Vicksburg Historic Village (1-5pm)

The Vicksburg Historic Village will transport you back in time to the turn of the century (1890-1932). The wonderfully designed village offers period buildings teeming with historic artifacts that tell the story of life in a small rural village. What’s more, it is conveniently located next to the Farmer’s Market. Friday’s hours are repeated on Saturday and Sunday. We are happily featuring it as one of the many special attractions Vicksburg has to offer as it welcomes everyone on this Fall Bike Celebration Weekend. Docents will be on hand from time to time to provide helpful background and answer your questions. The Historic Village will be open from 11am to 5pm.

BACK for ’23! Join a Village docent for a free guided tour. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and will include the entirety of the Historical Village Request a guided tour through email to info@vicksburghistory.org or by phone at (269) 649-1733 by 9/13.

Vicksburg Farmers Market: Cycle-In! (2-6pm)

Bicycle to the Farmers Market and get a $5 Customer Appreciation Coupon while supplies last.* Bicycling is wholesome fun and great exercise, so how hard can riding your bike to the Vicksburg Farmers Market be? The food is farm fresh and the pies and muffins scrumptious. Stop by and you’ll find out what makes this one of the most popular farmers markets in the area. A visit to the Farmers Market will give you a chance to admire the beautiful pavilion itself. The Timber Framers Guild put every one of those 30,000 board feet of lumber to good use in their wonderful open air pavilion–check out the joinery. Turn bicycling to the Farmers Market into your outdoor adventure or personal exercise challenge this weekend, rain or shine! *WOW – The first 30 bicyclists will be eligible to receive this $5 coupon, courtesy of the Farmers Market and Bike Friendly Kalamazoo, subject to the policies of the Vicksburg Farmers Market. Location: 300 N. Richardson St. Get directions here.

Bike Rodeo! (10am-noon)

BACK for ’23! Bring your kiddos and their bikes for a FREE bike safety rodeo—yeehaw! Designed to teach and encourage kids to ride bikes safely, the rodeo will include a helmet check, a bike mechanical check, and the opportunity to ride in a closed traffic skills course that teaches the rules of the road.

Families and their children are welcome to join the event at any time—you need not be there at the start or stay until the end. This fun “short course” bicycling event will take place in the parking lot at Vicksburg Middle School. Typical challenges such as mounting and dismounting the bicycle, changing direction and turning, steering through tight spaces, weaving, showing the ability to stop quickly, turning around, riding the bicycle very slowly while maintaining balance, and learning to maneuver in tight turns create realistic fun learning opportunities. Basic rules of the road will be taught.

The Bike Rodeo is organized by Emma Youngs, Coalition Coordinator of Safe Kids Kalamazoo County; sponsored by Safe Kids Worldwide and AAA Michigan.

Location: Vicksburg Middle School, 348 E Prairie St Vicksburg, MI 49097. Get directions here.

The Mill at Vicksburg – Tour (10am start)

BACK for ’23! Tour one of the most ambitious renovation projects in southwest Michigan, inspired by a former Vicksburg resident with deep roots in the community. The project includes plans for craft beverage production, lodging and conference spaces, multiple indoor performance and gathering places, plus over 100 acres of beautiful grounds that will eventually play host to outdoor events.

The FREE tour lasts a little over an hour and is limited to 20 people. Register early. The kind folks at the Mill are not advertising this tour through their own channels until about two weeks before the tour. Tours typically fill up very quickly once they do. Registration Link: HERE

You can drive by the site to see it in person from the road at 300 W Hwy St, Vicksburg, MI 49097. Get directions here.

Vicksburg Historic Village (1-5pm)

The Vicksburg Historic Village will transport you back in time to the turn of the century (1890-1932). The wonderfully designed village offers period buildings teeming with historic artifacts that tell the story of life in a small rural village. What’s more, it is located right next door to the Vicksburg Community Pavilion! It has the same hours as on Friday … we’re happily featuring it as one of the many special attractions Vicksburg has to offer as it welcomes everyone on this Fall Bike Celebration Weekend!

BACK for ’23! Join a Village docent for a free guided tour. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and will include the entirety of the Historical Village Request a guided tour through email to info@vicksburghistory.org or by phone at (269) 649-1733 by 9/13.

