This year is the 10th annual Tour De North End Bike Festival in Rockford! The Tour De North End is a bicycle festival in Rockford that features over a dozen local businesses and encourages people to learn about bike safety, sharing the road, get outside, and see the North End neighborhood in Rockford as a bike-friendly area. It’s all happening this Saturday, September 25th, so make sure you check out the details below and grab your favorite bike!
TDNE riders will register/check-in at the Olympic Tavern at 11 am-1 pm while House Brotherhood DJs spin live vinyl, then at 1 pm they’ll head out to 15+ other North End locations to collect passport stamps — the more stamps collected, the more chances to win prizes at the end of the fest. Riders should return to The Olympic Tavern to redeem passports for entry tickets from 430-6 pm while dancing to The Stevee Nixx — no passports will be redeemed after 6:01 pm! Then at 6:30 pm, we will draw tickets for one lucky rider to take home a New Belgium Fat Tire Bicycle, while others will play more mini-games and win gift baskets and prizes, as as well as prizes for craziest bike, the best group costume, and more, courtesy of North End neighborhood businesses & New Belgium Brewery.
Preregister online at https://tourdenorthend.com/ or riders can buy a ticket at the check-in tent on the day of the event from 11 am-1:30 pm. Two dollars from every rider’s entry fee will go directly to a Rockford cycling charity/cause — this year our recipient is Rockford United Way’s ROLLIN’ STRONG program, a program that teaches at-risk youths how to repair and build bikes.
TDNE is a rain or shine event. Riders should dress for the weather and bring a bike lock, water bottle, and helmet (and lots of friends)! There will be other cycling events throughout the day (bike safety & "how-to/fix-it” demos from Kegel’s Bicycle Store, slow ride competition, trackstand competition, etc). Families with kids are encouraged to join the festival but per state law children under 21 may not win prizes. The day’s schedule of events and more info are available at TOURDENORTHEND.COM and the Tour De North End Facebook page. Riders can email info@theolympictavern.com for any further questions.
The TDNE would not be possible without the generous help of all the participating businesses in Rockford’s North End, New Belgium Brewing Company, the entire crew at Kegels’ Bicycle Shop, alderman Gina Meeks, the RMAP (Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning) the Rockford Police Department, Greg Lang & Fatherless design, and all our volunteers & sponsors.
The Olympic Tavern
Mulligan's Pub & Grill
The Norwegian
Rathskeller Rockford
The North Main Bar
Rockford Billiard Cafe
Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips
Village Green Home and Garden
Whiskeys Roadhouse
Rockford SkateCo
Deli Italia and Pizzeria/Catering on North Main Street
Bicycle Connection
Rockford Family Dental
Nickelworld
Stockyard Rock Burger Bar
Kegel's Bicycle Store