Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade

The Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade rides on the first Sunday in December every year, which puts the 2026 parade on Sunday, December 6, according to the organizer’s site. Staging at Dan Ryan Woods, 83rd and Western, opens at 6 a.m., and the first group of riders leaves at 9:30 a.m. The parade heads north on Western Avenue for roughly 20 miles, with riders donating toys along the way; the organizer calls it the largest motorcycle parade in the world, though no outside tally supports the claim.

Every rider must bring at least one new, unwrapped toy. There is no entry fee. Spectators line Western Avenue for hours as the columns of bikes, many decorated with toys and lights, roll past; the 2024 edition drew thousands of riders, according to WGN.

The organizer held its 2026 kickoff party in September and posts rider meetings and route updates on its site.

Plan your visit

For spectators, the 49 Western bus runs the entire route, and the Western stops on the Orange, Pink, Blue and Brown lines are all on the parade path. Western Avenue closes in stages as the parade moves north, so cross streets back up from mid-morning; the stretch near 83rd is the best place to see the full staging, and the Beverly blocks around 95th to 103rd fill early with families. Bring a chair and a hot drink; the parade takes hours to pass.