2ND Annual
mtb fest
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28
kINGSTON DOWNS
MTB Fest is a celebration of youth mountain biking in the state of Georgia. Our 2nd Annual MTB Fest will be held on Saturday, October 28 at Kingston Downs in Rome, Georgia. The event is free and open to the public. MTB Fest presented by REI is an opportunity for Georgia Cycling teams and families to come together in a relaxed and non-competitive environment as we mark the end of the 2023 season. It is also an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Georgia Cycling Association and our youth mountain biking program.
Scroll below to learn more about the exciting events happening at the 2023 MTB Fest!
VENUE DETAILS
Kingston Downs
0 Gore Springs Road
Rome, GA 30161
Check 511GA for real time traffic updates before you head to the venue!
Progold Lubricants Parking lot INFORMATION
Season Parking Permit - Available for purchase until August 1
Pay Once. Park Always. Season Parking Permit holders receive a hang tag to display from their vehicle’s review mirror. This hang tag enables you to park at all Georgia Cycling events without having to stop to do a transaction. Season Permits are $20. That’s a $30 savings over event day pricing! (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)
Pre-Paid Championship Weekend Parking Pass - Available for purchase until October 19
Save time and money by purchasing your Championship Weekend Parking Pass online for $7. Your parking pass will be mailed to you. Simply place it on your dashboard and the parking attendant will wave you into the ProGold Lubricants Parking Lot. No having to carry cash or stop for a transaction! Buying online in advance saves you $3 over event day pricing! (NO LONGER AVAILABLE)
Championship Weekend Parking Pass - Only option available on event day
Parking in the ProGold Lubricants Parking Lot is $10 per vehicle - CASH ONLY. Please help our team keep the line moving by having your $10 ready once you pull up to a parking lot attendant.
event schedule
| MTB FEST | ||
|---|---|---|
| FRIDAY | ||
| 3 p.m. | Mark Tuggle RV Center Family Campground Opens | Passes must be purchased online |
| 3 - 7 p.m. | Pit Zone Load In | Must have permit to access Pit Zone |
| 3 - 7 p.m. | Pre-Ride Championship Course: All Registered Student-Athletes | Coach ratio applies |
| SATURDAY | ||
| 6:30 a.m. | Pro Gold Parking Lot Opens | |
| 7 - 10 a.m. | Pit Zone Load In | Must have permit to access Pit Zone |
| 7 a.m. | General Store Opens | |
| 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Pre-Ride Championship Course: All Registered Student-Athletes | Coach ratio applies |
| 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Welcome to MTB: An Elementary School Program | Meet at Race HQ |
| 9:30 - 12:15 p.m. | Pre-Ride Championship Course: Championship Qualified Riders Only | Coach ratio applies |
| 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Rock Wall Climbing Experience Open | |
| 10 a.m. | Girls Ride presented by Fox Factory's Trail Trust Program | Meet at Race HQ |
| 12:15 p.m. | Last rider on course for pre-ride | |
| 1:00 p.m | Relay Race: Coach East Conference | |
| 1:05 p.m | Relay Race: Coach West Conference | |
| 2:00 p.m | Relay Race: Team East Conference | |
| 3:30 p.m | Relay Race: Team West Conference | |
| 4:30 p.m. | General Store Closes | |
| 5 p.m. | Georgia Cycling Awards | Nominate here |
| 6:30 p.m. | Pit Zone Halloween Decorating Contest Judging | |
| 7 p.m. | Movie Under the Stars: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | |
Your furry friend is welcome to attend this race; however, we have a few simple rules to keep in mind…
Dogs must remain on a leash at ALL times. Unleashed dogs and their owners may be asked to leave and not return.
Please clean up after your dog. Poop bags are not provided, so please bring your own supply.
Do not let your dog enter a Pit Zone tent for a team other than your own. Remember, most tents have food tables, which could be a tasty distraction.
this event is dog friendly…for friendly dogs
PIT ZONE HALLOWEEN DECORATING CONTEST
Teams are encouraged to take part in our 2nd Annual Pit Zone Halloween Decorating Contest. This is an excellent opportunity for all members of a team to work together on an off-bike project.
