The NYC Unicycle Festival is September 2-4, 2011
The second annual NYC Unicycle Festival is rolling across New York City this September. The growing popularity of this quirky pastime, combined with the City's initiatives to encourage cycling, make this a timely opportunity to celebrate the unicycle.
The three day festival offers one wheeling spectacles of many types.
[Friday] [Saturday] [Sunday]
Friday, September 2nd, 2011 - Brooklyn Unicycle Day features a long-distance ride organized by Unicycle NYC Bridge Tour. The long distance ride starts at City Hall in Manhattan, crosses the Brooklyn Bridge, and continues to Coney Island. The total distance of the ride is approximately 13 miles. [map]
The Long Distance Ride organizers suggest that unicycle riders be experienced in riding with traffic and be on nothing smaller than a 26" tire. There are segments of the ride that smaller tires and less experienced riders can participate, these include Brooklyn Bridge and Prospect Park. All riders are invited to join us at Deno's Wonder Wheel for a final spin before the fireworks on Coney Island.
Helmets are strongly encouraged.
Brooklyn Unicycle Day schedule
- 2 pm Meet Up on Manhattan side of Brooklyn Bridge. Meet on the East Side of City Hall Park (on Park Row) in front of the subway entrance for the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station 4,5,6, (across the street from the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian entrance).
- 3 pm Cross Brooklyn Bridge (all wheel sizes are encourage to join in on the Brooklyn Bridge crossing)
- 4 pm Pass through Grand Army Plaza into Prospect Park.
- 5 pm Enter the Ocean Parkway Bicycle Path
- 6:30 pm Arrive at Coney Island
- 7 pm Dinner break. Buy your own food and meet by Nathan's Famous (Stillwell & Surf)
- 8 pm Coney Island Unicycle Jam by Deno's Wonder Wheel
- 9:30 pm Fireworks
Take time to visit the Sideshow, have a beverage at Ruby's (final year before this historic bar is removed from Coney Island), eat a hot dog at Nathan's…
There is a possibility that a group of riders may start in New Jersey earlier in the day, crossing the George Washington Bridge into NYC, and continuing onto the Brooklyn Bridge then Coney Island. So if you are looking for a marathon distance, stay tuned.
Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 – The main events of the NYC Unicycle Festival take place on Governors Island on September 3. Scheduled events start at noon and will continue until 5 pm. [map] This year's Governors Island schedule of festivities is below, please note that event times are subject to change:
- 12:00pm Welcome to Uni Fest 2011
- 12:30 pm Games and Relays
- 1:15 pm Unicycle Hockey (pick up games)
- 2:00 King Charles vs Puerto Rican Nationals (Unicycle Basketball Game)
- 3:00 World Record Attempts
- 3:45 Unicycle Basketball (pick up games)
- 4:15 One Wheel Public Show
- 5:00 pm Time to roll of the island.
Open all day: Hell on Wheel Trials Course for intrepid one-wheelers and the Learn to Ride area, as well as vednors selling unicycles, parts and accessories.
To get to Governors Island you can take a free ferry from Manhattan or Brooklyn. The Governors Island ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building located at 10 South Street, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan. For subway, bus, or Brooklyn Ferry information visit http://govisland.com/html/visit/directions.shtml
Sunday, September 4th, 2011 – Join up with the New York Unicycle Club at its traditional meeting ground, Grant's Tomb (1-5pm) This will be a fun informal day of activities where we will meet up ride, practice, juggle, learn new skills and generally just socialize amongst other riders. While you are there take the time to explore the historic monument that is Grant's Tomb including the newly renovated Overlook Pavillion and Welcome Center that opened earlier this year. Grant's Tomb is located at Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street [map]. For more details, visit http://www.newyorkunicycle.com.
Festival Partners
Governors Island is the oldest European settlement in New York and formerly served as a US Army military base and US Coast Guard station. During the summer and early fall months, the island's 92-acre historic district is open, free for the public to enjoy. The island is accessed by a free seven-minute ferry ride from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan (at South and Whitehall Streets). Approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people visit the island each day of its season), with 10,000 to 13,000 people visiting on any particular weekend.
Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organizaztion, prides itself on being the heir to New York's outstanding traditions of circus, sideshow, vaudeville, and burlesque. BFVA presented its first Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret in 1995 in Brooklyn, New York. In fifteen years, that weekly variety show has grown into a year-round public exhibitions for variety artists: musicians, comedians, actors, clowns, dancers, novelty acts, circus performers, and sideshow acts. Over 400 artists have taken part in Bindlestiff productions. Bindlestiff continues to tour the nation introducing the public to the traditions of live entertainment at street festivals, in theaters, and in clubs. Besides its public performances, Bindlestiff has a growing commitment to providing education and enrichment programs to support variety arts. For more information, please visit bindlestiff.org.
The New York Unicycle Club is a casually organized group dedicated to the sport of recreational unicycling. Formed in 2001, members include people of all ages and all skill levels, from beginner to expert. The club always invites the public to come ride and provides unicycles for those who cannot “BYOU.” Meetings are at Grant's Tomb twice a month all year round (first Sunday, third Saturday) from 1pm until 5pm. Grant's Tomb is located on Riverside drive at West 122nd Street. There is free street parking available.
Unicycle New York City Bridge Tour There are over 2,000 bridges in the five boroughs of New York City. Since October 14, 2009, Keith Nelson (Bindlestiff Family Cirkus co-founder), Rob Hickman, and a growing group of riders have been making treks around the city to cross every one of them… on unicycles. Taking advantage of cycle lanes throughout the city, the one-wheel mission is organizing the Friday, September 2 long distance ride.