Tour de Fat is a free, annual costumed bicycle parade and outdoor festival hosted by New Belgium Brewing, held at its brewery locations in Fort Collins, Colorado and Asheville, North Carolina. The 2026 Tour de Fat in Fort Collins is confirmed for Saturday, August 29, 2026, at New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden St, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
What Is Tour de Fat?
Tour de Fat is a community festival established by New Belgium Brewing in 1999 that combines a pedal-powered costumed bicycle parade with live music, entertainment, games, and New Belgium beer, with all proceeds supporting local bicycle advocacy nonprofits. The event describes itself as the world’s greatest costumed bike parade and is free to attend. Admission costs nothing. Beer, food, and merchandise purchases generate all revenue, which is channeled directly to local nonprofit partners. For context, see our previous guide on Tour Bus Crash: 6 Key Facts About Causes, Statistics, and Notable Incidents.
New Belgium Brewing was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado by Jeff Lebesch, who drew inspiration from a mountain bike tour through Belgium. The brewery’s flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, takes its name from the wide tires of the bike Lebesch rode in Europe. Tour de Fat grew directly from that founding story, translating New Belgium’s cycling identity into an annual public celebration.
When and Where Is Tour de Fat 2026?
Tour de Fat 2026 is confirmed for Saturday, August 29, 2026, at New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado. A 2026 Asheville date has not been announced as of May 2026. The Fort Collins event listing is published on Humanitix and confirmed on the New Belgium official website.
The confirmed 2026 Fort Collins schedule is:
- 9:30 AM – Costumed bicycle parade departs from City Park
- 11:30 AM – Parade loops along Mountain Avenue and concludes
- 11:00 AM – New Belgium Brewing opens on-site
- 12:00 PM – Stage entertainment begins
- End time – TBC; the 2025 Fort Collins edition ran until 7:00 PM
Headliner: tUnE-yArDs is confirmed as the musical headliner for the Fort Collins 2026 edition, as listed on the official New Belgium event page.
Location: New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Is Tour de Fat Free?
Tour de Fat is 100% free to attend. No ticket is required for general entry. The only costs are beer, food, and merchandise purchased at the event. All proceeds from those purchases are donated to local nonprofit bicycle advocacy organizations.
New Belgium Brewing also matches donations to its nonprofit partners up to $10,000 per organization per event, according to the New Belgium official Tour de Fat page. The 4 Fort Collins nonprofit beneficiaries for 2026 are:
- Bike Fort Collins
- Overland Mountain Bike Association
- Fort Collins Bike Co-op
- Send Town Bike Club
How Much Has Tour de Fat Raised for Nonprofits?
Tour de Fat has raised over $6 million for bicycle advocacy, education, and trails nonprofits across its 26-year history, according to Bike Fort Collins and BizWest. The total has grown progressively from $2 million raised through 2012, to over $4 million by 2015, and surpassed $6 million by the event’s 25th anniversary in 2024.
Fundraising milestones by year:
|
Year |
Cumulative Total Raised |
Annual Raise (where confirmed) |
|---|---|---|
|
2012 |
$2 million |
Not specified |
|
2015 |
$4 million |
$647,668 |
|
2019 |
Nearly $6 million |
Not specified |
|
2024 |
Over $6 million |
Not specified |
At its peak national footprint in 2017, Tour de Fat traveled to 33 cities and aimed to raise over $600,000 in a single season for partnering nonprofits, according to The Beer Connoisseur.
What Happens at Tour de Fat?
Tour de Fat features 6 main event components: the costumed bicycle parade, live music, carnival variety acts, bike-themed competitions, a bike giveaway, and New Belgium beer service. Each component runs in sequence throughout the day.
The Costumed Bicycle Parade
The parade is the centerpiece of Tour de Fat. Riders of all ages wear costumes and ride decorated bicycles through city streets. In Fort Collins, the parade departs from City Park and loops along Mountain Avenue. No formal cycling skill is required. All bicycle types are welcome, including tandems, cargo bikes, and recumbents.
Live Music
Each Tour de Fat edition includes 2 to 4 musical acts on the main stage. The 2025 Asheville edition featured Polyrhythmics, a Seattle progressive funk band, and Sam Greenfield. The 2026 Fort Collins headliner is tUnE-yArDs. Supporting acts are announced closer to the event date.
