Tour de Fat is a fun festival for the community of Durham put on by New Belgium. It is a party with a purpose. The festival raises money for bike organizations. The event celebrates bikes and beer.
The day kicked off with a bike ride through Durham. Participants came dressed ready to have fun. After the bike parade, we were able to grab a bite to eat at one of the many food trucks. Ben and Jerry’s was handing out free samples of their new Empowermint flavor for dessert. Yum!
The afternoon was filled with entertainment, music and lots of fun. Here is what you missed if you didn’t get a chance to check it out yourself.
More exciting news –
New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat Stop in Durham Raised More than $29,000 for Local Nonprofits
Four Thousand gathered in Diamond View Park for a day of bikes, beer and bon vivants
Ft. Collins, Colo. – July 1, 2016 – Tour de Fat, New Belgium Brewing’s traveling festival of bikes, beer and hilarity in charity, raised $29,093 in Durham on Saturday, June 25. About 4,000 bicycle and beer enthusiasts came to Diamond View Park for the event, with 1,000 riding in the bike parade.
Although it is free to attend Tour de Fat, proceeds from beer and merchandise sales and donations at the Durham stop went to Bike Walk NC, Triangle Spokes Group, and Durham Bike Co-op. In total, Tour de Fat has raised more than $4 million for cycling nonprofits around the country.
“We kicked off summer with our biggest fundraiser – Tour de Fat,” said Lisa Riegel, executive director of BikeWalk NC. “What a great celebration with beer for bikes and bicycling advocacy.”
A highlight of every Tour de Fat stop is the ceremonious Car-for-Bike swap, where one local hero hands over their car keys for the gift of two wheels and commits to commuting by bicycle for a full year. Carrie Anne Orlikowski is this year’s Car-for-Bike swapper from Durham.
“Over the next year, I’m hoping to be an example and to show people that getting out of their cars and riding a bike for transportation isn’t only possible, but it’s actually fun,” said Carrie Anne. “I’m also hoping to gently remind those with whom bicycles share the road that cyclists are people too – please be kind to us out there, we’re all just trying to get where we need to go.”
Proceeds Going To:
Bike Walk NC | Triangle Spokes Group | Durham Bike Co-op
