Saturday, July 3 2010

You will have a great opportunity to celebrate the bicycle this summer at Milwaukee's Tour de Fat on Saturday, July 3. The country's merriest festival of bikes, costumes and whimsy hits 13 U.S. cities this year, coming to Milwaukee for the first time.

Thanks to New Belgium Brewery for organizing the Tour de Fat and choosing the Bike Fed as the recipient of the Milwaukee festival's proceeds.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Tour de Fat takes place at Milwaukee's Humboldt Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 3. A bicycle parade leaves the grounds in the morning to ride through the city, returning to the park for festivities and a beer garden. The event is family-friendly and costumes are encouraged. Suggested donation for participants is $5, which goes to the Bike Fed.

Trade your car in for a fully-loaded commuter bike that was handcrafted in America. Make a video of two minutes or less with your story about why you want to live car-free, then submit it to New Belgium Brewery. The winner will be notified two weeks ahead of the event and must attend the Tour de Fat.

We need 100 volunteers to register participants, staff the beer tent, marshal the parade and conduct sundry other activities throughout the day. Volunteers who serve a minimum of two hours receive a Tour de Fat t-shirt and two beer tokens.

For more information on the festival, how to skip the waiting lines, volunteering and schedule, follow the links below: