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Don’t say there’s nothing to do in Davie County.

This Saturday, there are at least five events expected to draw local and regional interest, including the Masonic Picnic (separate story), the Tour of Farmington bicycle event; The Great Bullhole Duck Race and Community Day; a Pirate Party in Downtown Mocksville; and the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival.

• In 2009 the Tour of Farmington began with 19 cyclists. Fifteen years later, that small band is expected to top 200 riders.

What attracts cyclists to Davie County? Surveys report they like the hospitality, rural scenery, and the landscape is hilly enough to have a degree of challenge, but not so much that it’s too difficult for a nice ride.

The board of directors of The Farmington Center (TFC) want Davie residents to treat guests well by sharing the road and welcoming them to shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Allyson Sawtelle, cycling enthusiast and event coordinator for TFC, anticipates a record registration for a popular ride that offers routes for different skill and endurance levels, featuring four routes of 13-, 23-, 43- and 63-mile rides, with rest stops along the circuits. All rides begin and end at The Farmington Center. The routes wind through the county, from Farmington, north to Courtney-Huntsville or south to Cooloomee, with a stretch through Calahaln and skirting Mocksville. A mobile SAG (“support and gear”) unit will ensure safety by following the routes to assist with mechanical issues or rider fatigue. The volunteers of TFC will prepare complimentary breakfast and lunch for the riders, a welcome amenity that few ride hosts offer.

Surveys of past Tour of Farmington cycling participants rated their satisfaction with the event at 9.4 on a scale of 1-10, citing the friendly hosts, delicious breakfast and lunch, affordability, central location, and beautiful scenery as their favorite aspects of the ride. With 40% of the riders traveling from outside the Davie-Forsyth area to attend the ride, TFC is attracting visitors to the area, building the county’s positive reputation, and boosting our economy, said Allyson Sawtelle, volunteer coordinator.

For more information, contact Sawtelle at 336-655-2700 or sawtelle@yadtel.net.

• Rescheduled from August, The Great Bullhole Duck Race and Community Day is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls, on the South Yadkin River in Rowan County just off Needmore Road. The duck race is at 1 p.m.

Entrance to the park will be free. This event is a crucial fundraiser for park maintenance and improvements.

The first duck to cross the finish line will win a $500 cash prize, with $300 for second place and $200 for third. Emergency Music Services will provide entertainment. Food and sweets will be available for purchase from area food vendors.

“If you haven’t been to RiverPark lately, you are in for a real treat,” said Carolyn McManamy, RiverPark board chair. “Plans were already underway to host a fall community day, and when Tropical Storm Debby forced us to postpone the duck race, the RiverPark Board decided to combine the two events. This is such a great opportunity for us to showcase all that the park has to offer and to thank our private donors and grant organizations that have made it possible.”

Since 2022, with private donations and grants from the Davie Community Foundation, Davie County Recreation and Parks, Davie County Tourism, Mocksville Tourism, Duke Energy, Robertson Foundation, and the Salisbury Community Foundation, the park addressed infrastructure needs as well as enhanced facilities and added amenities:

• a gatehouse and entrance park sign;

• trail to the beach;

• picnic shelter with tables and grills;

• changing rooms;

• security cameras;

•a kayak portage; and

• coming soon, nature interpretive and interactive exhibits.

McManamy said the park was truly discovered in 2020 during COVID. As the state mandated that indoor spaces be locked down, people started looking for outdoor venues that remained open. Once the warm weather arrived, RiverPark experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors.

The park had one part-time staff member to clean and maintain facilities. “People started flocking to the park, which required more supplies and more hours just to collect the trash. We didn’t have the staff to enforce the rules or take care of the park,” she said.

With concerns for public safety and the well-being of the park in mind, the RiverPark Executive Committee made the difficult decision to close the park on June 29, 2020, until the concerns could be resolved. The park reopened on Memorial Day weekend 2021 after hiring and training a new park manager and some park staff.  To cover the cost of increased staffing and security, a small entrance fee is charged during the high season.

The popularity of RiverPark continues to soar. This summer, a TikTok influencer featured the Bullhole, and over the 4th of July weekend, thousands of people tried to visit. The park was at capacity by noon, and hundreds of cars had to be turned away.

“This is a clear indication of the park’s growing appeal and the excitement it generates,” McManamy said.

“RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls is a beautiful destination for locals and visitors,” said Paul Moore, Davie County Recreation & Parks director and former chair of the RiverPark Board. “All proceeds from the event go directly back to RiverPark, making it a fun and meaningful way to support this community treasure. Whether you have a single duck or a whole flock in the race, the excitement is unparalleled. Purchase your tickets today and join us for a fantastic day.”

Single duck tickets are $10; Firequacker Pack (5 Ducks),  $40; Flock (15 Ducks):, $100.Tickets will be sold until 12:30 p.m. on the day of the event.:

RiverPark is at the end of Erwin Temple Church Road, ½ mile from Cooleemee off NC 801 and Needmore Road. For the latest updates, follow RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls on Facebook.

• Be careful driving around Downtown Mocksville on Saturday, as the annual Pirate Party sponsored by the Downtown Mocksville Collaborative is held at the park, in businesses and other locations downtown.

There will be a treasure hunt, swashbuckling games and more from 1-4 p.m. Expect to see costumed young people walking the streets looking for treasures.

• The 12th annual Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival will be Saturday, with gates open ing at 10 a.m. and the traditional opening ceremony at 10:45.

Music starts at 11 a.m. with The Biscuit Eaters family bluegrass band; North Carolina bluegrassers None of the Above; Martha Spencer and her Wonderland Country Band; the award-winning Kody Norris Show; and for the second time at CBC, Entertainer of the Year and crowd favorites Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers.

The festival offers more than music. Free kids’ activities, food, craft, and art vendors, and a silent auction are scheduled. Home-baked goods will be available at the Coffee Café. Bring your instrument to jam with others at the Pickers’ Place.

One guest will go home with a vintage, fully restored Maxitone banjo signed by festival headliners Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers.

WAME Radio 92.9 of Statesville and luthier John Boulding of NoteAble Repair in Mt. Airy donated the aluminum hoop banjo.

“We love the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival, and we had such a great response last year to our mandolin giveaway, we wanted to do something along the same lines this year,” ” said WAME morning personality and owner Billy Buck. “We encourage everyone to get their tickets to the festival at one of the live locations, or purchase them online at www.cbcbluegrass.com, or better yet, tune in to WAME and win a ticket in one of our many CBC festival ticket giveaways.”

“If you want to see and hear the banjo before the festival, just visit our website at www.WAMERadio.com to watch the video with None of the Above.”

Always on the second Saturday in September, the festival takes place on the 68-acre Carolina Bible Camp, featuring cabins and the one-of-a-kind “Front Porch Stage.”

Gates open at 10 a.m. Parking is free, and accommodations are available for guests with special needs, including handicapped parking and assistance. Children under 12 are admitted free. Lunch will be available. Bring your own chairs. Alcohol, coolers, and pets are not permitted. Professional-grade tents will be on hand.

Proceeds benefit Carolina Bible Camp’s scholarship and capital development funds, ensuring no child is ever turned away from Camp due to financial need.

Tickets for the all-volunteer-produced festival are only $20 in advance; $25 at the gate.