Bike Competitions and Games
Standard competitions at Tour de Fat include:
- Slow Ride Contest – a race where the slowest rider across the finish line wins
- Dance Contest – winner receives a limited-edition New Belgium cruiser bicycle
- Bike Giveaway – staged competition at the main stage, hosted by local personalities
- Tire Toss and Giant Jenga – open participation games in the festival grounds
Carnival and Sideshow Acts
Tour de Fat incorporates aerialists, clowns, comedians, and variety performers throughout the event day. The 2025 Asheville edition featured Lydia Davis (aerialist) and Toybox (described as a cartoon witch character) between musical sets.
Beer Service
New Belgium operates its Liquid Center on-site, serving its core lineup. Beer sales generate the primary charitable revenue stream for the event. Beers available typically include Fat Tire Amber Ale, Voodoo Ranger IPA, and seasonal releases.
What Is the Bike Parade Route in Fort Collins?
The Fort Collins Tour de Fat parade begins at City Park and loops along Mountain Avenue until 11:30 AM, covering approximately 2 miles before concluding near New Belgium Brewing at 500 Linden St. The recommended route from the Mountain Avenue loop to the brewery is:
- Ride north on Sherwood Street toward The Farm at Lee Martinez Park
- Turn right on Elm Street
- Join the Poudre River Trail at the bottom of the hill
- Follow the trail to the brewery’s bike parking at the southwest corner of Linden and Buckingham
Car parking near the brewery is limited. The official New Belgium event page recommends arriving by bicycle or rideshare. Bicycle parking is available across from the brewery.
What Is the History of Tour de Fat?
Tour de Fat was established in 1999 by New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has grown from a local bicycle party into a nationally recognized festival now in its 26th year. The event began with simple carnival activities including bicycle bowling and has expanded into a full-scale festival with headline music acts, sideshow performers, and structured competitions.
At its largest, Tour de Fat traveled to 33 cities across the United States in 2017, featuring headliners including The Roots, Third Eye Blind, The All-American Rejects, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and X-Ambassadors, according to The Beer Connoisseur.
Tour de Fat scaled back its multi-city touring model after 2018 and currently operates annual events at New Belgium’s 2 brewery locations: Fort Collins and Asheville. The event was paused in 2020 due to CDC health guidance related to COVID-19 and returned in 2021.
Key milestones by year include:
- 1999 – Tour de Fat founded in Fort Collins by New Belgium Brewing
- 2012 – Event surpasses $2 million raised for nonprofits; travels to 15 cities
- 2015 – Surpasses $4 million raised; 16th annual event
- 2017 – Record 33-city national tour; peak national footprint
- 2019 – 20th anniversary celebrated in Fort Collins
- 2020 – Event paused due to COVID-19
- 2024 – 25th anniversary celebrated in Fort Collins; over $6 million raised lifetime
- 2026 – 26th annual Fort Collins edition confirmed for August 29
Who Are the Nonprofit Partners at Tour de Fat?
Tour de Fat supports local bicycle nonprofit organizations in each host city, with 4 confirmed beneficiary organizations for the 2026 Fort Collins event and 1 confirmed for Asheville. Examples by city include:
Fort Collins 2026 beneficiaries:
- Bike Fort Collins
- Overland Mountain Bike Association
- Fort Collins Bike Co-op
- Send Town Bike Club
Asheville beneficiary:
- Asheville on Bikes
Past Fort Collins beneficiaries have also included the Ciclismo Youth Foundation. Nonprofits use Tour de Fat funds for trail construction, youth cycling programs, helmet programs, bike mechanics workshops, and community outreach, according to Craft Brewing Business.
How Do You Participate in Tour de Fat?
There are 3 ways to participate in Tour de Fat: ride in the costumed parade, attend the festival, or volunteer for an event shift. No registration is required for parade riders or general attendees. Volunteers receive 2 complimentary beers following their shift, according to Bike Fort Collins.
Costume participation is encouraged but not mandatory. All ages are welcome, including families with children. The event is described by New Belgium as 100% inclusive, welcoming riders of all experience levels.
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