Newcrest Orange Challenge: a festival for the whole family

A two-day cycling festival will take over Orange next month, with Bicycle Network’s Newcrest Orange Challenge locking in a full weekend of fun for the whole family. 

Held on the first weekend in March (4-5 March), the Newcrest Orange Challenge community festival will include a range of family-friendly activities such as a special kids’ ride, a free food and wine festival, live music, face painting, a jumping castle, pump track and the Newcrest Orange Challenge ride. 

Starting and finishing at the Orange Velodrome, the new kids’ ride will take place on Saturday 4 March, looping along four kilometres of local __bike paths. Entry to the ride is a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to Give Me 5 for Kids, a charity which helps families in regional communities access health care.

Small Acres Cyder, Badlands Brewery and Rosnay Organic Wines are just some of the local producers who will be on show at the free food and wine festival in the centre of the Orange Velodrome. 

Bicycle Network spokesperson Anthea Hargreaves said that the Newcrest Orange Challenge is not just a __bike ride, but a weekend-long celebration of the local region.

“The Orange region has a reputation for fresh produce, fine wine and award-winning restaurants. We can’t wait to showcase the area and all it has to offer to Australia’s bike riding community,” said Ms Hargreaves.   

“The Newcrest Orange Challenge festival isn’t just for riders – with plenty to do across the entire weekend, we encourage the entire community to come out and celebrate with us.” 

Along with the 1,200 cyclists who are set to take part in either the 70km or 170km Newcrest Orange Challenge ride on Sunday 5 March, it’s expected that extra family, friends and supporters will see more than 2,000 people flock to Orange and the surrounding region over the weekend. 

“Our riders are coming from across NSW and Australia, with some making the journey from as far afield as New Zealand and Hong Kong. So let’s come together and give them an experience of Orange that they won’t soon forget,” added Ms Hargreaves.

Entries are still available for the Newcrest Orange Challenge at orangechallenge.com.au. Entries to the 70km ride are limited and expected to sell out before the event.