Holiday lights bicycle tour to explore Marietta Wednesday
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MARIETTA -- After feasts and fun with family, even the most diehard Christmas fans may need to stretch their legs a little.
The Marietta Rowing and Cycling Club's holiday lights bicycle tour on Wednesday will give people a chance to get their blood circulating while still experiencing Marietta's Christmas charm.
The 23rd annual event starts at 7 p.m., with sign-ups starting at 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on the corner of Third and Putnam streets. Registration is free, but riders are required to have a helmet and front and tail lights for their bike so they can safely traverse the streets while looking at festive homes..
Club member and tour leader Hallie Taylor said the tour route changes every year so riders can see the best lights in Marietta.
"We always try and hit the most decorated houses," she said. "We will be zig zagging through Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets."
Judy Baker, a club member, said the event isn't just about enjoying the beauty of the season.
"People who are enthusiasts look for opportunities to ride outside of the summer," she said. "It's about camaraderie."
Taylor said the event is for all levels of experience. She said there will even be a car following the tour in case anyone falls behind
"People of all ages are welcome," she said. "They can bring their kids on their bikes or with a pull-behind. It's not a race, just a lot of fun."
Taylor said the six-to-eight mile course through the city not only showcases Marietta's decorated homes, but lets the people of the Pioneer City see the tour's participants. With advancements in battery powered lights, Taylor said people on the tour have become somewhat of an attraction themselves as their lighted and decorated bikes cruise the streets.
"It's become a bit of a parade," she said. "A lot of people come out of their homes and cheer us on."
The event will end up back at First Unitarian where hot chocolate and cookies will be offered to warm up the bikers after riding through what is forecasted to be a clear, but chilly night with a low of 30 degrees.
Baker said it may be unconventional to go out the day after Christmas for a bike ride, but it's become something that people look forward to every year.
"Once you get involved it becomes more than just a habit," she said. "It might even become a tradition."