Which event combines Iowa’s three greatest loves: bicycles, bacon, and frosty beverages? The second annual BACooN Ride!

This year, The BACooN Ride will take place on June 20, with a kick-off party the evening prior. Riders will bike along the Raccoon River Trail and experience the hospitality of featured towns along the way. The 72-mile ride was initiated by Brooks Reynolds, the same guy who brought the Iowa Bacon Festival to life. Reynolds came up with the idea for the ride with the input of Mark Wyatt, Executive Director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, and TJ Juskiewicz, Director of RAGBRAI. The result is a collaborative event put on by RAGBRAI, The Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, and The Iowa Bicycle Coalition. It’s not just about bikes and bacon, however. It’s about bringing people to the Raccoon River Valley and benefitting the community at the same time. “It’s a perfect place to have a fun ride, and we’re about having fun and raising a little money while we do it,” said Reynolds.

Last year, the event raised over $50,000, which was donated to local non-profits. “We also had an economic impact of over half a million dollars on the towns and communities we visited,” he said. “It’s a great way to showcase this loop of a trail. It’s almost like doing RAGBRAI in a day.” When the idea was in its infancy, Mayor Bill Peard heard a rough outline of the plan and knew it was something to run with. He met with the people involved in the BACooN ride and wanted to make it a celebration of the trailhead—the city of Waukee. “I thought, ‘It can’t just be a bike ride. We need to make it more of a community celebration and festival,’” said Peard. With the help of several committee members appointed by Peard, including council members Shelly Hughes and Rick Peterson, the event began to take shape.

They were very pleased with the turnout last year. “It was kind of like a mini-RAGBRAI, and it was so successful that it actually won an award,” he said. The event won the “Outstanding New Event” award from the Iowa Tourism Office.

The ride kicks off on Saturday, June 20 and takes riders on a tour of towns along the trail. “Each town creates their own celebration along the ride, so we basically bring the riders, and the towns can showcase themselves however they’d like,” explained Reynolds. Each stop will feature bacon snacks, drink specials, and in some places, entertainment. Registered riders can sample treats like bacon cinnamon rolls, bacon bloody marys, and bacon ice cream sandwiches while listening to live music. Stops along the way include Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon, Jamaica, Dawson, Perry, Minburn, and Dallas Center, and the ride wraps up in Waukee. According to Hughes, this year’s event will be even bigger and better than last year’s. “We’re on track to double participation this year,” she said. There are also some differences in the event itself.

“We’ve completely ramped up our entertainment, we’re better prepared logistically, we know what to expect, and we know what participants want.” A major difference this year is the addition of an opening party during the packet pick-up in Centennial Park on Friday, June 19. The 80’s tribute band Members Only will headline, while cover band The New Mexicos will open. Hughes stressed that the event is not just for riders—it’s for the entire community. “The city of Waukee is lucky to have this event, and it’s going to be incredibly fun,” she said. Registration is already open, and riders who want to participate must register online as there is no on-site registration available. Packets can be picked up during BACooN Sizzles on Friday evening, or at the beginning of the ride on Saturday morning.

Registration includes a commemorative PassPork—the punch card for bacon treats at each stop.

Riders will be able to take advantage of drink specials, and will receive a custom BACooN Ride steel pint and commemorative t-shirt.

Camping will be available in Centennial Park.

BACooN Sizzles: Friday, June 19, at Centennial Park, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

BACooN Ride: Saturday, June 20, beginning at 6 a.m.

For more information, go to bacoonride.com.