The forecast calls for rain.
But Len Hall is keeping his fingers crossed it'll stay dry Sunday for an estimated 600 motorcycle riders gathered to form a toy train.
The 30th annual Salvation Army Toy Run begins its high-profile, parade of two-wheelers at CN Centre, where it will gather donations to fill Christmas hampers for underprivileged families.
"We need to do the sun dance here, we want it to be sunny between 11 o'clock and 3 o'clock Sunday," said event organizer Len Hall. "If the sun is shining we want to see about 600 bikes, but if it's miserable out we'll see the numbers go down. This whole Toy Run is about the motorcycle community trying to help the Salvation Army."
The Toy Run dance starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Blackburn Community Centre (2451 South Blackburn Road), with local rock band Chem 7 providing the tunes. The band includes Tim Ikonen (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Jason Pon (lead guitar), Chris Dibbens (bass guitar) and Nick Tindale (drums). Admission is $15.
The Toy Run festivities get underway at 11 a.m. in the CN Centre parking lot, where toy donations will be accepted. Toy Run T-shirts will be on sale and the Salvation Army will be there handing out coffee and hot chocolate, with its Christmas kettles set up to accept cash donations.
The Toy Run leaves CN Centre at 1 p.m., following route up Tyner Boulevard to University Way, then north on Foothills Boulevard to Highland Drive and Chief Lake Road, then back to CN Centre. The ride takes about an hour to complete.
Hall, the owner of Harley-Davidson of Prince George, said toy donations will also be accepted at his store at 2626 Vance Rd.
