© 2025 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Flint listeners: WFUM 91.1 FM continues to undergo maintenance and will be at low power throughout the week. We expect there to be periodic outages. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Click here to find other ways to listen.

The Toledo Christmas Weed is "what we all need this Christmas season"

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff,
Joey Horan
Published December 21, 2018 at 3:02 PM EST
The Radebaugh sisters at the Toledo Christmas Weed.
1 of 5
Sisters Carly (L) and Emily (R) Radebaugh. "It's just like this cute, doinky little weed," Carly said. "It has so much charm to it, I love the community value it represents."
Joey Horan / Michigan Radio
Onlookers and livestreamers have flocked to the Toledo Christmas Weed.
2 of 5
Onlookers and livestreamers have flocked to the Toledo Christmas Weed.
Joey Horan / Michigan Radio
The humble sidewalk weed is now buried in decorations and gifts.
3 of 5
The humble sidewalk weed is now buried in holiday decorations and gifts.
Joey Horan / Michigan Radio
Jimmy Izbinski, Santa at the Toledo Christmas Weed.
4 of 5
Jimmy Izbinski has taken on the role of Santa at the Toledo Christmas Weed. "I realized that even an ugly weed in the middle of the road, given enough love and attention, can turn out to something beautiful, and that's what I think we all need."
Joey Horan / Michigan Radio
Toledo christmas weed with just a string of lights
5 of 5
The Toledo Christmas Weed had humble beginnings. But like Drake said, "Started from the bottom, now we're here."
Courtesy of The Toledo Christmas Weed / Facebook

Shades of A Charlie Brown Christmas are playing out on a busy intersection in West Toledo.

The Toledo Christmas Weed, a lonely sapling growing out of a crack in the sidewalk, is now adorned with tinsel and surrounded by gifts. It even has a dedicated crew of Santa and his elves, one of whom was passing out free lottery tickets on Wednesday. 

Stateside's Joey Horan paid a visit to the city's newest holiday attraction. 

(Subscribe to Stateside on iTunes, Google Play, or with this RSS link)
Tags
offbeatchristmas
Stateside Staff
Stateside is produced daily by a dedicated group of producers and production assistants. Listen daily, on-air, at 3 and 8 p.m., or subscribe to the daily podcast wherever you like to listen.
See stories by Stateside Staff
Joey Horan
Joey Horan is a production assistant at Stateside. He lives on the banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio, where he also works as a freelance reporter.
See stories by Joey Horan
Related Content