Edgecombe Tourism, NC

pin-icon 500 Main St Tarboro, NC 27886

Cycle NC is Coming to Tarboro

     
   
  Edgecombe County and Tarboro are in for a big treat on October 5th and 6th, 2023. The Cycle North Carolina “Mountains to the Coast” Tour has chosen Tarboro to be a “Host City” for this year’s event. This is the first time in the events’ 24-year history that Tarboro/Edgecombe County has served as a host. The apx. 1,100 bicycle riders and their support teams will journey on a weeklong ride that starts in Banner Elk on October 1st and continues with stops in Wilkesboro, Winston-Salem, Mebane, Henderson, Tarboro, Kinston and ends on October 7 in Emerald Isle. 

The Discover Edgecombe tourism leadership team has been working since November with the Cycle NC staff to ensure that every detail is covered and that both Tarboro and Edgecombe County shine during the event. Dave Sharpe, Executive Director of the Edgecombe County Tourism Development Authority said, “We 
want to be the cream of the crop host city”. Next year, Sharpe wants them to say, “Where are we going when we leave Tarboro”. Sharpe gives credit to Tarboro Town Manager, Troy Lewis; Main Street Coordinator, Tina Parker; Sheriff Clee Atkinson; Emergency Services Director, Antwan Brown; Tarboro Parks and Recreation Director Travis Stigge, Police Chief Rick Mann and the Tarboro Town Council for anchoring the event. “Their commitment from day one will allow us to put on a first-class show”. 

The downtown restaurants and businesses are looking forward to the riders coming to town, many of them are adding extra help and staying open later than normal to accommodate our guests. “We want everyone in Edgecombe County to come to the Court House Square, downtown Tarboro that Thursday night”, Sharpe said, “Starting that afternoon, we will have food trucks, vendors, a DJ, and Russ Varnell and His to Country Band will hit the stage at 6:00 that evening for a FREE concert to welcome the riders and all of the good people of Edgecombe County. “We want you to come and bring your friends, let’s all share in this great night”. 

The Tarboro Town Common will host apx. 900 riders in their own tent city that night, other riders will stay in local hotels and RV’s. The ride is self-supporting, they bring their own shower trucks, repair crews, and even have their own massage therapists. The tour is supported by the North Carolina Highway Patrol for the whole week. 

“We have had tremendous support on the volunteer side” said Sharpe “The Rotary Club jumped on board day one. Teresa Bottoms called and is leading “The Biker Girls” volunteers’ effort. Chad Hinton with Deloatch and Hinton, PLLC, Attorneys at Law, contacted me, his staff is looking forward to helping”. To help defray costs, Sharpe has teamed with area churches to donate drivers and vans to help shuffle the riders around town to restaurants, drugstores, and shops outside of the downtown area. The ride has apx. 200 riders that eat on a “meal ticket” that serves catered meals at their campsite, Abram’s will serve them supper on Thursday and breakfast on Friday. 

The tour still needs as many volunteers as possible. There are plans to have “Welcome Teams” at the Edgecombe County line and at the Battleboro, Tarboro, Pinetops and Macclesfield City Limits and the finish line on the Common. “We want our “Welcome Teams” ringing cow bells, blowing whistles and waving flags when the riders come by, if that doesn’t make the riders feel special, I don’t know what will," Sharpe said. 

There is still a need for more vans, if you would like to volunteer or if your church would like to help with a van please contact Dave Sharpe at 252-823-7241.


Check out the map below for more info on the day's activities, plus recommendations for food, drinks, shopping, and fun!