Community celebration coming to Cringila Hills ahead of UCI

UPDATE 3 SEPT: We are disappointed to announce that due to rain and high winds, the Spin Fest Cringila event for today has been cancelled in the interests of community safety.

With less than a month to go to the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, we’re kicking off the Spin Fest program with a community event at Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park.

On Saturday 3 September, we’re bringing family fun to Cringila with food trucks, music, entertainment, workshops and more.  At the same time, we’ll be welcoming the Tour da Country participants as they arrive following their challenging ride from Helensburgh to Cringila.

There’s a lot to get excited for at the family-focussed day out and it provides the opportunity to explore the park’s exciting facilities including mountain biking trails, pump track and playground.

Ride Nation will be holding workshops between 10am-2pm sharing advice on getting into mountain biking or BMX, get tips and tricks on using the new Pump Track, try out a jump, or race a mate on side-by-side Roller Racing. There will be food trucks on site to purchase food and multicultural entertainment.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said that Spin Fest Cringila launches Council’s exciting program of events and activities linked to the UCI Road World Championships coming to the city.

“Spin Fest is Wollongong City Council’s city-wide celebration that will complement the 2022 UCI Road World Championships and it’s about bringing together our community in fun, engaging and exciting ways,’’ he said.

“It’s important to us that the month of September isn’t only about the UCI race, but also providing our community with the opportunity to get out and to have fun and to enjoy some of the world-class facilities we have.

“I hope that this event will start to build excitement for road cycling’s Olympic moment in Wollongong and encourage people to get involved in the local celebrations. Wollongong is a proud UCI Bike City and we’re pleased to be able to give something that will have a long-term benefit to our community. The month of September is shaping up to offer a whole lot of fun, Olympic-worthy sports, and community pride.”

Celebrating their tenth year, Tour da Country is a community bike ride that aims to raise awareness of healthy lifestyle choices in Aboriginal communities and to promote reconciliation amongst Australians. The Tour da Country bike riders will finish their ride at the Spin Fest Cringila event.

It’s not too late for participants to get involved in the Tour daCountry community ride and people can register online.

Want to learn more about Spin Fest? Visit Wollongong City Council’s Spin Fest webpages for more.

What to expect at Spin Fest Cringila

Kick off race month with a family fun day right here in Cringila. Grab some wheels and explore the brand-new Skills Park (which is set to open soon), the Pump Track and Playground at Cringila Hills. Recharge with food trucks and multicultural entertainment and be sure to stick around for the arrival of the annual Tour da Country First Nations community bike ride.

WHEN: Saturday 3 September, 10am-2pm

WHERE: Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park

COST: Free! No need to book tickets. This is a community, family-friendly event.

Accessibility: Spin Fest is an Inclusive, Accessible event with:

• Accessible Toilets on site
• Accessible Playground
• Limited number accessible carparking spaces available on site and a Drop Off Zone manned by marshal for accessible drop off
• Continuous accessible walkways available between activities
• Quiet Space Sensory Tent
• Social Story available
• Accessible viewing area for performances on stage can be arranged if required.

What's On?

Tour da Country

The Tour da Country is a community bike ride that will pick up community members along the way. If you’d like to get involved, you can join the ride at the following locations:

1. Full ride – 95km: Departing Helensburgh with approximately 95km with over 1300m of climbing and on open roads.
2. Community ride – 8.5km: Departing Wollongong at 11am. Medium fitness level required. Mostly flat terrain on cycle paths with a final climb through Cringila. Meet at the corner of Harbour Street and Bank Street, Wollongong.
3. Community ride – 1.8km: Departing Cringila on the final leg of the ride. Includes a 1.2km climb rising about 50 metres. Meet at Cringila Hills Public School, Sheffield Street, Cringila.

Keen to be involved? Registration is essential via our online webform.

Ride Nation Workshops

From 10am -2pm, skill up at a Ride Nation Workshop! Learn how to get started in mountain biking or BMX, get tips and tricks on using the new Pump Track, try out a jump, or race a mate on side-by-side Roller Racing.

BYO bikes and helmets!

Kid’s Activities

There’s plenty of activities to keep the kids busy. Try out the Treetop Circus aerial rig, juggling and hoops. Get creative with multicultural craft, recycle bike wheel art, story mats, Aboriginal weaving and more.

A Quiet Space Sensory Tent will be on site to take a break and feel calm with fun sensory activities.

Performances

Experience our diverse community with a range of multicultural performances. There will be Indigenous dance performances by Gumaraa and Bellambi Public School dance groups.

Acclaimed classical guitarist Sako Dermenjian, the energetic Oompah Loompah Band and the Persian Ladies Dance Group will round out the afternoon.

Family Picnic Day

Grab a coffee, bring a picnic blanket and soak up the sun while the kids make the most of everything Cringila Hills has to offer. Food trucks will serve up savoury and sweet treats from 10am or bring your own picnic. Nearby Lake Avenue is renowned for its bakeries, deli and cafes!

Want even more? Check out the full program of arts and entertainment around the Wollongong CBD during the race week by visiting the Spin Fest webpage.