Pre-Registered Bike Tour Rider Packet Pick-Up (4-7pm)

By golly we are going first class by giving pre-registered Bike Tour riders a way to pick up their information on Saturday and enjoy a delicious Cyclists Ice Cream Cone at Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor. This year we are giving pre-registered riders a special treat by making it possible to enjoy your ice cream Saturday OR Sunday any time Apple Knockers is open after packet pickup! PLUS – pre-registered riders who pick up their packets and get their wrist bands in person at the Ice Cream Social can start the ride without getting your packet/wrist band at the Day-Of Registration desk on Sunday! Apple Knockers Location: 220 W Prairie St, Vicksburg, MI 49097 Get directions here.

Ice Cream Social at Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor (4-7pm)

Pre-registration for Sunday’s Bike Tour includes a tasty cyclist’s-size cone at one of the best ice cream parlors/waterfront restaurants around, served at Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor on the shores of Sunset Lake. Bring your camera — thar’s a ship that’s ready to sail out of the Apple Knocker wharf that you won’t want to miss. Location: 220 W Prairie St, Vicksburg, MI 49097 Get directions here.

Public Bike Mural Exhibit (4:30-6pm; Apple Knocker’s Ice Cream Parlor)

Meet BFK’s most recent public muralist and view an exhibit showcasing progress made on this year’s public mural dedicated to depicting the joys of bicycling. The mural is being painted on a building owned by local business leader Jim Gilmore Real Estate.

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo’s innovative Public Mural program is continuing in 2023. The goal is to express the joys of bicycling throughout area municipalities in public spaces. Patrick Hershberger, Chair of the Kalamazoo County Public Art Commission (KCPAC) and Bike Friendly Kalamazoo Chair Paul Selden will be on hand to discuss the role of KCPAC in the greater community and more about BFK’s mural program.

Bike Friendly Kalamazoo has long been a champion of the many positive values embodied in bicycling. BFK also appreciates that the arts and other creative, soul lifting endeavors can add even more joy and interest to the bicycling experience. Its public mural program is meant to encourage bicycling and to remind motorists to be careful around cyclists. BFK’s programs related to the artistic enhancement of public spaces – whether on the road or on the trails – help make cycling more rewarding for everyone. This year’s mural is made possible through the generosity of the Jim Gilmore, Jr. Foundation and the Edison Neighborhood Association. The exhibit is also being made possible through the support of our chosen venue, Apple Knockers Ice Cream Parlor.

Dining in the Village

Stroll through Vicksburg, perhaps catching some views of Sunset Lake and dinner at a local restaurant as a pleasant way to conclude your day? Local venues may offer live entertainment with food and beverage items on the side. Or is it the other way around?  Or could the entertainment be the owner, your server or a trusted circle of ride buddies? Location(s): Vicksburg, MI 49097 Get directions here.

Fall Bike Celebration Bike Tour (7:30am-5pm)

All routes start & finish at Vicksburg Historic Village
Registration Opens: 7:30am – Registration Closes: Noon – Ride/Area Clean Up & Close: 5pm
Routes, Suggested Start Times, Approximate Distances on Routes page
All routes will be well marked, with water, food, snacks and treats at key locations. Camaraderie and smiles all around are a sure thing. A choice of delicious chicken and veggie wraps at ride’s end. Route maps and cue sheets will be provided.

For details, please see the Bike Tour web page. Get more info here.

Location: 300 N Richardson St, Vicksburg, MI 49097 Get directions here.

On any given day these routes are hauntingly beautiful, offer stunning photo ops and are best experienced at a bicyclist’s pace. Sharp-eyed riders should be able to find at least one of the Vicksburg Quilt Trail paintings on every route. No other community in Southwest Michigan has such a trail.

Vicksburg Quilt Trail: Virtual Overview

Click here for the link to the presentation.

The Mill at Vicksburg: Virtual Overview

This video overview presents one of the most ambitious renovation projects in southwest Michigan, inspired by a former Vicksburg resident with deep roots in the community. The $80 million renovation project includes plans for craft beverage production, lodging and conference spaces, multiple indoor performance and gathering places, plus over 100 acres of beautiful grounds that will eventually play host to outdoor events.

You can drive by the site to see it in person from the road at 300 W Hwy St, Vicksburg, MI 49097. Get directions here.