Tour de Fat, New Belgium's Ballyhoo of Bikes & Beer is just around the corner....I can't wait! Only 173 days to go until it comes to my town. What makes this festival so special you ask? Well frankly, everything!
First, the disclaimer...I was once an NBB employee and helped the amazing event team put a couple of these bad boys on, so I am without a doubt biased about this event. These guys and gals work hard, even the carnies.
This is not your average beer festival, it is a psychedelic combination of a beer fest, bike parade, vaudeville show, costume contest, fundraiser pulled off in a sustainable fashion. The whole shebang kicks off with a cruiser bike ride through the streets of your town. Costumes are more than welcomed, they are encouraged. The ride eventually leads back to the main event where ID's are checked, wrists are banded and a line-up of New Belgium beers are poured. The MC will take the stage and the festivities officially kick off. You can expect to be entertained by the bands, acts and fellow beer drinkers.
The bike theme carries through the whole fest with proceeds being donated back to biking charities in the community the festival was held in. Activites inside the main gates include the slow ride, whoever crosses the finish line last (without spilling their beer or touching the ground) and try out one of the many "art" bikes! Each city also searches out an individual that will trade their car for a commuter biker for a year, NBB provides the bike and donates the car! That in and of itself would be a good enough reason to go, now get this - the event is about as green as a festival can get. Trucks run on bio-diesel, the stage on solar and the crew to set-up on bikes. In years past they have seen over 90% of the trash diverted from the landfill.
So get this on your calendar now, tune up your bike and start working on your costume. If you are headed to the one in Tempe, I'll see you there!
Tour de Fat Schedule
Tour de Fat Facebook Page
