The Rock 4 Tots event attracted hundreds of musicians and music fans to Freddy’s Bar & Grill this past weekend, which resulted in thousands of dollars for Christmas toys to benefit the Clinton Township Goodfellows Club.

Now in its 17th year, the two-day Rock 4 Tots saw mini-sets by some 50 bands playing from Saturday afternoon to late Sunday night, with only a five-minute break between acts. Audience members were urged to bring a new unwrapped toy or $5 for admission.

Event organizers said they were once again impressed by the energy of the participating bands and the audience, both of whom made the event a success.

“The biggest thing is the people who come in and hang out with us,” said “Loco” Joe Evangelista, a computer repairman from St. Clair Shores, who along with Screamin’ Scott Randall from WCSX-FM (94.7), helps organize the bash.

“The professionalism of the musicians, every one of them left their egos and the door and the crowd sees it. And the crowd just loves the fast pace of the lineup changes,” he said.

With the philosophy that every child should have something under the tree on Christmas morning, the toy drive has raised in excess of $50,000 as well as f thousands of toys to be donated to the Clinton Township Goodfellows to be distributed to more than 500 kids.

Event organizers believe they will top last year’s goal of $23,000 by the conclusion of the two nights.

Rock-4-Tots collects new unwrapped toys, gift cards, and accepts cash donations. There are 50/50 raffles, and an array of raffle items available for auction. The collections are donated to the Clinton Township Goodfellows’ No Child Without a Christmas campaign.

On Sunday evening, Douglas Burgess, 65, of St. Clair Shores, was moseying through the merchandise area when he stopped to eyeball a Gretsch guitar that was being auctioned off.

“It’s the perfect merchandise,” he said.

Burgess said he’s become something of a Rock 4 Tots veteran coming to almost every event. Asked why he does so, Burgess said: “It’s for the kids.”

One of those kids opened Saturday’s day of music at Freddy’s. Nikko Brown, a 10-year-old home schooled entertainer from St. Clair in St. Clair County goes by the name County Kid Nikko. He said he’s shared a stage with the likes of superstars Jon Pardi, Shania Twain, and Dierks Bentley.

“I was blessed,” he said of his growing fame.

This year, Rock 4 Tots had a title sponsor in Sargent Appliance. Additional sponsors include Platinum Skin Care, Austin Plumbing, Millennium Mold & Tool, McLachlin Painting, Mark Bynum (Union Home Mortgage), Absolute Skin and Body, Pioneer Construction Group, Stephanie Barbaro Realtor (Keller Williams Platinum) and Gallery of Doors of Shelby Township.