BETA's Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival -- Everything You Need to Know

The Wilmington MTB Festival is 3-day celebration of bikes and community with on-site camping, live music, local food & beer, group rides for all abilities, shuttles, a kids MTB race, and 25+ miles of beautiful Adirondack-style single track riding. This event is hosted by and in support of Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA)! Proceeds support the trails!

Whether you're brand new to this rip-roaring celebration of bikes, trails, and community or you're one of the folks who started it all, we've got all the info you need right here.  For more information, visit wilmingtonmtbfest.com -- to register, visit bikereg.com/wilmingtonmtbfest

REGISTRATION
Register by June 30th for early bird discount.  Prices below are not discounted:

• Friday Night Dinner -- $25 (optional add-on)
• Adult 3-day Pass with camping (ages 16 & up) -- $120
• Adult 3-day Pass with NO camping (ages 16 & up) -- $65
• Adult Day Pass -- Saturday Only (ages 16 & up) -- $45
• Kids Event Pass (ages 6 to 15) -- $25 -- Please note: kids' registration for Hardy Kids Race is separate.

SIGN ME UP!

SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th
Check in, Hardy Hour, & Welcome Party​
3pm to 7pm - Afternoon check-in for registered participants & campsite set-up.
4:30pm to 6:30pm - Hardy Hour Group Ride - Self-guided riding. Bring a cold beverage and finish your ride at the top of the All In trail. Meet other bike fest participants and locals.
7pm to 9pm - Welcome Party complete with food and tunes.  Dinners ($25 each and must be purchased in advance during online registration) cooked by Cadence Lodge, beats provided by local DJ Ben Sitts, and (regular-sized) bonfire stoked by Jim, Matt, and Wes.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30th
Group Rides, Live Music, and Big Bonfire​
8 to 12pm - Morning check-in for registered participants and walk-up registration
8am to 4pm - Group rides & shuttles (Wilmington and Lake Placid).  Group ride schedule example from 2024 (not yet updated for 2025) here.
4pm to 7pm - Live music by Spring Street Band
4pm til' bellies are full: Beer & Food by Hex & Hop, Two Jerks BBQ and Island Vybz.
7pm to 10pm - Live music by The Outcrops.
To enjoy the party, registration for Bike Fest is not required. Open to the community with a suggested $5 donation at the gate.
7pm to ? - Famous "Dangertown" bonfire and celebration of bikes, brews & BETA.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31st
Group Rides, Hardy Kids Race, East Branch Hang​
9am to 12pm - Morning group rides in Wilmington
8am to 12pm - Hardy Kids MTB Race
12pm to 4pm - Flowy Fun Laps and Fire Pits hangs at the East Branch Community Trails in Keene. With a big, open space and pavilion at the trailhead, this is a good place put your feet up for a few. Bring your lawn chairs, frisbees and coolers and lap leisurely. ​
2pm - 6pm - Food specials will be available at Monday Tuesday Grill, which is just across the road. 

CAMPING
If you will be camping on the festival grounds, you must purchase a camping pass regardless of if you’re sharing a campsite with other people.
LAYOUT:

• Camping is provided on-site, located in the town park, utilizing the baseball diamond outfield area.
• All campsites are 25 feet x 25 feet.
• Tow-behind campers under 20 feet in length can be accommodated in an adjacent camping area, but please note there is no electric, water, or sewer hook-ups provided whatsoever.
• Volunteers will be on hand to direct you to campsites and parking.

AMENITIES:

• Campfires are prohibited at campsites, but there will be a bonfire in the festival village on Friday and Saturday night.  If you want to cook at your campsite please bring a camp stove or portable grill.
• Port-a-johns and hand-washing stations will be located close (but not too close) to the camping area.  
• There are no showers in the festival village but the town beach nearby (5 min bike ride) has an outdoor beach-style shower.  
• Garbage and recycling facilities are provided.
• Potable drinking water is available near the camping area at the Youth Center building in the town park.

REMINDER: Every individual person camping must purchase a camping pass when you register for the festival. ​

MUSIC -- ROCK & ROLL, BLUES & SOUL
Saturday night's soundtrack courtesy of live music by Spring Street Band and The Outcrops. 

You may remember Spring Street Band from Bike Fest 2024 -- they serve up a unique mix of old and new rock, blues and strong vocal harmonies. 
​
​The Outcrops hail from the woods of northern New Jersey and spend their days slinging original blues-infused rock'n'roll.  The rhythm section of the band brings a funk and soul feel that melds with the rock'n'roll strings and vocals, creating their band tag: Rock & Roll, Blues & Soul.

Have questions this blog post didn't answer?  You can find what you're looking for on the festival website: wilmingtonmtbfestival.com