Upcoming Events

Event Organizer: Please consult this page to request an appearance by the Ohio Wheelmen at your event.

Various parades & events

It's expected that regular events from past years will be attended by Wheelmen this year. These events include the Great American Brass Band Festival, the Minster Oktoberfest Parade, and many others.

If your local area has a parade, offer to ride your bicycle and help promote The Wheelmen.

Mackinac Island Meet

Mackinac Island, Michigan

The biennial meet is a wonderful time to ride around with no car traffic. Watch out for the horses, though. If you want to stay at the Wheelmen "HQ" hotel, contact the Murray Hotel ASAP. Contact the Murray at 1-855-696-8772 and tell them you're with The Wheelmen. On-line, go to Murray Hotel. Contact Bill (contact info below) to get the discount code for the Wheelmen block of rooms.

Direct your inquiries to Bill Smith.

To see how much fun this meet is, check these pages of photos:
Mackinac 2011
Mackinac 2009

Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village

Dearborn, Michigan

A large gathering of about 800 classic, pre-1932 automobiles takes over the village for the weekend. About 100 Wheelmen machines on display, demonstrated, and ridden around the village. Casual games are played and ice cream is served. Early Sunday morning, an OHWT is ridden through the quiet streets of Dearborn. Come join the fun, it's just a bit north of the state line! Old Car Festival Info . Wheelmen need to pre-register their machines.

Changes are in the works for 2017, so make sure you use current information for your planning! Stay tuned. Direct your inquiries to Bill Smith.

Great Wright Brothers Aero Carnival

Huffman Prairie Flying Field
Dayton, Ohio

This Wright Brothers-oriented event is sponsored by the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and will be held at Huffman Prairie Flying Field located on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

The Aero Carnival celebrates the general time period of the Wright brothers going from the 1890's to the 1930's and 40's. The event showcases the work of the brothers in the development of practical flight and highlights some of the changes that have occurred since then. The event provides a fun way to explore the Flying Field, its environment, and the time period the brothers lived in.
The Aero Carnival information from 2016.

Because the Wright brothers were bicycle riders and manufacturers, bicycles are a natural connection to this event. Are there any Wheelmen interested in exhibiting their bicycles and/or performing riding demonstrations at this event? Remember with the Wheelmen expanded date range, bicycles up to 1932 may be shown and discussed.

Please contact the Ohio Wheelmen Captain for more information or to indicate your willingness to participate.

South Charleston Heritage Days Festival Parade

South Charleston, Ohio

Wheelmen have been invited to ride in the parade for this bicentennial festival. Festival Info via a FaceBook page. Line up at 8:00 am, step-off at 9:00 am.

Who is available to ride in this parade? Please contact the Ohio Wheelmen Captain for more information or to indicate your willingness to participate.

Oktoberfest Parade and OHWT

Minster, Ohio

We expect that the Wheelmen MAY be invited again to the Minster Oktoberfest parade in early October.

Oktoberfest Parade at 2:00 pm. This is a huge parade in a small town. We usually have about 15-20 Wheelmen (young, old, and in-between) riding! Mel's Decorating is our sponsor each year! Many thanks to Mel's for providing sponsorship as well as food and drink! Wheelmen participating in the parade are invited to Mel's Decorating at 106 W. 4th Street in Minster before and/or after the parade for food and drinks and conversation.

We are planning to have an OHWT 10 mile ride in late-morning before the parade. Be there are ready to ride at 10:00 am for the OHWT. A beautiful route has been found from Minster, through Fort Loramie, through Lake Loramie State Park along Lake Loramie, and back to Minster.

We meet in the parking lot at the corner of N. Cleveland Street and W. 5th Street. This is just around the corner from Mel's Decorating up on 4th Street.

Our line-up spot is usually on Cleveland Street, just north of Fourth Street. The parade organizers request that we arrive between 12:00 and 1:15 and be ready to go by 1:30 pm. Since we are near the front of the parade, we should be starting soon after the parade start time of 2:00 pm.

51st Annual Wheelmen Meet

Oberlin, Ohio

Yes, that says OBERLIN, OHIO!

We have been asked by some in Wheelmen management to host the meet in 2018. Check this event website for information as the meet is developed. Discussions have begun with historic Oberlin College, located just southwest of Cleveland.

Preliminary and planning information will be updated on this page.

Come EARLY for the fun along the North Coast! Museums, amusement parks, beaches, water parks (indoor and outdoor), and more!

