Anyone who has slid behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang, revved up the thundering engine and felt the thrill of being thrown back in the bucket seat when accelerating knows the power of the pony.
“Holiday Horsepower” is a small part of Holidays at the Manor House at Wildwood Preserve Metropark running Dec. 6-14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
All you’ll want to do, as Wilson Pickett sang on the 1966 hit, is ride around; Sally is optional.
It’s been 50 years since Mustangmania first galloped across America. Coupes, ragtop convertibles, fastbacks, GTs, Cobras and Shelbys have rumbled down the road over the years.
That silver steed gleaming on the grille first caught my attention at age 4 when a neighbor drove home her new blue beauty. Shortly after that, Santa brought me my own Mustang; it was orange and came in a Hot Wheels set.
Fast-forward to when I took the reins of a new pony car. My 2011 Mustang has a 305-horsepower, 3.7- liter V6 engine and is a smooth, sweet ride. The auto with the iconic logo continues to captivate me — and car fans everywhere.
Thoroughly smitten, I wanted to pay tribute to that lifelong love as the stylish legend celebrates its 50th anniversary. How perfect that 2014 is the Year of the Horse, according to the Chinese zodiac.
So, giddyup and take a gander! Mustang décor and more will be parked in the Manor House’s basement appropriately by the iron horse aka the train display.
Other themes featured in the Georgia Colonial mansion include Peanuts, “A Christmas Story,” “Star Wars,” Elf on the Shelf, sock monkeys, owls and ugly Christmas sweaters.
This is the 39th year for the event, which draws 15,000-18,000 visitors annually and is made possible by more than 500 volunteers, according to Angela Metcalf, program production specialist with the Metroparks of Toledo Area.
“I think people come back every year for that sense of home that we create in the Manor House and the inspiration to kick off their holiday season and to bring the holidays into their own home,” Metcalf said.
Visitors are asked to add to that warmth by bringing mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to decorate a tree in the basement. Everything on the mitten tree will be donated to Toledo Public Schools and given to children in need, Metcalf said.
The holiday café and craft show will take place in the nearby Metroparks Hall and a minibus will circle the park to give visitors a lift from the parking lots to the Manor House.
The Manor House is located at Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave.
