Pedaler's Jamboree Recap 2026
Thank you for joining us on the Pedaler's Jamboree!
Another Pedaler's Jamboree has come and gone! Thank all of you for such an amazing weekend full of friends, bicycling, live music and all the fixing! We feel insanely blessed to have such an amazing group of friends that come and share the holiday weekend with us every year! The Pedaler's Jamboree is a labor of love that feels so worth while every single time!
What happened… Down at the Pedaler's Jamboree?
A true bicycle adventure! Fine folks came from near and far to celebrate good times on the trail over the Memorial Day weekend. New faces mixed with familiar ones on a nonstop bicycle party stretching 30 miles from Columbia to Boonville.
Raise your hand if you had a ridiculously fun time at an impromptu trailside stop?! Perhaps you instigated shenanigans or perhaps they found you! We had the greatest of times sharing all the moments of the weekend with all of you.
Let's talk about the rain! Yes, that was quite the jamboree experience this year! A full afternoon and evening of nonstop showers raised the level of epic for the ride. Way to persevere and do hard things! Stories are better and memories are stronger when we challenge ourselves. I remember hanging out under a bridge to the store in between Rocheport and Franklin. The squirrel fighters had a spontaneous acoustic concert as we all shared a moment the rain. A friend reassured me about the rainy day conditions with the following advice. He told me that his momma always told him that WEATHER BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. These were two of us could not have been truer than on this year's ride.
Other memories from the weekend included. William Elliot Whitmore singing about midwest storms and floods to a delighted and wet crowd hanging out in the rain at the Katy Roundhouse. A super fun Friday night hoedown! Instigating a bubble gun flash mob during Post Sex Nachos and getting to share a moment with as many amazing people as possible. We would love to hear your stories from the event as well! See below on how you can help document your experiences on the ride.
Thank you for your support of the jamboree! Our hearts are full! We are planning on returning next Memorial Day Weekend for another round of the Pedaler's Jamboree. Mark your calendars now! Can't wait to do this again!
-- The Pedaler's Jamboree crew
These great photographers were on the scene documenting the experience this year! If you need a great photographer for an event hit any of these guys up!
NOTLEY HAWKINS - Click here to view photos
KAT SKARPETOWSKA - Click here to view photos Visit Kat's Facebook Page - Instagram
TRAILSIDE STORIES FROM DOWN AT THE PEDALER’S JAMBOREE
We want to hear your best/worst memories!
We just wrapped up PedJam year 17! Thinking back now, there sure are some wild memories through the years!
We want to start archiving some of the stories from participants on the ride as we head towards the 20th anniversary! Perhaps a book is in the work? Maybe a podcast? Who knows what the future holds. The more participation we get from our community the farther we can take things!
Please send us moment or few of the times that stood out! Send a voice memory below. Please let us know the year of the event or anything that might help us relate to the timeframe of when it may have happened. Have a fun memory from Monster Bike Bash? XCX? Bear Creek Bluegrass? We would love to hear those too!
The Pedaler’s Jamboree returns on Memorial Day Weekend. The theme for this year’s event is “Down at the Pedaler’s Jamboree”. The poster design is a tribute to the late great Jerry Denehy who penned the lyrics to a song about the ride who cared so much for. He rode every mile of every Pedaler’s Jamboree and was friends with all that he met along the journey.
We wanted to share with you a wonderful memory from the 2025 year's Pedaler's Jamboree. A video of the “Down at the Pedaler’s Jamboree” performance at Kemper Park. This song is a heartfelt tribute to the Pedaler's Jamboree that was written by Jerry Denehy and composed by Seth Colaner. The video was captured and edited by Chelsea Myers and Aaron Phillips. Look for cameo appearances from your friends who rode the event this year. Thanks for everyone who was able to share this experience. If you weren't there, you can experience it here for the first time!