THIS YEAR’S THEME: SUPERHEROES
The challenge is for participating teams to showcase what it would look like when Superheroes meet Halloween. Each team can interpret the theme in its own way. One team may choose to display a series of pumpkins carved with superheroes while another team may turn their entire Pit Zone tent into Batman’s Bat Cave. It is totally up to each team to decide how to bring the theme to life!
The rules are simple: teams must stay within their Pit Zone footprint, the display must be appropriate for a family audience, and you may not use any open flames. Other than that, teams may let their creativity run wild. Our judges will walk through the Pit Zone at 6:30 p.m. to select winners based on creativity, interactivity, and theme activation.
1ST PLACE: $300
2ND PLACE: $200
3RD PLACE: FREE TEAM REGISTRATION IN 2024
At MTB Fest we hope to welcome a new generation of mountain bikers. Our “Welcome to MTB” program is a morning of activities targeted at elementary school students who are interested in learning more about the sport.
9 a.m. - Scavenger Hunt
11 a.m. - Fun Ride: bike and helmet check, skills activity, and a short ride around Kingston Downs. (This ride will not be on the championship course)
12:30 p.m. - Ice Cream Social
Interested in participating? VISIT THE RACE HQ TENT TO SIGN UP
GIRLS RIDE EVENT
At 10 a.m. we welcome female riders - of all ages - to meet at Race HQ for a fun ride. This will be an opportunity to get to know the sport of mountain biking in a fun and relaxed environment.
This event is open to any female in grades 6 through 12. Adult females are welcome to ride as well!
The ride will be suitable for beginning riders and will include a small portion of the championship race course along with a tour of Kingston Downs. Riders should bring a bike, a helmet, and water.
Interested in participating? VISIT THE RACE HQ TENT TO SIGN UP
The Georgia Cycling Association’s “Girls Ride” initiative is made possible by a grant from Fox Factory’s Trail Trust program.
new! relay races
Join us for the first-ever Georgia Cycling Cross Country Relay Race, where the emphasis is on fun, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories. Competitors and spectators will experience exhilarating pedal-powered excitement amidst the stunning beauty of nature's playground that is Kingston Downs.
Each Georgia Cycling MTB Team may form a student relay team and a coach relay team. Students and coaches will compete against their respective Conferences on Saturday afternoon. There is no cost to participate.
Student teams will be comprised of seven riders while coach teams will be composed of four riders. Each rider will complete a single lap. Click here for complete rules.
Georgia cycling awards
The 6th Annual Georgia Cycling Awards will be given out during MTB Fest. These awards recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the mission of the Georgia Cycling Association.
The Georgia Cycling Awards aim to elevate some of our participants and shine a light on their achievements beyond their race finish time. In fact, student winners do not even have to compete in the Northside Hospital Race Series. These inspirational stories represent the positive impact created by the dedicated members of this passionate and close-knit community.
We encourage the entire Georgia Cycling family to show up and show out Saturday night at 5 p.m. as we honor some of the amazing individuals that make Georgia Cycling special.
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS
When the sun goes down, our movie screen flickers to life. The Movie Under the Stars experience provides friends and families an opportunity to come together to watch one of the biggest movies of the year.
Around 7 p.m. the feature presentation, Gudians of the Galaxy Volume 3 will begin. REI will provide fire pits and all the items needed to make some delicious s’mores. A parent must accompany any child wishing to make a s’more. No unaccompanied children will be permitted around the fire pits.
REI will also provide 80 camping chairs for use by movie viewers. These chairs are on loan to us by REI and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is not guaranteed so attendees should plan to arrive early or bring a blanket as a backup option.
FAMILY CAMPGROUND
Camp under the stars at beautiful Kingston Downs. Whether you are camping for a night or the entire weekend, the IBEX Mark Tuggle RV Center Family Campground offers plenty of space to stretch out. $10 per car/truck or $20 for an RV/Camper. Camping passes must be purchased online in advance. No on-site transactions.
Don’t have a camping set up? No problem! We are offering camping equipment rentals. You have two options to choose from:
Camping Kit for 2: REI Co-op Kingdom 4 Tent with 2 cots and 2 camp chairs
Camping Kit for 4: REI Co-op Kingdom 4 Tent with 4 sleeping pads and 4 camp chairs
Camping equipment is an optional add-on to a camping pass. Equipment packages are available while supplies last.
