Great Barrington — If you’re looking for something to do this weekend to have fun with the whole family, look no further than the Great Barrington airport’s seventh annual Bike-N-Fly.
On Saturday at the Walter J. Koladza Airport on Egremont Plain Road, there will be a full schedule of activities, the proceeds of which will benefit the Great Barrington Rotary Club’s higher-education scholarship program as well as various other local charitable organizations.
The event begins at 9 a.m. with bike rides of varying lengths through the scenic Berkshires. Pre-registration for the bike ride is required. Click here to register.
A full day of activities features scenic airplane, bi-plane and helicopter rides as well as balloon rides. Participants can enjoy demonstrations of paragliding, parachute jumping and model planes or try out the flight simulator. There will be new and old airplanes on the ground and in the air, food and other vendors, live music featuring local performers, face painting, a bouncy castle, raffle prizes, a dunk tank for local celebrities and more.
According to Rotary Club member and local businessman Richard Stanley, there will be two new attractions at this year’s event. There is the cow plop game where contestants place their tickets on one or more of 20 squares marked on the ground. If the cow comes to rest on your square, you take the prize.
Another main attraction is a mountain bike demonstration featuring world record-holder Jeff Lenowsky. People of all ages can learn mountain bike skills from a world-class professional, participate in the show and even obtain Lenowsky’s autograph.
Stanley, who keeps a plane at the airport, said there will also be two military flyovers, one in the morning and another around noon. And there will also be what he called “unannounced last-minute surprises.”
There will also be new and old planes flying over the course and on display, remote-controlled plane demonstrations, vendors of all kinds, a raffle for flight lessons, J-3 cub rides, Meadow Muffin Lotto, a rock climbing wall and live music.
Stanley said in past years some attendees have been concerned about the lack of shade in the August heat. This year there will be a 40-by-40-foot tent with chairs and tables underneath for those seeking relief.
Participants can also enjoy riding and flying in the Berkshire mountains. You can begin your day with your choice of a 20-, 35- or 52-mile ride over the area’s rolling hills. When you finish the ride, you will be cheered and welcomed.
The admission and participation fees will support local and international projects. The Great Barrington Rotary has given more than $750,000 in scholarships over 30 years. Charities supported by the Rotary include services for the elderly, Breaking Bread, the Food Pantry, student exchange programs, disaster relief and polio eradication.
Admission is $15 per carload. Bike rides are $40 and include the fly-in. For more information, visit berkshirebikenfly.org.
Below is a video of last year’s bike race:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.mah1/videos/10155183865528642/