Pedaler’s Jamboree
Bicyclists depart from Columbia, MO, on the morning of Saturday, May 23, from Flat Branch Park (101 S 4th St, Columbia, MO 65201). Departure times are between 7:30 am and 10 am. Drop off your overnight packs at check in and prepare for a weekend of relaxed bike riding, music, and fun. Enjoy the scenic views of the Katy Trail State Park as you ride on crushed limestone trails flanked by cliffs and the Missouri River. Stop at your convenience at a handful of locations to enjoy live music and entertainment. Bands will play throughout the day in communities across the trail.
The final destination, Boonville’s Kemper Park, will host the feature events with main stage music. Overnight camping will be available and free for all registered riders! Hotel/motel accommodations are available at local establishments. There will be food available at restaurants throughout Boonville as well as food vendors at the park. On Sunday, ride your bike back to Columbia with music again throughout the day! Your bags will be waiting for you upon your arrival back to Flat Branch Park!
For non-riders with ticket passes to the Boonville festivities, gates open at 4 pm on Saturday, May 23. Kemper Park is located at 757 3rd St, Boonville, MO 65233. Free street-side parking will be located nearby.
Daily riding distances:
Saturday distances: (Starting in Columbia) to McBaine - 9.4 miles — Rocheport 18.8 (9.4 miles)- - Franklin - 29.22 (10.4 miles) — 32.7 Boonville - (3.5 miles)
Sunday distances: (Starting in Boonville) to Franklin - 3.5 miles — Rocheport - 13.9 (10.4 miles) — McBaine - 23.3 (9.4 miles) — Columbia - 32.7 (9.4 miles)
What is included in registration:
Gear transport of 2 bags to campsite (not hotels), sag support, camping, a weekend full of music and entertainment. Free entry to all trailside music venues. NEW FOR 2025 - Includes FRIDAY NIGHT PARTY ticket! Includes Sunday morning pancakes, sticker pack, and patch.
A limited number of Pedaler’s Jamboree 2026 shirts will be available for purchase at Kemper Park. The online store is closed at this point so close to the event.
Relive this Ha Ha Tonka PedJam memory!
Our friends Ha Ha Tonka have performed four times at the Pedaler's Jamboree! They debuted back in 2011 when they opened for The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. The last time around they rode bicycles with their families and friends while documenting their Pedaler's experience in their music video for "Carry It Around."
You just might see some familiar faces and experiences! Thank you for sharing this summer kick-off memory with us!
Sag Rides on the route:
Registered riders can catch a sag ride to Boonville along the route on Saturday or back to Columbia on Sunday. Look for the white shuttle van parked near the action at the pick up zones. There will also be a sag bike on the course this year which will be able to transport 1 person and 1 bicycle. We will get you there! Just keep in mind that it will take us a while! If you are just riding slow and tired, keep pedaling! You might get there a lot faster than if you wait for the sag to fill up before doing a drop!
For emergency support call - (660) 269-0070
Saturday, May 23:
Departing McBaine at 11:30 am
Departing Rocheport (City Park) at 1:45 pm
Departing Katy Roundhouse at 5 pm
Sunday, May 24:
Departing Rocheport (City Park) at 11:15 pm
Departing McBaine at 1:45 pm
Where should I park my car during the ride?
There is plenty of weekend parking available near the start. You may drop off your bags at Flat Branch Park and then park the car and return to register if that is easiest for you. Your best bets are the garages on Eighth & Walnut, Sixth and Cherry, or Tenth and Cherry.
Don’t Forget to Bring:
Proof of Identification, Bicycle & Helmet, Water, Sunscreen, Bug Spray, Cash & Credit Card, Spare Inner Tube, Repair Kit, Cell Phone (and portable charger battery), Towel & dry bag for gear (wrap all clothes and sleeping gear in plastic bags), Change of Clothes, Best Friends, Sense of Adventure, Back up of Toilet Paper
Got questions about the ride?
We will be emailing all the good details to registered riders a couple weeks before event time! Answers can also be found on the FAQ page! Still don’t see what you need to know? Drop us a message thru the contact page!
