Tour de Fat

Named for New Belgium's Fat Tire Amber Ale as well as the Tour de France, this annual bicycle festival doesn't feature a race. But the 13-city tour does have entertainment, a bike parade, organic food and beer. Produced by the bike-loving brewery New Belgium, the show brings a veritable carnival of cabaret and sword-swallowing vaudeville acts such as Americaine Stupide, the Dovekins, Daredevil Chickens and the Yard Dogs Road Show performing under a circuslike tent. The spectacle might overwhelm the tour's message of bikes as an energy-saving, efficient form of transportation, but the point will be driven home with a "funeral procession" in which someone's car will be paraded around the premises as part of a car-for-bike trade program. The pre-selected winner wins a $3,000 custom commuter bike from Black Sheep Bikes and takes a pledge to go car-free for 12 months. Too late to enter that contest, but if you arrive with a great bike story, you just might win a New Belgium Cruiser.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat 7/10. Free. Loring Park.

  • Jahna Peloquin

Dragon Festival

The reptilian creatures may not be real, but dragon boats will look fierce as they glide across Lake Phalen. Part of the American Dragon Boat Association, participating teams will race the ornate and sleek vessels to commemorate the death of Wat Yuen, a poet and minister during China's Chu dynasty. Asian music, dance and martial arts will be showcased. Cuisine from various parts of Asia will be sold, along with crafts. More event details.

  • Melissa Walker