



Pigs will be roasted, beers will be toasted, and we’ll have music jammin’ each night.​

Join us for a three day, two night weekend festival as we celebrate the Illinois Bicentennial connecting Chicago to Starved Rock State Park. With Key Note Speakers | Lodging Options | Food, Drank, & Music | Biking & Hiking | Trail Expansion Presentations | And More

A celebration of the I&M Canal Corridor, Trails, Nature, & People.

​​The event will highlight the I&M canal trail, the natural asset and history of Starved Rock State park, the role Openlands played in the creation of the trail, and how & why the Natural Heritage Corridor was formed.





TICKET OPTIONS & WHAT'S INCLUDED

CAMP PASS $75.00

2 Dinners | Full Pig Roast! All you can eat!

2 Breakfasts | Delicious & Savory Breakfasts All you can eat!

Presentations by Key Note Speakers

Music & Beer all you can drink

Campsite and Fire night snacks

Hiking and Exploration

This ticket is great if you are camping at the festival campsite. Good for one night or two nights ​​





DAY PASS $45.00

Dinner all you can eat

Presentations by Key Note Speakers

Music & Beer all you can drink

Fire night snack

Hiking and Exploration



This Ticket is great if you plan on visiting for the day, or you are staying elsewhere such as the lodge, a villa, or another campground.​​



Doing a good deed. ​Proceeds are in support of Public land and the Out Our Front Door Organization's mission: To immerse, educate, and preserve the history, culture, trails, and native habitats of the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area.





ARRIVAL TO THE FESTIVAL-

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"Chicago Cycling Start Point 100 Miles"

Meet 5:30 am at Eleanor Boathouse at Park 571 | 2828 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608​ | 100 miles to the Festival Campground.



Are you ready to Earn the Passage? Are you an experienced cyclist? There are no official parking options here, nor bathrooms, nor water. Cyclists who choose to start here are responsible to arrive fully prepared, packed and are ready to go. After we depart there will be roads, there will be traffic, and there will be sweat and struggle. Expect and respect this type of road scrutiny for most of the morning until we reach Lockport "The 65" mile rendezvous point. People who sign up for Chicago's start point are ready to, or have already done a 100 mile bike trip. So if you've ridden in the city streets and have miles under your pedals then this is for you. Cyclists will leave in small group waves.



Choose this option during registration.





"Lockport Cycling Start Point 65 Miles "

Meet at 8:30 am at the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery | 201 W 10th St # 1W, Lockport, IL 60441

This route is almost entirely on the I&M Canal Trail with very very little road riding. Easy and intuitive to follow. "The 65" start point comes with secured overnight full weekend parking, available onsite brunch for purchase, and bathrooms & water fountains This start point will also be the main gathering break point for all cyclists who started from the Chicagoland Area. ​

The Mayor of Lockport will give us a speech and a sendoff.

Comes with Overnight Parking in parking lot (car spots limited, register here to secure your parking spot)

Onsite breakfast for purchase by local vendor and Public Landing restaurant

​Available After Party at Embers Tap House on Sunday with dinner and drinks for purchase.

Free Cliff Energy bars

Vehicles enter the parking lot from the south end via 10th street

Choose this option during registration.







"Mile Zero | Drive Down or Bike Down"

Drive or bike from your local bike shop, or from your house... with "Mile Zero" you are more than welcome to start from where ever you like. Everything is still included in your camp or day pass and it’s up to you on how you want to arrive to the festival. *All cyclists are responsible for arriving to the festival on their own and you are also more than welcome to start where ever you like. There are two official start points for people biking and Out Our Front Door guides at the two official start points.

Choose this option During Registration.



DRIVING & PARKING OPTIONS at the festival

​The parking lot exact address is at 799 IL-71, Oglesby, IL 61348 (Papa Murh's Tavern & Campground) which has parking available for anyone who is driving down to stay the night or wish to visit for the day.









KEY NOTE SPEAKERS -Openland's President & CEO Gerald W. Adelmann | Speaking on Saturday August 25th. Gerald W. Adelmann will be presenting the creation of the National Heritage Corridor, celebrating its 30 year anniversary and accomplishments thus far, using this momentum to completing the trail Gap and reinforcing how to close it.​ ​His Bio:

Gerald W. Adelmann joined Openlands in 1980 to coordinate a special program that led to the creation of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, the first federal land designation of its kind. Today, there are more than fifty federally designated heritage areas across the United States. In 1988, Jerry was appointed executive director of Openlands. Under his guidance, Openlands launched the 21st Century Open Space Plan, which called for expanded parklands, greenways, and trails in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region. His leadership in creating the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie; in preserving the rare and scenic landscape at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve for public enjoyment; and many other conservation and preservation accomplishments has earned him numerous honors and conservation awards. In 2012, the Chicago Botanic Garden awarded him the prestigious Hutchinson Medal. Jerry is chairman of the Center for Humans and Nature and an emeritus member of the National Board of Advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He also chairs the City of Chicago’s Nature and Wildlife Committee, where he played an integral role in the initiation and recent completion of the Chicago Nature and Wildlife Plan, and is a member of several other boards and commissions. Jerry has been involved in conservation and historic preservation projects in China since the early 1990s. He lectures extensively throughout the United States and abroad. Jerry has received an honorary doctorate from Lewis University and is an honorary member of the American Association of Landscape Architects. Education B.A., Georgetown University, Washington, DC M. Phil., George Washington University, Washington, DC Archaeologist Clare Tolmie PHD, RPA | Senior Research Archaeologist Illinois State Archaeological Survey Clare Tolmie will present the topography, glacial history, and historic peoples of north eastern Illinois and Starved Rock area at camp breakfast followed by a Q&A. A great way for you to be equipped with knowledge and history before you go hiking in the state park.

