Hundreds of cyclists are expected to swarm the streets of Natick on Father’s Day, June 18, for the 20th edition of the Tour de Natick. Registration remains open ($45 per person or $65 per family).
Co-chair Dawn Carberry emphasizes that “it’s a ride, not race.” Natick Police and Landry’s Bicycles ensure that everyone stays safe during what has become the Natick Rotary Club‘s top fundraiser.
The first Tour de Natick was on Father’s Day 2003, and was the brainchild of then-president of the Rotary Club, Tim Callahan. “Everyone loved the idea… That first year we had 400 riders,” Carberry says.
The event starts at Natick Common at 11am, and after a 6-mile ride, cyclists return for a barbecue. “For kids between 5 and 12 it really feels like a big accomplishment. It’s done by 1pm ,so everyone can continue on with their Father’s Day activities,” Carberry says.
I asked Carberry if there have been any particularly memorable rides or anecdotes from past events. “No, our goal is to hope nothing exciting happens lol!” she writes.
Though Carberry says “We have had more than one person stop by and say they were motivated to move to Natick because they saw either the Tour or Natick Days on the Common, and it convinced them Natick was a town they wanted to move to.”
In addition to the ride and cookout, a 24” Trex bike will be raffled off (tickets will be available at the Rotary table at the Farmers Market on Saturday as well as online) and the Rotary will dole out 20 bike-themed gift bags to lucky kids.
The Tour raises money for the Rotary’s charitable foundation, which awards thousands of dollars in scholarships every year to graduating Natick High School seniors and provides dictionaries for elementary school kids.
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