Sauder Village Regional Meet

Archbold, Ohio

This weekend is the Ohio Wheelmen's big biennial Sauder Village Regional Meet hosted by Sauder Village. Riding demonstrations and exhibits will be in the village green. The meet will include a multi-lap century on Saturday and an OHWT on Sunday morning, both on quiet country roads. A great location for your first century (or your second or ...)

March 18 (Saturday)

Ohio Wheelmen Memorabilia Meet

New Bremen, Ohio

Memorabilia Meet, swap meet, and Ride Around Town. Come see memorabilia from the Wheelmen era of pre-1932 cycling. Hosted by the Bicycle Museum of America from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm. The 2017 schedule is available as a guide.

Reserve a $10 table with an e-mail to Becky at the museum. Those with reserved tables may enter at 8:00 am to set up their table.

We expect a wide range of collections including cyclometers, lanterns, sheet music, badges, ribbons, tools, and more. In the morning, we'll have two presentations in the Lock One Theater across the street from the museum. Presentations this year will be:

• 9:30 am - Local Bicycle History in Northern Ohio by John Skocdopole (Aurora, Ohio)
• 10:00 am - A discussion by Bob Jameson (Troy, Ohio) of his Restoration of a 1890 Victor Racquet Frame bicycle

Take a video virtual tour of the Bicycle Museum of America.

Depending on the weather that day, we will also ride around town again. So, if the weather looks favorable, bring a bike!

A set of photos from the 2012 Memorabilia Meet are on The Wheelmen website.
A set of photos from the 2011 Memorabilia Meet are on-line.
Check the photos from the 2010 Memorabilia Meet.

Copake Auction & Swap Meet

Copake, NY

The Copake Auction on Saturday with Swap Meet & OHWT ride on Friday.

Memory Lane Classics Swap Meet

Grand Rapids, Ohio

The Memory Lane Classics bike shop hosts this two-and-a-half day swap meet. Half day on Saturday.

Ann Arbor/Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet

Saline, Michigan

Bicycle Show and Swap Meet
Over 250 vendors at the 37th Anniversary of the Biggest, Oldest, and the Best Antique and Classic Bicycle Show in the Nation.

Great American Brass Band Festival

Danville, Kentucky

Great American Balloon Race - Entertaining the crowds at the Great American Balloon Race will start about 5:00 p.m. on Friday evening at the Stuart Powell Field airport south of Danville. Or use an alternate website by the GABBF. The newspaper magazine AMERICAN PROFILE had a short article about the GABBF in the May 30, 2011 issue.

Great American Brass Band Festival - The Wheelmen will participate in the 11:00 a.m. parade on Saturday. The probable gathering spot for Wheelmen before the parade is the Constitution Square State Park on Main Street. Before the parade, we'll probably meet for breakfast at the Red Rooster restaurant one block east from the park. Immediately after the parade, I expect us to be invited to an 'office party' for a luncheon buffet. After the parade we'll ride around festival sites around town. From 1:30 pm until 2:30, we also staff an exhibit area on College Street (where it is closed for the festival between Walnut and Grant Streets).

Overnight dorm space is available but you need to submit your name early. If you want to participate, send Alison P Torpey a note NOW. Even if there is not a dorm room available, you can surely come and participate in all the Wheelmen activities.

A ten-mile, Sunday morning ride will be an option. We found an interesting route out of Danville into the rural countryside along with local bike riders.

A bunch of photographs from past years are available on a gallery page.
Contact Alison for further information.

Lakeside Auto Show

Lakeside, Ohio

Lakeside Collector Car Show
A variety of classic, vintage and collector cars and trucks will open Lakeside Chautauqua's summer season at the 11th Annual Lakeside Collector Car Show. The event will take place from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, on the Hotel Lakeside lawn.

A limited number of Wheelmen will exhibit bicycles and tricycles at the show for the first time. Proper machines and period clothing required. Please contact the Ohio Captain if you are interested in participating.

Wheelmen Exhibit for GOBA

Tiffin, Ohio

The Wheelmen have been asked to provide an exhibit and/or riding demo during a one-day stopover of the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) in Tiffin on June 19 this year. The 1,500 riders will be arriving in Tiffin on Sunday, June 18 and have a layover day on Monday.
GOBA info

Who would like to spend a little time showing your riding skills, exhibiting Wheelmen material, or socializing? Let me know!

