Iowa City Announces Theme For Overnight RAGBRAI Stop

As Iowa City gets set to be one of four overnight RAGBRAI (The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) stops this summer, their theme for the festivities was recently unveiled.  Riders will "Book It To Iowa City" the night of June 27.

Besides showing off Iowa City and everything Hawkeye-related, The Iowa City Convention and Visitors Bureau intends to have "the cycling world meet the book world" in its block-party style event. Live music, games, food, beverages and other events will greet the nearly 12,000 expected incoming riders, and the city's residents and visitors. Proceeds, which will be generated through the sale of officially-licensed RAGBRAI logo items, featuring Herky the Hawk on a bike in front of the Old Capitol, will benefit The United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties.

Iowa City was recently designated a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) City of Literature, and their RAGBRAI theme will incorporate that distinction. According to its website, UNESCO is

 an Organization for Peace and works to give a human face to globalization. Its actions contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

More specific details about camping, routes and entertainment will be available at a later date.

[Via RAGBRAI, UNESCO, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Gazette]