The beaches of Grays Harbor will be flooded once again with jeep enthusiasts and environmental advocates during the annual Jeeps Go Topless for Clean Shores event in Ocean Shores. What started as a small gathering created by a dedicated Grays Harbor sixth grader has grown into a monumental occurrence that’s not only a joyous get together for Jeep lovers, but a weekend-long beach cleanup taking place over the weekend of May 19, 2023.
How a Sixth Grader Started Clean Shores
While the Jeeps Go Topless for Clean Shores event has picked up steam and is well known across western Washington, the inaugural event was created by a local Grays Harbor sixth grader, Leo. As the COVID-19 pandemic began, teachers were tasked to keep their students engaged and on track, virtually.
Being a part of the Connections Academy and in an advanced placement science class, the animal- and beach-loving Leo thought quick on his feet when assigned a science project that would improve the environment while simultaneously engaging the community. “Leo decided to clean the beaches in Ocean Shores to satisfy the ‘improve the environment’ part of the project,” explains Leo’s mom, Nicole Koch. “To get the community involved he decided to invite Jeepers with little rubber ducks and an invite attached to it. We drove everywhere ‘ducking’ and inviting Jeeps in 2020.”
The first event was a huge success with roughly 140 Jeeps partaking in the event, that was planned in a way that made being socially distanced easy.
The following year, the attendance grew to 400 as word began to spread to Jeep enthusiasts and 4×4 drivers from around the Pacific Northwest. “The events were so great that past participants asked us to do to it again,” explains Nicole. This year, attendance is expected to reach into the thousands with expanded event happenings and plenty of fun on the schedule.
2023 Jeeps Go Topless for Clean Shores Schedule
The 2023 family and dog friendly event will kick off on Friday, May 19 at 3 p.m. with a Jeep showoff at Too Cool Sportswear and family-style pizza dinner at the Pizza Factory at 4 p.m. Festivities will then center around the Too Cool Summer Party at Oyhut Bay Seaside Village at 5 p.m. featuring food and drink specials, volleyball, oversized chess, an outdoor movie, music, games, and socializing with new and old friends.
Following the Friday evening excitement, the main event will begin as hundreds of Jeeps begin to roll into the city on Saturday. At 10 a.m. the Meet and Greet at Oyhut Bay will begin with signage guiding the way to the designated space with room for 2,500 Jeeps. As the clock strikes 11 a.m., Jeepers will cruise through Ocean Shores in parade style before gathering on the beach to begin cleanup efforts at 12 p.m.
With trash bags in hand provided by the City of Ocean Shores, participants set out to clean up the beach, keeping Leo’s vision alive. Armed with a determination to make a difference, the shorelines are combed and bags upon bags of litter and debris are collected, removing potential harm to both the environment and wildlife that call Grays Harbor’s beaches home. As hundreds of participants sweep the beach, organization is important. Attendees will be assigned a color at the Meet and Greet corresponding with a marked section of the beach. To help instill the importance of protecting the natural environment to children, hidden treasures will be placed on the beach for kids, teens, and adults to uncover, while beach buckets filled with goodies will be distributed to the children.
Throughout the day, participants have the opportunity to socialize, exchange stories, and showcase their Jeeps while cleaning the beach. The day will conclude with a celebratory Light the Night Beach Bonfire at 5 p.m. where glow sticks, lights and glowing attire are encouraged. Live music will also serenade the night as a productive and fun day bettering the environment concludes. Those staying overnight in the area who participated in the beach cleanup are welcome to join in for the Jeep Playground on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to wrap up the weekend.
This year the Jeeps Go Topless for Clean Shores event is registered as a national event, which has increased the attendee count to an estimated 2,500. If that many Jeeps show up for the parade, they will set a new Guinness World Record for the most Jeeps in a parade. The current record was set at a 2015 parade in Butler, Pennsylvania with 2,420 Jeeps.
Jeeps Go Topless for Clean Shores merchandise can be purchased on the Too Cool Sportswear website and picked up at the shop. For the most up-to-date information on this event, follow the official Facebook event page.
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