2026 · AnnualEsther Borte Walk in the Park
Honoring Esther’s legacy with every step.
Saturday, September 12 2026
Honoring Esther’s legacy with every step.
Esther Borte loved this park, and she loved the people in it. The Walk in the Park began as a simple idea — a quiet morning stroll around the City Park roadway in her memory — and has grown into an annual gathering of neighbors, families, and friends.
The walk itself is unhurried and reflective. There is no race clock and no finish-line ribbon. We walk together, at whatever pace suits us, and we remember. Afterward, the day opens up: vendors set up around the park, music plays, and the raffle jars fill with tickets.
Proceeds from the event support continued improvements to the park Esther cared so much about.
Everything happens at City Park. The morning belongs to the walk; the rest of the day belongs to the community.
Vendors arrive and set up their booths around the park.
Check in, pick up your materials, and buy your raffle tickets before the walk.
A quiet, reflective walk around the City Park roadway in Esther’s memory. All ages and paces welcome — strollers and leashed dogs too.
Winners are drawn jar by jar, including the showcase quilt, with a few words from family and friends.
Booths open and the music starts. Stay for the afternoon — eat, browse, and visit.
Registration is open to everyone. Sign up ahead of time, or register in person starting at 9:00 AM the morning of the walk.
Every registration includes 5 raffle tickets.
The raffle works jar by jar. Each prize donated by our local businesses gets its own jar — and this year’s showcase prize is one Esther made herself: “Some Enchanted Evening,” a quilt she pieced here in Toledo in 2006. Winning it means taking home a piece of her work.
“Some Enchanted Evening”
Made by Esther Borte · Toledo, 2006
Every prize gets its own jar — put your tickets toward whichever ones you’re going for. Prizes are donated by the local businesses who sponsor the Walk.
No prizes added yet — add them under Raffle Prizes in the dashboard and they appear here.
Sponsoring the Walk takes one simple form: donate a prize for the raffle. Your prize gets its own jar, your business is named on it and announced at the drawing, and you’re thanked right here on the site.
No sponsors added yet — add them under Sponsors in the dashboard.
Ready to sponsor? Donating a prize is all it takes. We welcome:
Once the walk wraps up, the park comes alive. Local vendors open their booths at 11:00 AM with food, crafts, and goods, and live music carries through the afternoon.
No vendors added yet — add them under Vendors in the dashboard.
Interested in a booth? Vendor setup runs 7:30–9:00 AM the morning of the event, with booths open from 11:00 AM. Sign-up details are coming soon — check back here, or reach out directly.