A charity event that brings thousands of motorcycles to Marathon Park and downtown Olympia will close Deschutes Parkway from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The Olympia Toy Run is an annual event in which thousands of motorcyclists donate toys and money to the Salvation Army's Toy N' Joy Shop, which distributes the gifts to needy children.

The motorcyclists will mass at South Sound Center in Lacey at about 10 a.m. At about 1 p.m., they will depart for Marathon Park by way of Pacific Avenue, State Avenue, Capitol Way, Fifth Avenue and Deschutes Parkway. The Toy Run typically last about two hours.

Drivers can expect heavy traffic and delays during the event which has drawn up 18,000 motorcyclists in the past.

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