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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

Hundreds of cycling enthusiasts are expected in Davie County this weekend for the inaugural NC Cycling Festival.

With headquarters and events in Downtown Mocksville Friday-Sunday, the festival will include bicycle rides ranging from 20 miles to 65 miles on Saturday, including a VeloQuest, a cross country type of cycling that will include hazards and treasure hunt type features to find.

All rides will begin at the Davie Family YMCA in Mocksville, extending into western, northern and eastern parts of the county, including Bermuda Run.

The festival is the brainchild of Allyson Sawtelle and others at The Farmington Center, which hosts the Tour of Farmington bicycle rides every autumn.

“Mocksville is such a great town to host this type of event, and The Farmington Center is excited to partner with the town, the chamber, Bermuda Run, and many corporate sponsors to make this a great event for our area,” Sawtelle said. “The festival is intended to be a spring event that includes all the fun festival activities but centered around bicycling.”

There will be live music Friday night, day and night on Saturday, as well as approximately 26 vendors (either food, drink or bicycle related), workshops, an antique and classic bike show at The Brock, kid’s activities and more.

“There will be lots of food to try, shopping to do, kid’s activities to watch, something for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

Motorists are asked to be patient, and remember to share the road. In fact, a speaker at the Friday night VIP dinner, Ann Groninger, is an attorney and founder of Bike Law, and wrote the “Ride Guide.” The law says motorists should have at least three feet between them and a cyclist when passing. Common sense tells when it’s safe to pass, Sawtelle said.

Former Olympic cyclist and Tour de France participant Brent Bookwalter will also speak. Local bike restorer and collector Walt Gannon will show his bikes and talk about his hobby.

NC Cycling Festival Schedule

Downtown Mocksville

Friday, April 19

5-7 p.m. Meet and Greet Main Street Park

7-9 p.m. VIP Dinner Main Street Park

6-10 p.m. Street musicians/bands Stage, streets

Saturday, April 20

9 a.m.-6 p.m. Festival, swap meet, Downtown

              vendor fair

10 a.m.-noon Family bike parade, Downtown

          rodeo

1 p.m. VelaQuest departs YMCA

1:15-1:45 p.m. Grand Fondos departs, YMCA

        four routes

9, 10, 11 a.m. Industry speakers Brock Gym

2-10 p.m. Free Live Music Downtown stage

6-6:30 p.m. Bike Show Awards Downtown stage

Sunday, April 21

10 a.m.-noon Leisure bike rides, Downtown

    scavenger hunt

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Bike show, swap meet, Downtown

                    vendor fair

 

Festival Live Music Downtown

Friday, April 19

8 p.m.

American Elton, journey into the Elton John experience

The Station

9 p.m.

Nunya Buzniss, rock, pop, country, reggae, blues

4 Oaks

Saturday, April 20

2 p.m.

Take 10 Band, Classic Rock

Main Stage, Downtown

4 p.m.

The Local Boys, bluegrass and Americana

6 p.m.

SNAP, funk, R&B, soul

Main Stage, Downtown

8 p.m.

Continental Divide, oldies and beach music with

Carolina Beach Music Hall of Famer Gene Pharr

Main Stage

10 p.m.

Just Gophers, Metal, reggae, punk rock, hair bands (and a borderline obsession with the movie “Caddyshack”

4 Oaks