Residents and visitors came together for family-friendly fun in support of a great cause at the 21st annual Kling Street Kids festival on December 21. Started in 2002 by a small group of neighborhood children who held a bake sale to buy toys to cheer up hospitalized kids during the holidays, the event has grown into a community tradition, with a cadre of local families organizing the yearly street fair and silent auction to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The 2024 celebration featured live music by The BeatBuds and School of Rock, plenty of food and drink — including new offerings from the Hank’s Bagels and Jungle Pops trucks — pony rides, face painting and 12 tons of snow for sledding. All told, the day raised $43,260 for CHLA, bringing Kling Street Kids’ overall donation total for the year to more than $243,000.
Co-chair Laura Scuticchio says Kling Street Kids is a tribute to connectedness and camaraderie, thanks to the dedicated efforts of neighbors and the unwavering support of local businesses that make it truly special. “The event brings our Toluca Lake community together and helps highlight the joy and meaning of the season.”