Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival

July 11-13

The party starts Friday night at 7 p.m. in City Park, right off Main Street in Clear Lake. Eat a helping (or two!) of barbecue and enjoy some soul-revivin’ blues.

Saturday’s activities begin at 7 a.m., beginning with our three different rides—a  14-miler around the lake, a 42-miler and a 70-miler through the beautiful north Iowa countryside. Onsite registration will be held at City Park from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.   Registration for the 70-mile ride ends at 9 a.m.

The food starts heating up at 11 a.m., followed by more live music beginning at noon and going into the evening, with the Clear Lake Municipal Band “headlining” the stage at 7 p.m.

New this year, a criterium also runs from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. through the streets of Clear Lake . This USCF-sanctioned NASCAR-style road race is short and intense, and usually runs on closed-off city streets. All skill levels and experience are welcome. At least come to watch.

Rounding out the weekend is Sunday’s Iowa Cup Series Road Race, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Surf Ballroom. The finish line is located on County Highway B35 near the Clear Lake water treatment facility on the south side of Clear Lake . The first finishers will cross the line around 11 a.m.; all racers should be in around noon. Awards with prize money will be presented at Clear Lake State Park as race results become official. Refreshments will be provided for the racers.