Gear up for the ninth annual Gears and Guitars Fest in downtown Winston-Salem — the biggest party on two wheels!

One of the country’s most prestigious cycling events, Gears & Guitars combines live music for a weekend of exciting racing, local riding, and a free concert lineup. Festivities occur Sept. 9 – 11, 2022, in downtown Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter.

 

2022 Festival Info

The three-day festival has a reputation for its challenging criterium circuit around Bailey Park, a host of community cycling activities, and big-name live music for a one-of-a-kind weekend in the city.

Friday, September 9: Streets of Fire presented by Flow Automotive
7 – 10 p.m.

Light up the night along Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem for drag race-style street sprints! The night will feature both professional and amateur categories in a competitively charged atmosphere along “Restaurant Row.” Stick around after the racing for free live music and dancing in the streets. American rock band Dawes, who just released their eighth album, Misadventures of Doomscroller, will headline Friday night along with Bahamas and local standout band Crenshaw Pentecostal (who has recently opened for the likes of Bon Jovi and Gin Blossoms).

Saturday, September 10: Criterium Racing, Festival, and Live Music at Bailey Park

Amateur Criterium Racing: 8 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Professional Criterium Racing: 4 – 8:15 p.m.
Live Music: 7 – 11 p.m.

The Winston-Salem Classic course has become known for its challenging route that loops up and around Bailey Park, offering some of the most exciting bike racing in the country. Watch pros and amateurs compete all day and take in the extra entertainment at the festival in Bailey Park. Plenty of food trucks will be on-site along with a beer garden. Then, stick around for live music into the night. The show will see an opening by Tonic (“If You Could Only See”), and the return of a past popular headliner in Better Than Ezra (“Good”).

Sunday, September 11: Fondos and Family Fun

Experience some of the great cycling options Winston-Salem offers for the whole family. Choose between two different Fondo road routes (63 and 40 miles) and two greenway/gravel distances (15 and 7 miles) this year. Register here for the Fondos.

Everyone is invited to meet back at Bailey Park for more free music and a food truck festival from 1 – 3 p.m. Community activities include a bike rodeo, a family bike parade, and a mini-drome. Live music from local bands will include Killing Gophers (whose lead singer is also a local cyclist), Repeat Offender, Deluge, and a return by hometown favorite Crenshaw Pentecostal.

“We really want to embrace all that’s happening with cycling in our city and let all the area organizations that are involved really shine,” stated Michael Hosey, the event’s Director of Community Engagement. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone to bring out their bike, enjoy the day together and celebrate the healthy, active and vibrant community we have here.  We’re expecting a lot of cycling enthusiasts and recreational riders to come out and spend the whole weekend enjoying the wide range of events. It’s the best weekend in Winston.”

Make the most of your event-filled weekend by planning a three-day getaway to Winston-Salem.

By day, cheer on athletes as they compete in one of the country’s most coveted professional cycling competitions. By night, join fellow music lovers at Bailey Park for concerts featuring nationally recognized recording artists.