One of Pemberton’s signature summer events is set to return for its 20th year.
The Slow Food Cycle will roll through Pemberton Meadows on Sunday, Aug. 17, inviting cyclists to join in on a 40-kilometre round-trip while stopping at farms and small businesses along the way to purchase local produce, crafts and prepared food.
“There’s nothing else quite like it,” said Andy Meeker, president of Tourism Pemberton in a release. “It’s a unique day where you can meet the people who grow your food, taste the flavours of the valley and enjoy the open road with your friends and family. We’re thrilled to celebrate 20 years of this incredible community tradition.”
The event, originally founded in 2005 by local farmers Anna Helmer and Lisa Richardson, has grown over two decades. Slow Food Cycle now regularly draws thousands of participants—an estimated 75 per cent of whom travel in from outside the region.
“It’s heartening to see people still so eager to enjoy the simple joy of biking through farmland,” Helmer said in the release. “We always knew it was a winning combination.”
The event runs annually on the third Sunday in August and follows a single route north along Pemberton Meadows Road to the foot of the Hurley Forest Service Road. Cyclists are invited to stop at farms and vendors along the way—many of which offer fresh produce, handmade goods, prepared meals and live music. The road will be closed to most motor vehicle traffic.
The event is not a race. Tourism Pemberton executive director Christine Raymond previously described it as “a leisurely exploration." She said its success has inspired similar events in B.C. and abroad.
“When it started, founding farmers [Helmer and Richardson] wanted people to know where their food was coming from and to have conversations with farmers,” Raymond said in a June interview. “They just created this little event that sparked up and became a signature event.”
While often celebrated for its community atmosphere, the event also plays a role in tourism and farmland advocacy. Organizers say it helps promote the value of preserving agricultural land in the Pemberton Valley and encourages farm-direct sales.
The event was voted “Pemberton’s Favourite” in 2023, despite being cancelled due to wildfire smoke and access concerns.
Tickets are now available at a 50-per-cent discount through tourismpembertonbc.com/slowfoodcycle. The early-bird rate applies to tickets purchased before Aug. 16. Updates are available via the event’s Instagram page, @slowfoodcyclesunday.
