The event attracts more than 250 riders from across the Northeast and Canada and is a major fundraiser for the organization with proceeds supporting BETA’s trail program. The event celebrates the riding in Wilmington, with 25 miles of locally built and rider-maintained single track accessible directly from the festival grounds at the Wilmington Town Park.

Rider check-in and camping opens on Friday night with an option to join the local “Hardy Hour” group ride and casual barbecue sponsored by Placid Planet Bicycles.

Saturday is the main event with group rides all day for all abilities, shuttles, skills clinics with Speed Science Coaching and a jump jam. This is followed by local food from Love, Peace and Grilled Cheese & Island Vybz, craft beer from Hex & Hop, and a bonfire party on Saturday night featuring blues and rock ‘n’ roll from the Outcrops. Live music is open to local residents from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, with a suggested donation of $5 at the gate.

All group rides are guided by local riders and the event crew staffed by volunteers and the BETA board of directors, many of whom are also involved in building and maintaining the local trails. Riders are encouraged to explore the region’s 85 miles of trails at their own pace as well, using Wilmington as a base camp.

Sunday features the famous Hardy Kids mountain bike race, more group rides and shuttles on the Poorman’s Downhill trail.

“We love to introduce people to the riding here in the High Peaks region and strive to ensure that every participant has a fun and memorable experience, whether they are here for a casual trail ride or an all-day epic,” BETA Executive Director Josh Wilson said in a statement. “If your idea of the perfect day is pedaling until you can’t possibly pedal any more, and then finishing the day surrounded by friends, live music and a massive bonfire, this is the event for you. Plus you get a really sweet T-shirt.”

On-site camping is available in the Wilmington Town Park, which is serving as base camp for the festival. Preregistration is the only way to guarantee a campsite and a T-shirt. Organizers cannot guarantee camping will be available for walk-up registrations. For those who are interested in attending the festival but are not camping, lodging options can be found at whitefaceregion.com. Day passes are also available for Saturday.

For a full schedule of events, and to preregister, visit wilmingtonmtbfestival.com

The trails

Wilmington features miles of diverse single track riding at two large trail networks — the Flume and Hardy Road — as well as a screaming three-mile descent on the Poor Man’s Downhill trail, a long, gnarly backcountry tour on the Cooper Kiln trail, and dirt jumps, pump track and MTB skills park (directly adjacent to the festival grounds).

This year, BETA is partnering with three professional trail builders — Tahawus Trails, Peduzzi Trail Contracting and Backslope Trail Building — to open three new machine-built gravity trails in Wilmington, Keene/Jay and Lake Placid, respectively. These trails will be featured in some of the group rides and available for self-guided adventures during the festival.

The nonprofit Barkeater Trails Alliance, the event organizer, is a member-supported, volunteer-driven, human-powered trail building and stewardship organization. They work to develop, maintain and advocate for a diverse, sustainable and interconnected system of trails for ski touring and mountain biking in the greater High Peaks region. Learn more at www.betatrails.org.