Later this month, Delray Beach Downtown will be the destination for more than 700 amateur and professional bicycle racers as a one-of-a-kind sporting and lifestyle event is set to take place along Atlantic Avenue on March 23, 2013. It is the 2nd Annual Delray Beach Twilight Festival.
From 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., this unique festival will bring exercise enthusiasts to compete and eager fans to line the streets to cheer the competitors on and watch professional cyclists race up to 35 mph in a criterium of tight turns and straight-aways.
Not only will this be a day of fun but it will be a day of philanthropy. The competition is so sweet as it benefits Kids In Distress, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and the YMCA Bike Program. The mission of Kids In Distress is to prevent child abuse, preserve the family and treat children who have been abused and neglected. This is a part of the population that needs our help. Recognized as a premier agency in South Florida, they provide services to more than 6,000 children and their families. Donations will be accepted for this cause at multiple locations throughout the Delray Beach Twilight Festival. The mission of the Boca Raton-based Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is to increase public awareness of coastal and marine ecosystems through research, education, preservation and conservation. They have taken some remarkable steps to insure the protection of turtles and their hatchlings. This is just one of their many accomplishments.
Chelsea Midlarsky is the event organizer and puts her heart and soul into this event. "We have received such tremendous support and are gearing up for another exciting action-filled festival for athletes of different levels, ages and disciplines.....all to support great causes in our community."
Every member of the family from children to adults will find an activity to keep them busy. The bicycle races will be sprint-style with a short, 1 kilometer course lapped over and over again with spectators lining the street to watch. The Granfondo Garneau Florida is presented by The Delray Beach Twilight ($125 pp) and includes a jersey and Bib timing. The Twilight Kids' Race is geared for children ages 3 to 10 (free). There is also the Amateur Men’s Criterium for intermediate and advanced USCF riders; Twilight Children’s Parade; Women’s Criterium for elite and advanced women athletes; three 30 minute Keith King BMX stunt shows between 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Pro Men’s Criterium for professional and elite athletes to include current and former Olympic athletes, national and international champions.
Children will flock to the kid zone and health-conscious attendees can visit health-centric vendor booths. Celebrity cyclists will be on hand to meet the fans.
For all those attendees coming from out of town, the Hyatt Place Delray Beach is the host hotel with rooms starting at $169 per night.
This is the largest cycling event to get South Florida pedaling. It is a family-friendly festival promoting health, wellness and fitness. The festival itself begins on March 22, 2013 and continues through March 24, 2013.
Learn more at www.delraybeachtwilight.com or call (561)869-4916.
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