RAGBRAI to pass through Libertyville for first time

Fairfield isn't the only town in the county busy making preparations for RAGBRAI's arrival next month.

Before spending the night in Fairfield on July 25, the 10,000 cyclists will pass through Libertyville, where they will be welcomed with food, games and live music. It will be the first time in RAGBRAI's 47 years that it has ever come through the town.

The theme of Libertyville's RAGBRAI celebration is 'A slice of paradise,” and will have a tropical theme.

'When I think of paradise, I guess I don't think of snow-covered mountains,” joked Bev Nelson, co-chair of Libertyville RAGBRAI 2019.

Vendors plan to sell many 'slices” of watermelon, pie and pizza. They will also sell Dutch letters. The town will be decorated with totem poles and tiki huts, and the volunteers will wear grass skirts and leis (flower necklace).

Most of the events will take place next to the child care center (former Libertyville Elementary School). The events include things like jousting, where competitors stand on pedestals a few feet apart and try to knock each other off, as seen on American Gladiators. Nelson said there will be plenty of other yard games as well.

The live music will be provided by Scrap Metal, a 14-piece band part of the Iowa National Guard's 34th Army Band.

Timeline

RAGBRAI riders will leave Centerville that morning on their way to Fairfield. Nelson said Libertyville's festivities will begin by about 10 a.m., though she's guessing most the riders will arrive in the afternoon. Since RAGBRAI officials want the riders to move along in a timely fashion and get to their overnight stop by early evening, they have asked Libertyville to cease its activities at 5:30 p.m. That is also when the two bars in town have to close for an hour.

Many streets in Libertyville will close that day at 8 a.m. to accommodate the large number of riders, and reopen at 6 p.m. The riders will enter Libertyville from Douds Road (having passed through Douds earlier that day), turn east on Maple Avenue, north on Jefferson Street, west on Broadway Street, north on Main Street and then leave town on Fairfield Road.

Nelson said she's not sure how long the riders will stay in Libertyville. It depends on how long they've already spent in the other pass-through towns along the route.

'RAGBRAI officials have told us that, since we have two bars, we will probably be very busy,” she said. 'I think some will stay for a few hours and listen to music.”

Volunteers needed

Just as Fairfield needs an army of volunteers to make its overnight stop run smoothly, Libertyville needs them just as much. Nelson said the Libertyville RAGBRAI 2019 committee needs help setting up, serving food, working cash registers, directing the yard games and removing trash.

Those who wish to volunteer can contact Nelson at 641-693-8202, or contact co-chair Cody Guffey at 919-3714. The committee is selling T-shirts and hats, which can be ordered on the committee's Facebook page or from Libertyville City Hall. Nelson said Libertyville is also looking for sponsors.

'It's expensive,” she said. 'We will spend $1,500 just on [portable toilets].”

Since several roads in town will be closed, town residents are encouraged to walk to the festivities. Those who must drive or who are coming from out of town are encouraged to park by the fire station if coming from the north, by the Little League parking lot if coming from the east, and along Maple Street if coming from the west. The cyclists will enter town on Douds Road from the south, so motorists who live south of Libertyville are asked to find alternate routes into town.