Sutherlin Timber Town Toy Land Electric Light Parade Raises $7,000, Honors 2025 Winners
Sutherlin’s Timber Town Toy Land Electric Light Parade featured 79 vehicles, raised $7,000 in sponsorships, and paid out all prize money across multiple categories while reflecting on nearly two decades of community tradition.
The Sutherlin Timber Town Toy Land Electric Light Parade returned this season with 79 registered vehicles and $7,000 raised in sponsorships, all of which was distributed as prize money to parade participants.
The parade began at 7:00 p.m. and featured illuminated vehicles traveling through Sutherlin. Organizers confirmed that all donated funds were paid out across multiple judging categories.
The event is organized by Duane Waller, who has been involved with the Light Parade for 18 years and also helps organize other Sutherlin events, including the Blackberry Festival.
In a series of public updates, Waller reflected on the parade’s history and the work that goes into keeping it running. He shared that after nearly two decades of involvement, he partnered with Sutherlin Downtown Development to ensure the parade continues into the future, with leadership transitioning after the 20th year. The partnership has helped bring in additional sponsors and increase prize money.
Waller also shared a personal memory from the 2004 parade, recalling a moment when a float’s generator failed mid-route. As the float moved through town, the generator repeatedly shut down, leaving the lights dark. Each time it failed, Waller pulled the starter rope to bring the lights back on for a few seconds at a time. The float completed the route with the lights cycling on and off, later revealing the generator’s fuel tank was empty. Waller described the incident as one of many memorable moments that have stayed with him over the years.
Sponsorship Totals and Prize Breakdown
Final sponsorship total: $7,000
Prize money per class:
- 1st Place: $950
- 2nd Place: $500
- 3rd Place: $300
Sponsors Added Prior to Parade Day
- B&L Laundry
- Umpqua Plaza Car Wash
- By Your Side In Home Care
- Robertson Shaw CPA, LLC
- The Offyce Bar and Grill
- Misfit Motors
Additional sponsors listed in earlier updates:
- Over The Hill Auto
- Kelly’s Cozy Corner
- Gene Whitaker, Inc
- Sutherlin American Legion Post 121
- Sutherlin Lions Evening Branch
- That’s Kinda Cheesy Food Truck
- Sutherlin Lions Club
- Smoke Shoppe, Etc.
2025 Parade Winners
Best of Theme
- 1st Place: DC Auto Repair, Sutherlin
- 2nd Place: Bill Calvert, Elkton
- 3rd Place: Wes Crawford, Sutherlin FFA
Santa’s Favorite
- 1st Place: Dave Sears, Grande Ronde
- 2nd Place: Triston Mead, Sutherlin
- 3rd Place: Alisha Marquez, Sutherlin
Non-Profit
- 1st Place: Lacey Dewhurst and North County Football
- 2nd Place: Bill Perrin and Sutherlin Stampede
- 3rd Place: Scott Spaulding, Marching for Jesus
Commercial
- 1st Place: Greg and Tiffany Berger, Whit-Log
- 2nd Place: Charles and Della Harp, H&H Event Services
- 3rd Place: Lowell Buehner, Subdermal Art Collective
Organizers thanked participants, volunteers, and sponsors, noting the parade could not take place without their continued support. The event concluded with holiday greetings to the community.
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