Published: September 15, 2006 12:32 am      

Rally 'Round Greenville events scheduled

Besides the main bicycle and Mini Grand Prix races, the Rally ‘Round Greenville event in the Main Street area downtown on Saturday will include more than 40 vendors offering food, arts and craft items, children’s activities and other fun for the whole family.

Tunes of every sort will also fill the air as an assortment of musical entertainers takes the stage to amuse festival-goers.

Food offerings will include steak sandwiches, chicken baskets, smoked sausage fries, kettle corn, pork rinds, cotton candy, hot dogs, sno cones, lemonade, nachos, pizza, funnel cakes, corn dogs, barbecue, sausage on a stick and an unusual drink called a purple cow.

Artists will demonstrate their painting skills, and there will be woodcrafters, photographers, model railroaders and other artists, hobbyists and crafters in attendance.

Adults can study the many antique cars, dragsters and custom motorcycles ringing the courthouse. Kids can pet the miniature horses, get inside the bounce house, take a pony ride or play a number of other games.

They can also learn how to be safer at the Bicycle Safety Rodeo.

A record 500 to 600 cyclists are expected at the OmniSYS Cotton Patch Classic Bicycle Race and Tour. Cyclists can tour any one of six tour routes ranging from six to 63 miles.

The six-mile tour of Greenville, beginning in the historic district downtown, is perfect for families, beginners and children. Other tours include 21, 31, 41, 54 and 63 mile routes. Rest stops are located every eight to 12 miles where fruit, water, Powerade and cookies will be available. The tours are independent of the U.S.C.F. sanctioned races.

Fans of the Greenville Lions Club/Lone Star Credit Union Mini Grand Prix will find a better vantage point in bleachers this year, from which they can watch the pint-sized cars with the big entertainment punch. The traditional “Drivers, start your engines” will be heard at 10 a.m.

Information on all the events and fun will be available at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau information booth located on the south side of the Courthouse Square.