Who's ready to ride around city streets, tackle obstacle courses, and win a free bicycle? If that sounds fun, then come to Downtown Lenoir from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm this Saturday, June 3, 2023, for the 2nd Annual Lenoir Bicycle Festival.
The Lenoir Bicycle Festival is a free, family-friendly event celebrating bicycling. Activities include a free-ride lane, obstacle courses, and the Impossible Backwards Bicycle Challenge. There will be a time trial with prizes for five age groups and bicycle safety classes with free helmets. Visitors can also register to win prizes including four, brand new bicycles.
"Last year's festival was a ton of fun," Event Coordinator Joshua Harris said. "Everyone had a blast riding around downtown. We'll have a new pattern for the time trail this year, which was very popular. And we have a lot of great prizes to give away thanks to our sponsors."
Everyone who comes to the festival can register to win a prize. Visitors should go to the information tent and ask for a ticket. Tickets are free and limited to one per person. You must be present to win.
The prizes are a Paramount 100 bicycle from Stone Mountain Bicycle Co., a 20-inch mountain bike, a 20-inch street bike, and , 26-inch mountain bike. Other prizes include bike lights, a Google Chromecast, a Google Stadia controller (which can be used as a standard Bluetooth controller), Summer Family Swim passes to the Lenoir Aquatic & Fitness Center, and registrations for City Parks & Recreation sports programs.
Staff will give away four bicycles and other prizes during 2nd Annual Lenoir Bicycle Festival this Saturday, June 3, 2023. Rock N Road Bicycles in Hickory donated the Paramount 100 metallic beige bicycle in the front on the left.
Other festival prizes include a Google Chromecast, Google Stadia controller (which can be used as a standard Bluetooth controller), bike light set, free Summer Family Swim pass to the Lenoir Aquatic & Fitness Center, and free registrations for City Parks & Recreation sports programs.
The Lenoir Police Department will give bicycle safety classes during the festival. Anyone who completes the class will get a free bicycle helmet, while supplies last. The helmets are provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
The festival starts at 10:00 am. The bicycle safety classes will be from 10:00 am to about 1:30 pm. Staff will announce the time trial and prize winners at 1:45 pm.
Free water will be available. Riders are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.
Mayor Joe Gibbons said he is glad to see the festival is back for round two.
"The Lenoir Bicycle Festival is a great event. When else do you get to ride around downtown without traffic?" Mayor Joe Gibbons said. "There are a lot of cool prizes, and we're doing the bicycle safety classes this year."
The following sponsors are supporting the 2023 Lenoir Bicycle Festival.
"I want to thank the sponsors for supporting the festival," Mayor Joe Gibbons said. "I know everyone enjoys the free events we host in Downtown Lenoir, and the sponsors help make those events happen. We really appreciate their generosity."
Click the following link to visit the event page, read more about the activities, and see more photos from last year, Lenoir Bicycle Festival.
A boy rides an obstacle course balance beam during the 2022 Lenoir Bicycle Festival.
A girl completes the time trial on West Avenue during the festival last year.
The City received two bicycle helmet grants from the NCDOT Bicycle Helmet Initiative. Anyone who completes the bicycle safety course at the festival will get a free helmet. Click the following link to read more about the grant, Lenoir receives bicycle helmet grant from NCDOT.
