Rolling Festival and Experience Packages Announced for Tour of Utah
Community celebrations have been scheduled at the nine host venues for the week long Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah on Aug. 6-12
Events will begin in Cedar City on Saturday, Aug. 4, with the Tour of Utah Kickoff Party, which includes live music and the traditional Team Presentation for the athletes. A variety of free, family-friendly activities are held daily during race week at start and finish line areas of the professional cycling stage race.
Admission is free for spectators to attend the Tour of Utah at all host venues, and along the 546-mile route, making professional road cycling one of the most unique sports in the world. Racing officially begins in St. George on Monday, Aug. 6, with the Prologue, a 3.3-mile time trial event on Red Hills Parkway. The race will conclude on Sunday, Aug. 12, on Historic Main Street in Park City. Additional host venues are Cedar City, Payson City, Antelope Island State Park, Layton City, Salt Lake City, Canyons Village at Park City Mountain, and Snowbird Resort.
Experience Packages are available at varying price points for reserved seating, all-inclusive hospitality and behind-the-scenes access to the race. Tickets for individual stage VIP areas are available online, ranging from $75 to $350. The Team Presentation package available for Aug. 4 is $125 per person and provides a private viewing area adjacent to the event stage with light refreshments and opportunities to meet select athletes.
Other Experience Packages include a VIP car ride in the race caravan with hospitality access, a Team car ride in the race caravan with hospitality access (Stages 2, 3, 4 only), a Meet the Faces of the Tour package that provides behind-the-scenes access with national broadcasters, and the Ultimate Fan Package with overnight accommodations and race access for two people.
Visit TourofUtah.com for full descriptions and pricing.
Daily Start Line Activities:
Rider Sign-In and Autograph Alley — Begins one hour prior to the race starts of Stages 1-6; located adjacent to announcer’s stage. Free admission.
Daily Finish Line Activities:
KUTV 2 Healthy Living Expo — Varying times at all finish line locations; interactive exhibits, official Tour merchandise, vendors, live entertainment, and a jumbo television screen to watch the race live. Free admission.
Sprint to the Finish Kids’ Bike Races presented by University of Utah Health — Varying times at six finish line locations; bicycle races for children ages five to 12. Free with signed waiver; provide your own bicycle and helmet.
Host Venue Highlights:
Saturday, Aug. 4
Cedar City
The Tour of Utah Kickoff Party will take place at the Ashton Family Greenshow Commons on the campus of Southern Utah University (200 W. University Boulevard). This free event begins at 3:30 p.m. with live music by Wilhelm and games on the lawn, followed by a formal program to introduce all 17 teams competing in the pro cycling race.
Monday, Aug. 6
St. George (start/finish)
It’s the first day of the KUTV 2 Healthy Living Expo for the Tour, located adjacent to Red Hills Parkway outside the Red Hills Desert Garden. Beginning at 9 a.m., demonstrations and activities include a dunk tank, bungee truck, climbing wall and more.
Citizens Time Trial from 8:30-9:15 a.m., managed by Ride Southern Utah and benefiting the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance. Registration open to first 30 riders at https://legacy.usacycling.org/register/2018-2348.
Sprint to the Finish Kids’ Bike Race will be held at 9:15 a.m. near the finish.
Tuesday, Aug. 7
Cedar City (start/finish)
The Velo Village and KUTV 2 Healthy Living Expo will be located near the start/finish area at 300 W. University Blvd. (Center St.). Beginning at 10 a.m., demonstrations and activities include climbing walls, dunk tank, helicopter display, face painting, food trucks and live music.
The Southern Utah Museum of Art will provide a yoga class at 9 a.m., chalk artists from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., live music inside SUMA from 11 a.m.-noon, and poster making from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 8
Payson (start/finish)
The Expo will be located in Memorial Park. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., demonstrations and activities include inflatable obstacle course and basketball game, National Guard rock wall and cannon, community mural painting, face painting, balloon artist and a variety of food vendors (Waffle Love food truck, Kona Ice food truck, Pacific Island Grill tent, Lion’s Club tent). Live bands will also perform.
A special Fun Ride will take place from 1:30-2 p.m. The bicycle ride is open to everyone ages nine and older.
Thursday, Aug. 9
Antelope Island State Park (start)
On Wednesday night prior to Stage 3 of the Tour of Utah, Antelope Island State Park will host a Kids’ Bike Race at the Marina at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Kick-off Party at the Visitor Center Amphitheater from 7-8:30 p.m., featuring live music and free Dutch oven samples.
Race morning will begin at the Fielding Garr Ranch, with the first 200 children receiving free T-shirts. There will also be free Dutch oven samples. Rider Sign-In will begin at 10:15 a.m.
Farmington (Utah Sports Commission Sprint line)
Main Street in downtown will feature chalk art and provide food trucks for spectators. The race will pass through Farmington twice, approximately 12:45-1:25 p.m. in southbound direction, and approximately 1:40-2:40 p.m. in the northbound direction.
Layton City (finish)
The Expo will be located at Layton Commons Park, 465 N. Wasatch Dr. Beginning at noon, demonstrations and activities will include live music by Code Blue, carnival games in Kids’ Zone, balloon artist, bicycle rodeo and a variety of food trucks.
Performances by marching bands, including Layton High School, will take place at the finish line from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 10
Salt Lake City (start/finish)
The Expo will be located near North Main Street along 200 North. Demonstrations and activities will begin at 11 a.m.
Reservoir Park will host food trucks, live entertainment with a disc jockey and spectator activities beginning at noon.
A FanX super hero parade will begin at 11 a.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium and end at Reservoir Park.
Saturday, Aug. 11
Canyons Village at Park City Mountain (start)
On Friday night prior to Stage 5 of the Tour of Utah, Canyons Village will host an Ultimate Challenge Pre-Ride Party from 6-8 p.m. with a free concert and a catered dinner ($30 per person).
Race morning begins at 7:30 a.m. with the start of The Ultimate Challenge ride.
Activities for the Tour of Utah will include a kids’ bicycle race, Birds of Prey display, face painting, chalk art, and a variety of games.
Snowbird Resort (finish)
In addition to the Expo (open noon), all activities at Snowbird are available (admission fees apply) for the Mountain Coaster, Alpine Slide, Mountain Flyer, Vertical Drop, Bungee Trampoline, Climbing Wall, Kid’s Inflatables and more.
Little Cottonwood Canyon will be closed to all vehicular and bicycle traffic between 1-5 p.m. A Tour of Utah Viewing Party will be held at the Swamp Lot on Wasatch Blvd. during this time, with the race broadcast on a big screen TV and a food truck on site.
Sunday, Aug. 12
Park City (start/finish)
The Expo will be located on upper Main Street, with demonstrations and activities beginning at 11 a.m.
Community Chalk Art will take place on Main Street beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Special presentations will take place throughout the afternoon until the race finishes approximately 3:30-4 p.m.
About the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah, referred to as “America’s Toughest Stage RaceTM,” is a week-long, professional cycling stage race for the best men’s teams in the world. The 2018 event will be held Aug. 6-12, covering 548 miles of racing and 43,780 feet of elevation gain. Now in its 14th year, the event was elevated in 2015 as a 2.HC-rated UCI stage race, making it one of the premier events in North America. The Tour of Utah is owned by Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment.
More information about the Tour of Utah, host venues and professional teams can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com