Over 1,000 cyclists participating in the Cycle NC Mountain to Coast Ride will be coming to Columbus County in October.
The event is not a race, but a recreational trek across the state using scenic back roads. The ride is designed to promote physical fitness, good health and provide a tour of the scenic beauty of North Carolina.
The first Cycle North Carolina Mountains to Coast Ride was held in 1999.
The inaugural ride was a two-week tour covering terrain from Murphy to Manteo. In the 21 years since, the Mountains to Coast Ride has traversed the state using a different week-long route each year.
This time, cyclists will begin their route in Lake Junaluska and pedal to Holden Beach.
Eight towns have been selected to cover stopovers on the week-long tour from Oct. 1-8, and the peloton will be taking a rest in our area on Friday, Oct. 7.
“We want to encourage our local businesses to decorate out front in support of our visitors,” said Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Interim Director Joan McPherson.
The group will begin the local portion of the route from Laurinburg that morning. The tour will lead the cyclists to the Fair Bluff River Walk, the gazebo at the Chadbourn Fire Department, and then conclude the day in Whiteville. A group of volunteers will be set up to greet the crowd with welcome tables at Whiteville High School, Quality Inn, and the Econo-Lodge
The route will continue early on Saturday morning where they will travel on through Hallsboro, a stop at the Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum, and passing through Bolton before completing the trip to Holden Beach.
Live entertainment and performances will be hosted by local businesses. Honey Don’t will play at Vann Underwood Chrysler Dodge, Jubilee will perform at the Columbus County Arts Council, and Last Man Standing will be hanging out with local artisan vendors on East Commerce Street.
The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences will have a wing-eating competition sponsored by Zaxby’s beginning at 4 p.m. Staff will offer tours of the facility, and have a showing of the movie “E.T.” at 7 p.m.
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is currently asking for old bike donations to repurpose for decoration for the event. Donations can be dropped off at the Columbus County Parks and Recreation building located at 606 North Thompson Street in Whiteville.
