Instead of traveling with elves by sleigh, Santa arrived in Dawsonville last year with smiling men and women dressed in leather jackets and riding motorcycles.
The 22nd Annual Buck Jones Memorial Toy Run will be coming to Dawsonville on Sunday. The toys will be donated to K.A.R.E. for Kids, which serves underprivileged children in Dawson County.
The event, organized by Bikers Dream of Atlanta, collects toys at stops from Cumming to Dahlonega to help organizations provide Christmas presents for children in need.
"It's a good, fun ride," said event organizer Don Parkinson. "Last year's turnout was good. "
Jones, a former Cumming police chief who also worked for the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, started the toy drive after seeing a lack of charities helping families with presents at Christmas.
Jones died in 2010 at age 70, but the toy runs continues in his memory, growing bigger each year, according to organizers.
Last year's turnout saw more than 300 bikers show up for the ride.
"The amount of people that show up is always dependent on the weather," Parkinson said. "Depending on the weather, I think we may have more this year. If the weather is good, more turn out."
The toy run starts at the Cumming Fairgrounds with riders stopping first in Dawsonville before continuing on to Lumpkin County High School.
Registration will begin at 11 a.m. with kickstands up at 1 p.m.
The riders are escorted by police. Parkinson thanked the Dawson County Sheriff's Office for their escort and traffic control last year.
For more information, call (770) 752-0160 or e-mail apparelsales@bikersdreamatl.com.