Events Galore At Fat & Skinny Tire Fest
Cycling enthusiasts will gather in Winona Lake and Warsaw this weekend for the Fat & Skinny Tire Fest. The three-day event encourages cycling with an emphasize of wellness and enjoyment.
The event begins at 7 a.m. Friday with coffee and snacks at 1000 park Bakafe in the Village at Winona. It is aimed at encouraging people to ride their bikes to work that day.
At the end of the work day, peddle back to the Village to the Cerulean Garden from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a free beer or beverage to get you ready for the kick-off party.
Also at 6:30 p.m. Nancy Tibbit from Bicycle Indiana will be presenting the Bicycle Friendly Community designation to Warsaw and Winona Lake. On Monday, the organization bestowed the national designation on the communities. The presentation will take place in Winona Lake under the Fat & Skinny Tire Festival tent and will begin no later than 6:45 p.m. Winona Lake Town Coordinator Craig Allebach and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer will follow with comments.
The kick-off party begins at 7 p.m. Friday with the all-size-tires Community Critical Mass ride starting at the Trailhouse in the Village and finishing at Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse in Downtown Warsaw.
At 7:30 p.m., a high-flying BMX stunt show will get everyone pumped up for the bike videos, which will be followed by live music – featuring the Funk Park Rangers – at 9 p.m. inside the Taphouse.
Join in Saturday morning for a multi-length tour (19 miles, 40 miles or 63 miles – a Bicycle Indiana benefit ride. Food and drinks will be included and a free lunch will be served back in the Village after the ride, complements of Cerulean Garden.
Also on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. will be free Historical Winona tours. The 4-mile leisurely cruise will be a ride that history buffs won’t want to miss. Register on site at the Festival Info Booth.
Saturday’s Fat & Skinny Mountain bike race kicks off the yearly Do INdiana Offroad series, one of Indiana’s top MTB series. Multiple categories for all ages and talent levels will race laps. Each lap is approximately 9 miles in length.
Saturday’s activities also include a Safe Kids Bike Rodeo, a Tire Toss and other activities for kids 12 and under, and a Wild Ride Bike Art and Wild Ride Bike Art Parade for kids 10 and under. There will also be TREK Tricycle Races for children 6 and under.
On Sunday, the kids focus for the day is the big race: a 1-lap big kids criterium course. All kids must be able to ride without training wheels and helmets are required.
Sunday’s timed road race for adults will take participants on a 1/2-mile lap around the island in the Winona Lake Village. This race is part of the INKY Cup Series.
BMX shows will also be part of the weekend’s events. Experience gravity-defying tricks just like at the X-Games. Shows will take place Friday night at Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse as well as Saturday afternoon in the Village at Winona Lake.
During the weekend, visit the Expo area where local companies and organizations will display their products or share their causes. Demo bikes will be available from Trailhouse and cycling company reps featured in the expo area. Saturday evening will feature live music and local beer. MTB trails open for night riding, weather permitting.
For a complete listing of the weekend’s Fat & Skinny Tire Fest events, and to register for tours and events, click HERE. The Fat & Skinny Tire Fest is presented by the K21 Health Foundation.