Rolling countryside, a beautiful lake and unique roadside attractions greet riders in northeast Oklahoma’s favorite family-friendly bike ride – Dickens of a Ride.

Now in its 10th year, Dickens of a Ride is the perfect ride for all ages and skills with routes ranging from a seven-mile Lazy Lake Loop up to a 100-mile century. The ride kicks off at 8 a.m. Oct. 7 from Gazebo Park in downtown Claremore.

“Hundreds of people from multiple states come out each year to ride the scenic countryside surrounding our beautiful community, and it’s a joy to watch them discover the views and interesting attractions that await them,” said Jessica Jackson, Claremore Main Street Executive Director.

There are a total of seven distances to choose from. The Lazy Lake Loop is perfect for families. Other distances include 18, 30, 50, 62, 76 and 100-mile routes. Last year was the first year to host the 18- and 76-miler, and both were exceedingly popular.

Registration is now open for all distances for $25 before Sept. 1. Prices increase to $30 after that date. Registration is available online here, by downloading and mailing a registration form or in person at Bike-About Bicycles or the Claremore Main Street office.

Long-sleeved T-shirts should be purchased separately for $20. The deadline to order a shirt is Sept. 1.

The ride includes well-supplied rest stops and SAG and mechanical support through 5 p.m. as well as a map with instructions.

“Between our knowledgeable SAG support team and our homemade goodies at the rest stops, this low-pressure ride is an instant favorite for riders,” Jackson said. “We keep things light and not too serious, so it’s both a great foot in the door into the cycling community and a fun ride for more experienced cyclists.”

The available routes, depending on the distance chosen by the bike rider, will take you through the scenic country side west of Claremore, through Oologah, then to the Claremore Lake area.

The longer routes will continue east of Claremore through rolling hillsides then back into Claremore from the East, ending the ride back at the start, downtown Claremore’s Gazebo Park.

The Finish Line is sponsored by RCB Bank. Kevin Fortna, CPA, is a supporting sponsor of the ride.

“Without our community partners, this event would not be possible,” Jackson said. “The vision for this fun ride came from Janice and Tracy Whittaker of Bike-About Bicycles, and they’ve been part of the team to make this ride wonderful year in and year out.”

Proceeds from the ride benefit Claremore Main Street, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown district and reigniting the area as the social core of our community.

For more information or to register, tap here.

Food, live music, shopping, face painting and carnival games are the best way to tackle the summer heat this month with the Downtown Carnival as part of the Food Truck Thursday event series on July 27.

The evening event will run from 6-9 p.m. and will feature the band The Aviators playing classic rock all evening long in the 500 block, more than 15 food trucks, late shopping, carnival games for kids and adults, a “Pie Your Pastor” fundraiser and a free Kids Zone by Cedar Point Church.

Food Truck Thursday is always free and open to the public, but food and some activities do cost extra.

“Food Truck Thursday is a fun event series that is simply an opportunity for Rogers County residents to come out and enjoy a night in downtown Claremore,” said Jessica Jackson, executive director of Claremore Main Street. “Each month has its own theme and is somewhat different, which keeps things fresh.”

​The “Pie Your Pastor” fundraiser will help raise money for local churches as well as for downtown Claremore. Each participating church will have a donation jar at the event. The church that raises the most money between 6-8 p.m. will get to see their pastor “pied” in the face at 8:15 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from each church – not just the “winning” church – will be donated back to the church.

For a full list of participating churches, visit the Facebook event the week of Food Truck Thursday. If you’re interested in participating as a church, email Jackson at .

For $1, guests can play the game Plinko for a chance to win a grand prize of a food truck or downtown store gift card. Each turn will send the player home with something.

The Kids Zone by Cedar Point Church is completely free to attendees, but parents are asked to watch their children while they enjoy the games and fun activities. There will be free clown noses, cotton candy and popcorn given away. The Kids Zone also will have balloon animals, face painting, carnival games and a fun photo opportunity.

This month, the Kids Zone will move to the 500 block at the corner of Missouri Avenue and Will Rogers Boulevard to make room for a record 18 food trucks down the center of the street.

Food trucks include Alpha Grill Food Truck, ​The Bacon Food Truck, ​Breenie’Z Soft Pretzels, Curbside Comfort, ​C&J Concessions, Dorothy’s Wiches, Hoops Philly Truck, ​Kona Ice, La Hermosa Taco Truck, Maw & Paw Kettle Corn, MooChewSooey BBQ, My Baby Can Cook, Ropin Flamingo Italian Ice, Taqueria El Jarocho and Tiger Bite.

“This is going to be a particularly fun month,” said Kathy Glover, Food Truck Thursday committee chairwoman and owner of the Cozy Cottage, 514 W. Will Rogers Blvd. “We have a ton of food trucks, a classic rock band and a couple of unique activities like ‘Pie Your Pastor’ and Plinko.”

Food Truck Thursday will run monthly on the final Thursday of the month. Upcoming dates are August 31, September 28 and October 26.

The monthly event is hosted by the Downtown Merchants Association and Claremore Main Street, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown district and reigniting the area as the social core of our community.

Food vendors interested in participating anytime this season should e-mail Jeannie Smith at while nonfood vendors who would like to set up a booth should email Sheila Giannelli at . Space is extremely limited.

For more information, join the Facebook event.

Rogers County residents can skip the summer trip the beach as Food Truck Thursday brings the vacation to Claremore on June 29 for the Downtown Luau.

The evening event will run from 6-9 p.m. and will feature the band DocFell & Co. playing music in the 500 block, more than 15 food trucks, late shopping, two hula hoop contests, a dunk tank with a chance to dunk the mayor and a free Kids Zone by Cedar Point Church presenting Moana live in Claremore along with several other activities.

Food Truck Thursday is always free and open to the public, but food and some activities do cost.

“Downtown Luau is going to be a great opportunity for Rogers County to come out and enjoy an evening in downtown Claremore, listening to fun music, shopping, eating and even taking a crack at dunking the mayor!” said Kathy Glover, president of the Merchant’s Association and owner of the Cozy Cottage, 514 W. Will Rogers Blvd.

A group of Claremore shoppers spent nearly $1,200 in a matter of 45 minutes at Claremore Main Street’s final Cash Mob of the 2016-17 season and will help improve the quality of education in a community as a result.

The bimonthly shopping ‘mob’ rushed into the District on Main last month, quickly finding goodies for themselves and others. Each shopper voted on a nonprofit to donate 10 percent of the night’s proceeds to and the Claremore Public Schools Foundation was the resounding winner.

“Thank you to Claremore Main Street, The District on Main and the community for supporting our schools and teachers,” said Amy Evans, the foundation’s executive director. “This donation will allow the Claremore Public Schools Foundation to continue making a difference in the classrooms and pursue our mission to ‘enrich the quality of education in the Claremore Public Schools.’”

​Regularly partnering with the foundation, District on Main owner Cari Bohannan agreed to donate the whole day’s proceeds to the cause. She said she appreciates all Cash Mob does for Claremore.

“I love Cash Mob because it’s shopping that is a contribution to a local store as well as a local charity,” Bohannan said.
District on Main, 406 W. Will Rogers Blvd., will host another shopping day to benefit the Claremore Public Schools Foundation in August.

Before the mob began, attendees came to a VIP gathering at the Main Street office, 419 W. Will Rogers Blvd., enjoying snacks purchased locally downtown. The Cash Mob was sponsored by Will Rogers Downs Casino.

Cash Mob is every other month on the first Tuesday of the month. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Register online here. The next Cash Mob is scheduled for Aug. 1. The selected store will be drawn promptly at 5:30 p.m. at the Main Street office.