Bike Month Goes to 11 - theHumm June 2019

Like the amps in Spinal Tap, Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month is going to eleven this June! From its inception, MMBM has envisioned a world that is healthy, active, economically strong and environmentally sustained; a world where community is strong, inclusive, vibrant and safe. Building on a decade of two-wheeled fun, the eleventh iteration includes lots of the great events the community has grown to love, plus a brand-new fundraiser for Lanark County Interval House. And like MMBM founder Jeff Mills says: “The beauty of Bicycle Month is it is fun. By its nature, riding a bike is first and foremost a joy.” So come on — get happy — and get on your bike!

This Year’s Events

The best way to keep up-to-date on all of the happy happenings is to follow Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month on Facebook (organizers have scheduled posts in advance of all events) or to visit mmbm.ca where you’ll find a full calendar of events (as well as links to local resources, routes and initiatives).

June is filled with group rides for all ages. The Mississippi Mills Family Bicycle Club will host Tuesday evening rides for families (you define family in your way, and remember, you don’t have to be from Mississippi Mills) as well as the Street Party/Potluck on June 1 on Mill Street in downtown Almonte (which will be closed to vehicles as of 5pm, with the potluck starting at 6pm). This, like every bicycle month event, is open to all. Come celebrate community, enjoy live music, bring a dish (and your own plates and cutlery please) and help build a really long table on Mill Street!

The RIMM Rovers will hold rides for older riders each Thursday morning. Or how about a birdwatching tour with Birders on Bicycles (June 8), a ride to Carp for brunch at Alice’s Village Café (June 9), or a tour of four local breweries (June 22)? On June 8 you can partake of free live music at PorchFest de Miss Mills (see below).

The annual Tour de Mississippi Mills takes place on Saturday, June 15, and you can choose a loop of 30, 60, 80 or 100 kilometres in length. This year’s Tour starts at Equator Coffee Roasters and ends up across the parking lot at Crooked Mile Brewery. Also on Saturday, June 15, families and individuals alike are invited to raise funds for and awareness of the important services provided by Lanark County Interval House by participating in Break the Cycle. This 5k family-friendly ride along the beautiful Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail runs from 1–4pm, starting and ending at the Almonte Library parking lot. There will be refreshments and prizes, but you need to register in advance — find a link at mmbm.ca .

2019 Silver Chain Challenge — Walk or Ride!

Whether you’re from Mississippi Mills or not, you too can help build a culture of cycling in your area. Throughout the month of June, walk or ride and then log your kilometers in the Silver Chain Challenge, and join in the friendly competition between Lanark and Renfrew Counties. Every kilometre you log on foot or on your bike and post at silverchainchallenge.ca is a vote for more cycling infrastructure and a healthier quality of life.

Porchfest Line-up Announced!

Last year’s inaugural Porchfest de Mississippi Mills event was a smashing success — hundreds of happy people walked and cycled from porch to porch in Almonte to partake of fabulous free musical performances by over a dozen groups. The organizers of the second annual Porchfest are thrilled to share the list of performers and events taking place on Saturday, June 8. While there may be a few more surprises in the mix, so far they are expecting: The Dusty Bits (a guitar ensemble who formed at the Mississippi Mills Musicworks), Cratur (dance-inspiring fiddle tunes), The Ragged Flowers (bringing enough folklectic harmonies to lift up the rafters), The Christa Lowry Quintet (classical music with some fun twists and turns), Ricocheted (two local porch owners who formed a musical union), Gifts for Gaia (an art show by three artists with a mutual love of nature and the planet), Fred Dell’Amico (a singer-songwriter who at the age of 70 is just hitting his prime), Lost: Pet Pigeon (performance, music, poetry, stories…), Will Nailey, The Somerset Combo (lively, atmospheric, smooth and classic jazz), and The Brindled Cats (who will play a sponsored event at Crooked Mile Brewery featuring standards, bop and modern jazz tunes in a conversational style that is both relaxed and adventurous).

Festivities will take place rain or shine (hopefully shine!) from 3–6pm around Almonte. Bring folding chairs, liquids and portable shade, plus some cash for the performers when they pass the hat. Final locations, times and the full lineup will be announced on June 8 at mmporchfest.com . There is still a need for both porches and a few more performers, so if you have a last-minute idea be sure to sign-up online in order to join the fun!

No More FOMO! - theHumm June 2019

By — Kris Riendeau

You would think that the editor of this area’s Arts & Entertainment paper would have a pretty good handle on the quality of talent out here in the Ottawa Valley. I thought so too, but apparentl......

Bike Month Goes to 11 - theHumm June 2019