​    The local RAGBRAI committee has announced the food and entertainment lineup when the first weekend of RAGBRAI visitors arrive in Guttenberg on Friday and Saturday, July 18-19.
    There will be 1,000+ vehicles arriving in Guttenberg to park their vehicles for the week and board charter buses to Orange City in western Iowa where the ride begins on Sunday, July 20.  
    On Friday, July 18, the 300-500 blocks of River Park Drive (Prince St. to Schiller St.) will be closed for entertainment from 3-10 p.m. to encourage RAGBRAI riders to stroll the downtown area and patronize local stores. 
Entertainment
    400 block of South River Park Dr.

• DJ Timmy Tunes from 4-7 p.m.
• Clayton Ridge Drill Team performance at 5:30 p.m.
• Johnnie Walker Music from 7-9 p.m.

Guttenberg Brewery - 530 S. First St. open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Serving food from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Triple Threat from 7-10 p.m. at the Brewery
• Franny’s Street Eats Food Truck will be at the Brewery from 2-8 p.m.

Lakeside Ballroom - 1202 N. Fourth St. Sandwich dinner and beverages from 4-8 p.m

• Jake Beaty (classic country, one-man band) from 2-5 p.m.
• No Sugar (classic rock, 4-piece band) from 6-9 p.m.

Food & BEVERAGES
    Friends of St. Mary's German Dinner from 4-8 p.m. at Sodes, 3 Goethe St.
    BBQ Ribs Dinner from 5-9 p.m. at Sodes, 3 Goethe St.
    Sandwich dinner and regular menu - open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Driftwood Diner, 531 S. River Park Dr.
    Fish & Chicken Fry from 4-8 p.m. at the Guttenberg Eagles Club, 1107 S. Highway 52.
    Beverages from noon - close at the Rathskeller, 218 S. River Park Drive
    Beverages at Moxie’s Tap from noon – 2 a.m., 426 S. River Park Dr.
    Food and beverages from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. at Dam Bar, 431 S. River Park Dr.
    Food and beverages, fresh local fish from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. at Fish Shack, 518 Fish Market Ln. (500 block S. River Park Dr.)
    Food from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Phelps Farm, 7 Schiller St.
    Baked goods from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Kim's Little Bake Shop, 602 S. River Park Dr.
    Pizza and ice cream from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Joe’s Pizza, 608 S. River Park Dr.
    Coffee, drinks and treats from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Derailled Coffee House, 607 S. Highway 52.
    Food from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Pearl’s Diner, 310 Pearl St.
    Food and beverages from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Stadium Bar & Grill, 915 S. Highway 52.

​    The local RAGBRAI committee would like Guttenberg residents to be aware of the plans, street closures and parking restrictions that are planned for the RAGBRAI visit on two weekends in July – Friday and Saturday, July 18-19, and Saturday, July 26.
* * *
 On the first weekend 1,000+ vehicles will arrive in Guttenberg to park their vehicles for the week and board charter buses to Orange City in western Iowa where the ride begins on Sunday.  
    On July 18 the 300-500 blocks of River Park Drive will be closed for entertainment from 3-10 p.m. to encourage RAGBRAI riders to stroll the downtown area and patronize our stores. “No parking” signs will be put in place by July 17.  
    The areas near Meuser’s, Lakeside and north of the school will be very busy with assigned luggage drop and charter bus loading areas; however with the exception of the entertainment and “pedestrian area” of River Park Drive all streets will be open, just very busy.
* * * 
    On July 26 an estimated 20,000 people are expected to arrive in Guttenberg between 7 a.m.-4 p.m.  This huge number includes 18,000 bike riders; 60+ bike clubs, most with multiple large trucks, trailers and semis transporting tents and luggage; and a large number of family members arriving to experience RAGBRAI, celebrate their loved one’s RAGBRAI completion and load them, their bike and their luggage for the trip back home.  
 On both weekends, Guttenberg RAGBRAI will be running shuttle vans from north to south Guttenberg to assist riders in moving from place to place.
    During July 26, Guttenberg will have multiple streets closed to motorized traffic or designated as parking restricted.  “These closures help keep the bikers safe, enables us to designate spaces for various bike clubs to meet their riders to retrieve their luggage from support buses, semis, big rigs, etc., and enables Guttenberg RAGBRAI shuttles to efficiently move riders between key RAGBRAI locations – dip site, parking, showers, eating establishments, etc.,” said local organizers.
    •The south Guttenberg marina is the official dip site – it will be closed beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 24, for set up and will remain closed through 10 p.m. July 26.
    •River Park Drive will be closed to motorized vehicles from DeKalb Street to Washington Street (600 N. River Park Drive) and there will be no parking allowed on River Park Drive in this area.
    •Entry into the area near Meuser’s will be controlled by local RAGBRAI volunteers; vehicles of local residents and Meuser Lumber customers will be allowed in and out and only bike clubs that have been assigned to the area will be allowed in. The large long-term parking lots in those areas will also be emptying as riders arrive and get ready to depart. The bike clubs have been asked to enter via Koerner Street and exit via Schiller Street.
    •The area of River Park Drive will similarly be controlled entry for clubs assigned to the area to access their designated parking sections north of school.  River Park Drive residents will be allowed to move barricades to exit or access their homes; we just ask they replace the barricade after they’ve passed through it. No residential parking will be allowed on River Park Drive during RAGBRAI.  Bike clubs assigned to River Park Drive have been asked to enter via Pearl Street, then First Street and onto Main Street and exit via Haydn Street.
    •The area around Lakeside will also be very busy; the largest bike club and other clubs they work with will be located there.  Additionally, the large long term parking lot will be emptying as riders retrieve their vehicles and depart.  We have not designated any street closures or parking restrictions in that area.
    •1st Street from Koerner Street (near Meusers) through Haydn Street (swimming pool) will be restricted to parking only on the WEST side.  This helps the large trucks and shuttle vehicles to be able to get through and meet if necessary. 
    •Businesses will likely find parking for their employees to be a challenge on July 26.  Side streets in the business district from 300 North River Park Drive and south and on First Street will have places to park early in the day but will fill as visitors arrive to celebrate their riders’ RAGBRAI end. Guttenberg RAGBRAI will have a lot at South 6th Street and Schiller – across the highway from the Allen Real Estate office and Bender’s. Shuttle vans will be transporting people from outlying areas uptown. “Your employees are welcome to and encouraged to park in that area and use the shuttles to get to their workplace,” say planners.
    •”No parking” signs and other information signs will be put in place prior to Saturday, July 26. 
    •”We hope to remove barricades and parking restrictions at 2 p.m.  At that point all the bike clubs should have arrived and set up in their locations. Traffic controllers will continue to assist traffic entering Highway 52 as long as needed,” said organizers.

