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Est. 1868

Pedaler’s Jamboree 2023 Recap

2023 was a fantastic Pedaler's Jamboree! The weather, food, drink, music and people brought people together for fun and festivities.
Pedlar's Jamboree 2023. Photo by Roman Clarkson

This year’s Pedaler’s Jamboree was a super success full of laughter, music, and celebration. This annual bike riding festival started in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday morning, made its way through McBain, Rocheport and Fayette, and ended the day in Boonville with a night of camping. As the riders made their way back on Sunday, more music and food were set up as well, making for a full weekend of activities. A sweet aspect of the Jamboree is that even if you aren’t riding the whole round-trip, you could hit part of the trail or even drive to any one of the stops along the way to join in on the fun.

The Jamboree could not have landed on a more ideal weekend as far as the weather was concerned — sunshine filled days with little-to-no clouds in the sky, hot but with a slight breeze.

Since the Jam is a “pedal at your own pace” event, each stop along the trail allowed for a comfortable window for everyone to pass through the towns along the way. A selection of food, drinks, and music met the cyclists at each stop, making it feel like a moving festival. The cyclists put 32 miles behind them to complete the trip one-way and enjoy the evening of festivities and fireworks.

Columbia – Initial Start Location

Excitement was in the air at the registration and official starting place of the event in Flat Branch Park, Columbia. Although it was busy with people coming and going, the pace was smooth and the the vibe relaxed. Walt’s Bike Shop was on the scene to provide assistance to bikers as they prepared their bikes. Groups of fellow riders gathered together, some donning coordinating outfits, dropped off their camping gear, and picked up their wrist bands as they started their journey accross Boone County.

McBaine

McBaine was a scenic first stop for cyclists on their way to Boonville. Music greeted everyone, whether they decided to leave the trail or stop to rest on the grass. The band played from the back porch of an eclectic farm building surrounded by wide-open fields and farm equipment, making it a one-of-a-kind experience.

Rocheport

By midday, the Pedaler’s Jamboree Saturday festivities were going strong as over 3,000 cyclists made their way to Rocheport from McBaine to enjoy the food, drinks and music set up at Welburn Park. Some adventurous cyclists made a detour to stop downtown for a fresh tomato from the Rocheport Farmer’s Market or meal at the General Store. From one end of town to the other, hundreds of bikes were parked alongside the Katy trail as their riders formed make-do picnic spots in the shade. The scene was vibrant with activity and joy as the day was ramping up.

New Franklin

Katy Roundhouse hosted the Pedaler’s Jamboree festivities in New Franklin. Multiple music acts, food and drink refreshed and prepared the cyclists for the final leg of the trip into Boonville. Jason, D’Vaude, also known as The Circus Man, captured the crowds interest as he balanced on a giant unicycle while juggling knives and entertaining the crowd.

Boonville

Kemper Park in Boonville presented an outstanding place for camping and festivities. At this final destination for the day, riders parked their bikes in special bike lot, set up their camping gear along the ridge of a hill or tucked in closer to the woods, showered up, and chose from the many food and drink options before settling on the lawn to enjoy the last few bands of the day. Hacky sacks and frisbees criss-crossed the grass, children tumbled, and a satisfied crowd chilled to the music, happy to be exactly where they were.

Interested in joining in on this fun weekend next year? Pedaler’s Jamboree already has a date for 2024!

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