Scion Fans Expected to Donate 40,000 Items to Toys for Tots at Annual Knott's Scary Farm Customer Appreciation Event

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 10,000 Scion owners and their friends are expected at Southern California theme park Knott's Berry Farm on Wednesday to donate a Toys for Tots gift and receive a Halloween scare. The Scion Night at Knott's Scary Farm is the carmaker's largest owner appreciation event, now in its ninth year and expected to draw 2,500 vehicles full of eager drivers willing to enter the haunted mazes, shows and rides.

The event is free for the first 10,000 people who arrive in a Scion, wear a seatbelt and donate a toy worth at least $10 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign.

"We're really proud that Scion owners have donated more than 60,000 toys to this wonderful cause over the years," said Marine Gunnery Sgt. Willie McClendon.  "After this year's event, we're confident that we'll be pushing that number to nearly 100,000."

Although the park doesn't open for Halloween events until 7 p.m., Scion owners will begin gathering at 2 p.m. in the east parking lot for vehicle displays, aftermarket exhibits, food trucks and entertainment, including hot lap driving demonstrations from Scion's veteran drifter Ken Gushi.

Scion night has grown steadily in size every year, largely by word of mouth among dedicated owners and fans.

"The enthusiasm and online participation of Scion owners ahead of this event has been enormous," said Amit Chandarana, Los Angeles region Scion and e-commerce manager. "By using social media and Twitter giveaways to highlight our Toys for Tots partnership, we hope to encourage others to add to the incredible number of donations we've helped collect over the years."

Outdoor performances will include radio station KROQ's DJ Jeremiah Red and the band Hard Copy Rebels; special guest star DJ Ravi Drums, who toured internationally with The Black Eyed Peas; and TV's "America's Got Talent," dance troupe iLuminate who will give  a breathtaking and unique performance.

Prizes from HD Radio™, Pioneer, and others will be given away throughout the afternoon.

"We couldn't be happier that our Scion owners have made this event such a success year after year," said Doug Eroh, Toyota's Los Angeles region assistant general manager. "Based on our early feedback, we're confident that this will be the best—and biggest—one ever."

For more information, visit:

• Blog: www.scion.com/blog
• YouTube: http://youtu.be/xcyLejN1hDQ
• Twitter: #ScionNightKSF

Event Schedule

2 p.m.  – Knott's Berry Farm parking opens and the tailgate party begins
2-3:30 p.m.  – KROQ's DJ Jeremiah Red performs at the main stage
2-6:30 p.m.  – FR-S ride and drive opportunities
2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.  – prize giveaways from the main stage
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.  – Ken Gushi "hot lap" demonstration
3:30-5:30 p.m. – KROQ's Hard Copy Rebels perform
7 p.m. – Knott's Scary Farm opens
8-8:45 p.m. – DJ Ravi Drums and iLuminate perform on calico stage
1 a.m. – Knott's Scary Farm closes

About Scion
Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., was developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind. Scion's mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The brand features five groundbreaking models with a wide array of standard features: the xD urban subcompact five-door, the iconic xB urban utility vehicle, the tC sports coupe, the premium micro-subcompact iQ and the FR-S rear-wheel drive sports car. The Scion brand often applies new practices in all aspects of its business and pushes the creativity envelope with non-traditional advertising and marketing to engage young consumers. Scion also supports originality through its programs in the artistic community. For more information, visit www.scion.com.

Media Contact:
Marissa Borjon
GolinHarris for Scion
(213) 438-8831
[email protected]

SOURCE Scion