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​Dr. Tolmie specializes in the archaeology of the Midwestern United States, with a primary focus on northeastern Illinois. A graduate of the University of Iowa and the University of Southampton, she has been conducting survey and excavation projects in the Midwest since the mid 1990s. Sites investigated range in date from Paleoindian through the late nineteenth century, and site types range from prehistoric habitation sites to historic farmsteads and Civilian Conservation Corps structures. She has also participated in excavations of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic open air and rock shelter sites in France. Her specific research interests include historical archaeology, environmental archaeology and landscape evolution, zooarchaeology, taphonomy and palaeoethobotany. The House of OOFD | Andrew St. Paul & Glenn Schneider | Speaking Friday Evening The Out Our Front Door Organization will present the history of Illinois, the importance of the I&M Canal, the birth of Chicago, industry, and the reawakening of the american spirit for adventures to be had in Lower Lake Michigan Basin by bike camping and closing the trail gap. Active Transportation's Matt Gomez & Steve Simmons | Speaking Friday Night Matt Gomez & Steve Simmons with Active transportation will be presenting what the future I&M Canal Trail may look like, discuss/present the proposed route, current efforts of the gap, what can be done to close the gap, what is keeping the trail from completion, and who to contact and get more involved. Matt Gomez joined Active Trans in January of 2018 as their Trail Advocacy Manager for the Trail Connect Chicagoland campaign. Trail Connect, or TCC, is an effort to advocate for an expansive and well-connected regional trail network throughout the Chicagoland metropolitan area. Prior to working for Active Trans, Matt worked as an urban planner in the public and private sectors in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. Steve Simmons joined Active Transportation Alliance as a Trail Advocacy Manager in 2017 and manages Active Trans’ campaign for a continuous 27-mile pedestrian and bike path along the Chicago River. ATA is leading a project that will help develop a community vision for a trail along the South Branch from Ping Tom Park to Western Avenue. He brings over ten years of experience leading successful advocacy campaigns with the Chicago Jobs Council and most recently the Sierra Club of Illinois.



EVENT SCHEDULE AND TIMELINE- FRIDAY: The Portage Begins Campground is open all day for arrivals and setup. 5:15 am | 100 mile cyclists meet at Canal Orgins Park 2701 S. Ashland, Bridgeport Chciago IL

10:00 am | 65 mile Cyclists Lockport meet up

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Strong Cyclists start to arrive |

6 pm-7pm | 50 mile cyclists and slower 100 mile cyclists start to arrive before/around dinner time

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Dinner Availble and Celebration with Full pig roast and drinks provided by Bridgeport's very own Marz Brewing

8pm- 9pm | Fire Night Welcome accompanied with fire, s'mores and drinks OOFD and Active Transportation presentations.

9pm till 2am Dj Mags spins the most funkiest records from her collection inside the Papa Murphy's Bar. Dance, pool table, drinks inside and pizzas for purchase. (participants can also go to the lodge) Saturday: Cliffs & Waterfalls 8am-10am | Camp Breakfast is servd at camp

9am-10am | Senior Research Archaeologist Clarie presents the topography, glacial history, and historic peoples of north eastern Illinois and Starved Rock area with Q&A at camp with breakfast. A great way to learn about the area before you go hiking the state park.

10am-7:30pm | Free Exploration. For example guided hikes, go hike on your own, visit the visitor center, bike around the surrounding area. Do what you what you want all afternoon

5pm-8pm | Tap takeover on the Lodge Deck. The takeovers include sampling beverages and giveaways for guests by Tangled Roots Brewing Co.

7:30 pm | Dinner Served at Camp

8-9pm | President of Openlands will discuss the creation of the National Heritage Corridor, celebrating its 30 year anniversary and accomplishments thus far, using this momentum to completing the trail Gap and reinforcing how to close it. 9pm-11pm (optional after keynote speaker and dinner): Live music on the Lodge Veranada Bar by "Bagshot Row" bouncy tunes from 50’s and 60’s.

9:00 pm- 11:00pm | Bonfire, Snacks, and Mallows 9pm-2am drinks and live dj in the Papa Murph's bar DAY 3: The Journey Home 6am-9am | Camp Breakfast

7:00 am | Recommended Departure Time for 100 mile cyclists

9:00 am | Recommended Departure Time for 50 mile cyclists

9:30 am | Organizer clean-up and breakdown

6pm Departure for everyone off the campground





CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY Individual/Participant Cancellations: No Refunds | We are a small organization and due to the small group size of our rides, a ticket cancellation/no show has a real impact into the planning of the tour and as such, we cannot provide any refunds for a participant cancellation. By registering you acknowledge and agree there will not be a refund if you cancel or do not show up for the event. Organizer Cancellation: Full Refund | Nobody wants an event to be cancelled. But in the very rare case the organizer does cancel the event at their discretion due to unforeseen circumstances, then registered participants will receive a full refund (excluding the small eventbrite processing fee). To date this organizer has never cancelled an event. Weather and Rain: We do not cancel an event for rain or a storm. We ride rain or shine. Understand that Chicago weather is typically passing, if it gets intense we will wait it out in a provided shelter then continue biking. FYI-Some of the best views and greenery are after a rain storm.