​    Be part of the excitement in July when the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa comes to Guttenberg. The local RAGBRAI committee needs your help by volunteering for a  role to make the event a success.  
    Riders and their entourages will be in Guttenberg on two weekends. On July 18 some will arrive here, park their cars here, stay overnight, and take other transportation to western Iowa to begin the ride. On July 26, the ride will end in Guttenberg with an expected influx of 20,000+ visitors.
    Volunteers will receive a free RAGBRAI t-shirt to identify them as volunteers.
    Volunteers are especially needed for the following areas:
    Shuttle Service - Drive a passenger van that will assist riders to and from campgrounds, parking areas, local dining facilities, etc. The vans will be provided. Shuttle drivers are needed for July 18, 19 and 26.  Most shifts are 4 hours long.  Drivers must be 25 years or older.
    Parking - Assist by directing cars into parking areas on July 18, and helping as they leave on July 26. To date, more than 1,000 reservations have been made for parking spots. Main parking areas will be located south of Meuser Lumber and on the other end of town near the school athletic field.     
    Photographers - Assist riders or teams who would like a photo of their tire dip in the river near the south marina on July 26.  You will be using the riders' camera/cell phones to take the photos.
How to volunteer
    If you would like to help in any way:
    • Visit https://signup.com/go/EDnJqpo
    • You can also email: [email protected]. 
     • You can also call Donna Hinzman, Volunteers Coordinator at 563-880-0110.

The Guttenberg RAGBRAI committee invites residents and business owners to a town hall meeting to learn first-hand what the local committee has planned for the RAGBRAI weekends of Friday and Saturday, July 18-19, and the big day on Saturday, July 26. 
The meeting is planned for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, in the third floor auditorium of the Guttenberg Municipal Building. 
The session will give people an opportunity to learn about community plans for the event and to raise questions about any topic that concerns them. 
"We'll give a brief summary of how we envision the activities will go and will open the floor for questions and concerns," said co-chair Nancy McClellan. All are welcome to attend.

​There is still time to sign up as a vendor to sell food or other items when the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) comes to Guttenberg in July. 
June 1 is the deadline for vendors to register with the local Guttenberg RAGBRAI committee. Local churches, civic groups, organizations and local establishments are strongly encouraged to participate. 
Vendors offering both food and non-food items will be located in the south park and south marina on arrival day July 26. Most of the 12,000-18,000 riders, support crew, families meeting riders, etc., will be passing right by your booth. 
Vendors set their own prices. Vendors, offerings, and their locations and hours will be included on the Guttenberg RAGBRAI website and on the RAGBRAI town map that will be delivered to Oelwein the night prior. Vendors will need to be set up by 7 a.m. and vehicles cleared from the River Park Drive area. 
To apply to become an official vendor there is an online application available at www.guttenbergragbrai.com. Click the Forms menu at the top of the page and scroll to the bottom of the page. To ask for additional information, send an email to [email protected]. 

​By Shelia Tomkins 
The local committee in charge of welcoming the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) to Guttenberg this July reminds residents of the positive opportunities that will come to the community. 
RAGBRAI has been described as a rolling party — and Guttenberg residents are invited to celebrate along with the riders. "It is both a celebration FOR the community and a celebration OF the community," said Nancy McClellan, a co-chair of the local RAGBRAI committee. 
In addition to community pride in being chosen as the final stop on this year's ride, the influx of bikers and their entourage will bring economic benefits to the community. 
Visitors will need food, lodging and other amenities. Local groups and organizations are urged to sign up now to become approved vendors this summer. (See story in the March 5 issue of The Press). 
Riders and their entourages will be in Guttenberg on two weekends. On July 18 some will arrive here, park their cars here, stay overnight, and take other transportation to western Iowa to begin the ride. On July 26, the ride will end in Guttenberg with an expected influx of 15,000-20,000 visitors. 
An additional financial incentive will take place after the event when the Guttenberg RAGBRAI committee allocates its local profits to participating non-profit organizations. 
RAGBRAI is a time to recognize the wonderful assets that Iowa has to offer, and the local RAGBRAI committee hopes that the impression left by the reception in Guttenberg will inspire visitors to return to the community for a longer stay. It's a unparalleled opportunity to promote local tourism. 
Many local volunteers are needed to make the event a success. Being on a RAGBRAI committee, whether it be for hospitality, information, parking, special events, or other roles, is a wonderful way to become part of a team with a shared goal of being great community ambassadors. 
If you would like to help in any way:
•Visit the website www.guttenbergragbrai.com and click on the forms link. 
•or use the link https://signup.com/go/EDnJqpo
•You can also email: [email protected]