring the gifts.

Volunteer for the Toy Run

Coming from out of town?

Gold Miners Inn, a preferred hotel of Nevada County Toy Run

Enjoy the 12.5% Toy Run discount on all room types for arrival dates December 6–13, 2026. One-night minimum.

In the booking calendar, choose an arrival date December 6–13, 2026 to see the Toy Run rate.

Room availability and the hotel’s standard booking terms apply.

Book with the Toy Run discount

The Ride Is the Tradition

What began with four riders in 1991 now brings hundreds—and sometimes thousands—of motorcycles together each December. For the motorcycle community, the Toy Run is part reunion, part tradition, and part purpose.