The third annual Jingle Bells Rock Charity Car Show Event of Central Florida in support of the US Marine Corps Reserve Toy’s-for-Tot’s toy drive, will take place at 842 W. Myers Blvd., Mascotte, Fl., from 9:00am – 3:00pm. Tim Duncan and his wife Susan, owners of Traveling Tree’s Inc. Garden Centers in Clermont and Mascotte and the Boykin‘s/Peterson’s of the Sweet Nothings Marketplace have teamed up with Gail Love and his wife Charlotte, also of Clermont, to bring a new awareness to the Marines Corps yearly toy drive effort in our area.
​
The Love’s started working with the US Marine Corps Reserve in 2003, becoming a regular supporter at WFTV Channel 9’s toy drives in Orlando, FL using a very special car known as Herbie The Love Bug that they built for their disabled son Stephen to entertain people from around Central Florida who would bring toys to the studio. During this time, they also broke off and started their own car show at Old Town USA called Jingle Bugs Rock, an all VW car show, that provided thousands of new toys and cash contributions to the Marine Corps for 8 years. Today, they still participate yearly at the Channel 9 Studios as well as collecting and supplying toys and bicycles for the needy families of Central Florida.
​
This year, the Duncan’s, Boykin‘s, Peterson’s and Love’s, have planned another great car show. Located in Mascotte, there is plenty of room at the Sweet Nothings Marketplace and Traveling Trees Garden Center where the cars will be on display throughout the day.. The show will be open to anyone wanting to show off their car, old and new, as well as offering food/drink, live music with Clermont's own Randall Crawford singing your favorite country music, door prizes and even a little shopping for those who want to get an early start on Christmas. There will be a contest to see who can best decorate their car for the Christmas Holidays. trophies being provided to the best 3 entries, as well as a people’s choice award for the best overall car.
​
The whole idea is to give people a place where they can walk around and look at some fabulous cars and shop for some unique southern vintage hand crafted items while enjoying a few hours of great food/entertainment and dropping off toys for the children of our area. Traveling Trees Inc. is also encouraging local companies in our area to contribute cash to the US Marine Corps Reserve to purchase additional toys as needed. They have once again set a goal of $20000.00 for this year. Checks can be made out directly to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and dropped off at either of their Garden Centers or mailed to the Clermont location at 15950 County Rd 565A, Clermont, FL. All contributions will be given to the US Marine Corps Reserve’s local coordinator, Jay Ortiz, who will make sure tax-exempt letters are provided for each contribution.
​
The team is excited to see how creative everyone can become in decorating their cars. It is a lot of fun and does not have to cost a lot of money since most of us have all types of Christmas related decorations lying around. Of course, you do not have to decorate your car if you choose not to. There will be something special for everyone. Make plans now to be there on December 5th to meet Tim & Susan from Traveling Trees Inc., Teresa, Jama and Karen with Sweet Nothings Marketplace, and the Love’s to make this event special for those in our area that need that little extra help and encouragement during this holiday season.
​
For more information, or if you would like to become involved with this great event, go to www.Let-The-JingleBellsRock.com or feel free to call Tim Duncan at 352-988-8800.