Cyclefest: West Coast’s biggest Tour de France party for the whole family

Join us on Thursday for the biggest Tour de France-inspired festival on the West Coast!

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For the ninth year running, we're throwing a massive bike party for everyone! With exciting local racing, a beer garden, vendor booths, prizes, food stands, kids’ activities and the rebroadcasting of the Tour de France's mountain-top finish -- Stage 17 -- on an outdoor big screen, this is a summer party not to be missed.

The festival, taking place at a new location this year at the Seward Park Amphitheatre, kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Thursday Night Bike Races. Here’s your chance to watch some exciting live races before we turn our attention to the screen. These roads are hallowed TDF ground! Pro bike racer Tyler Farrar, who is competing for stage wins in the Tour de France this year, competed in these very races before turning professional in 2003.  (In addition to chasing down sprint stage victories, Farrar is also in the slow running for the Lanterne Rouge.) There will be a live announcer and a podium ceremony and prizes for the winners.

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As you wait for the sun to set you can browse the booths, relax with a picnic in the grass, buy food at the delicious food trucks, or catch up with friends over a cold beer in the beer garden.

Meanwhile we’ll entertain the kids at the bike art table, where they can decorate their own bike, and at the Wheelie Fun Course, a fun and safe stunt course staffed with our wonderful volunteers.

And did we mention that there will be prizes?

We’ll be selling $3 drawing tickets throughout the evening for a 9 o’clock drawing. Prizes include:

• A Raleigh Revenio 3.0 or a Capri 3.0 road bicycle (value: $1200+)
• One registration for the sold-out Ride from Vancouver (B.C.) to Seattle and Party (RSVP) event (face value $100; market value "priceless")
• An Ortlieb messenger bag (value: $90)
• A Detours pannier (value: $70)
• And Bern helmets (value: $60)

As the sun goes down, all eyes will be on a giant, inflatable screen as the world’s best men’s cyclists compete for a Tour de France stage win in the mountains. [Read more....]