Unity Days Festival Parade

Mayfield Heights, Ohio

Wheelmen have been requested to ride in the Unity Days festival parade. We enjoyed this parade last year. Come and join us!

50th Anniversary National Wheelmen Meet

Westtown School, West Chester, PA

Stay tuned for more information as this meet is developed. For information and to register, go to the Meet page. For contact info, check the event listing on The Wheelmen event website.

Founded in 1799, Westtown is the oldest coeducational boarding school in the country with a storied history including student inventors of the flexible flyer sled and the slinky toy. This Quaker school is situated on a beautiful 600 acre campus which includes a lake and a farm used to source produce for the dining service.

This meet will provide opportunities to reminisce and celebrate the 50 year history of our club through a reenactment of the founding ride from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania to Hoopes Reservoir, Delaware. Included also will be a visit to the Marshall Steam Museum and a ride on the Wilmington & Western Railroad, a presentation by founders of the club, and shared memorabilia from the club's history.

The meet will also include a century ride, flea market and games among other activities.

KIWI - Kelleys Island Wheelmen Invitational

Kelleys Island, Ohio

We were forced to change the date of the Kelleys Island event this summer due to a conflict. We'll go over on Sunday, the non-parade day, for their annual Island Fest. The parade road is way too narrow for even one high wheel bike to circle around, let alone a group of high wheels. Believe me, I tried it a couple years ago by myself and it was up and down and up and down and . . .

Who would like to join me with a high wheel, HTS, or pneumatic safety that day to ride around the island and have some fun? We have a 10 mile route around the island for an OHWT. There are glacial grooves to inspect and other tourist items along with food and drink. Kelleys Island is way different than wild and crazy Put In Bay over on South Bass Island.

Kelleys Island is located in western Lake Erie just off-shore from Lakeside, Marblehead, Sandusky, Cedar Point, and Port Clinton. There is easy access from regular ferries in the summer and air flights. Where is Kelleys Island?

Hope to see you there!

There are many other activities in the area to make a weekend out of your trip. Cedar Point, Put In Bay, water parks, fishing, swimming, Cleveland and Toledo attractions, and more.

Contact Richard for details.

Bucyrus History Day Festival

Bucyrus, Ohio

Wheelmen have been requested to exhibit and demonstrate riding in the History Day festival from 11 am to 3 pm. Come and join us!

Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
The Canton Repository Grand Parade

Canton, Ohio

The Wheelmen have ridden in this parade in the past. Based on our past performances, the parade committee has asked The Wheelmen to ride again. We are going to enjoy this parade again! Please send me a note if you want to be a part of this huge parade.

The parade chairman states the spectator count along the 2.2 mile parade route is typically about 200,000! The festival parade description is here.

You will probably NOT be able to just show up for this huge parade. You will most likely need to know the logistics of getting into town and the starting location. So, please if you think you are going, let the Ohio Captain know well beforehand. When these logistics are known, we'll post them here. We hope to again have sleeping bag space in a church the night before the morning parade.

It would be great if we had a CROWD of Wheelmen for this huge parade! We're looking for East Coast Wheelmen as well as those in Ohio and the Midwest. There will NOT be a conflict with the Mackinac Island meet this year!

Please contact Richard if you would like to participate in this parade or if you have questions.

Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival Parade

Bucyrus, Ohio

Wheelmen have been requested to ride in the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival parade at 7:00 pm. Come and join us!

Please contact Richard if you would like to participate in this parade or if you have questions.

Pemberville Free Fair parade

Pemberville, Ohio

Pemberville Free Fair parade - This is a big parade in a small town. The parade starts at 1:00 pm and we're expected to be in place at noon. Contact Richard for details.

Tell you what, after the parade we could re-assemble in historic Elmore, Ohio for a ride on the Northcoast Inland Trail. A 25 mile round-trip to Fremont is a rather pleasant trail ride or a short 11 mile round-trip to Lindsey. Let me know.

Where is Pemberville? That map will help but really, just head south from downtown Luckey! LOL Pemberville is just 10 miles ENE from Bowling Green, easily reached from I-75, US Rt 20, and the Ohio Turnpike.

Bremenfest Parade

New Bremen, Ohio

Wheelmen have been requested to ride in the Bremenfest parade at 1:00 pm. Come and join a bunch of bicycle riders, some from the museum!

Please contact Richard if you would like to participate in this parade or if you have questions.