ROXBURY — For the eighth consecutive year, the Roxbury ATV Riders are bringing a little bit of Christmas spirit to the River Valley region through its annual Christmas in July ride Saturday, July 12.

Club President Mike Worthley said the ride, along with the club’s annual Mystery Night Ride in June, are the club’s most popular events.

“We get huge turnouts for these rides, and it’s for a great cause,” Worthley said. “We’re helping provide toys to local children for Christmas.”

The ride will begin at 10 a.m. at Grimaldi Field in Andover. From there riders will travel through the Roxbury and Andover trail system to Record Hill Wind LLC’s 22-turbine wind farm, and back to Grimaldi Field.

Worthley said the ride from Grimaldi Field to the wind turbines will cost $5, with those participating automatically entered into a 50/50 raffle.

After riders return to Grimaldi Field, Worthley said they can participate in a barbecue lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, homemade french fries and drinks by bringing an “unwrapped toy in a plastic bag or a cash donation.”

“One-third of the money we’re raising goes to the club, one-third goes to the winners of the raffle and one-third goes to the Santa’s Helpers group in Mexico,” Worthley said. “As for the toys, this year, we’re donating them to the Andover Food Pantry, the Christmas for Children organization in Bethel and the Santa’s Helpers organization in Mexico.”

Worthley said the public is welcome to attend the barbecue lunch at Grimaldi Field. “The more, the merrier. We’re always looking for more people to attend,” he said.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com