The Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) is an annual week long trek across the state. Cyclists will be based in Newnan for this year’s June 7-13 ride.
The annual event, sponsored by Northside Hospital, will tour the country roads of the local area, riding up to 100 miles each day. Downtown Newnan intends welcome and celebrate the BRAG riders upon their stay in Newnan Wednesday, June 10.
“We are very excited to be visiting Newnan on our 36th annual Bicycle Ride Across Georgia. We look forward to the activities planned, River Fest, and exploring this beautiful state on two wheels,” said BRAG executive director Franklin Johnson. “A big thanks to Friends of Chattahoochee Bend, the City of Newnan, and Northside Hospital.”
In partnership with the Friends of the Chattahoochee Bend State Park, Main Street Newnan welcomes the entire community to participate in the Celebrate BRAG and Riverfest festivities downtown. The event will be held on the Court Square in Newnan from 5-9 p.m. and will feature music, exhibitors and demonstrations of cycling, mountain biking, paddle sports, other outdoor sports, an art walk, and a free-standing pool on the South Court Square for Kayak demonstrations and canoe tug-o-war games.
“We are thrilled that Downtown Newnan will be the location for such a dynamic event,” said Main Street manager Courtney Harcourt. “We welcome visitors and locals to come downtown and celebrate a night filled with recreational entertainment, live music, and an eclectic mix of dining options from our local restaurants and cafes.”
RiverFest Entertainment and awareness information will be focused on cycling, mountain biking, paddle sports and outdoors recreation, the Chattahoochee River and Chattahoochee Bend State Park. The event will offer participants to experience Newnan’s historic downtown, and encourage them to dine at downtown restaurants and shop in downtown retail establishments as a part of their stay in our community.
“We’d love to see a big turnout by local Cowetans to welcome the cyclists and learn more about the Park,” said Vicki Kaiser of the Friends group. Kaiser brings her love of cycling to the Friends Mountain bike Committee Chairmanship.
Sponsors for the event so far include Main Street Newnan, Newnan Utilities, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and Piedmont Newnan Hospital. The Friends group is seeking additional sponsors. Anyone interested may contact them at friendsofchattahoocheebend@gmail.com.
