Scenic rides, kids’ bike rodeo, Farmers Market cycle-in, guided tours – and that’s not all.
This year’s Fall Bike Celebration Weekend offers a 7+ route bike tour – including gravel rides, a kid’s bike rodeo, a Farmers Market cycle-in, guided tours of the Vicksburg Historic Village and live and online presentations during the September 20-22 weekend.
The weekend also highlights attractions in and around our charming village of Vicksburg and raises awareness of the need to bike safely as the hours of darkness increase during the fall, with the help of many organizations in and around Vicksburg. Put together by Bike Friendly Kalamazoo, the celebration has consistently been followed by generous donations to local non-profits – so the more riders, the better! For full details, see http://www.fallbikecelebration.org.
Two main events are scheduled for Friday Sept. 20. The first 30 shoppers who bicycle to the Vicksburg Farmers’ Market can receive a $5 coupon good for purchases at the market. Another offering allows the public to schedule guided tours of the Vicksburg Historic Village.
A free Bike Rodeo for children from the entire area is planned for the morning of Saturday Sept 21, courtesy of Safe Kids of Kalamazoo County and Vicksburg Community Schools. Bike rodeos like this teach and encourage kids to ride bikes safely on a closed course set up with fun and realistic traffic patterns and signs. Families with kids or an interest in child safety and education are encouraged to participate. The rodeo will include a helmet check, bike mechanical checks and a chance to have fun while learning the rules of the road. Saturday will also feature guided tours of the Vicksburg Historic Village, a bicycle mural exhibit and an ice cream social at Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor with a cone for pre-registered riders. On-line rider registrants will also receive a discount at the Distant Whistle Brewhouse.
On Sunday Sept. 22 the Fall Bike Celebration bike tour – this year presented by Opalescence Dental – will offer routes that will take cyclists back in time, starting and ending at the lovingly restored Vicksburg Historic Village while featuring views of Vicksburg Quilt Trail paintings. Cyclists can pick from scenic destinations all the way to Shipshewana, routes that include Michigan’s longest covered wooden bridge, Scotts Mill Park, the Village of Climax, as well as bite-sized family-friendly routes. Back for 2024 are mixed surface gravel routes that will stop by Rawson’s King Mill Park in Leonidas.
“Vicksburg welcomes bicyclists and encourages everyone from the region to enjoy the Fall Bike Celebration,” said Bill Adams, former Vicksburg village president. “We are grateful for the support of the generous sponsors and wonderful in-kind supporters who make this fantastic fall bicycle festival possible.”
The weekend-long event is organized by civic leaders and local charities as well as Bike Friendly Kalamazoo, offering many reasons to have fun and ride, showcasing local amenities while emphasizing the need for motorist and bicyclist safety. Some activities are free, some require waivers and some may require children to be accompanied by an adult. The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club is donating 5-foot safe-passing yard signs to event participants and volunteers. Registration for Sunday’s ride is at https://fallbikecelebration.org/registration/.
“This year the Fall Bike Celebration Weekend will be more exciting and enjoyable than ever,” said Chair Paul Selden. “We invite everyone to enjoy all or part of the entire weekend.”
Bike Friendly Kalamazoo (BFK) is a Michigan non-profit organization whose mission is to help make our greater community even more bicycle friendly. Its programs include funding the All Kids Bike Learn to Ride Kindergarten PE program, public murals, grants and scholarships to support bicycle/motorist safety, education and infrastructure, while fostering collaboration among local leaders and organizations to improve the quality of life. Website: www.bikefriendlykalamazoo.org.
