Getting Ready to Rally in the Valley

“We’re getting excited,” said Emily Hitchcock, Oconee Forever volunteer. “We’ve had more pre-event registrations than ever before!”  Oconee Forever’s Third Annual Rally in the Valley is Saturday, May 24 at Calyx Farms off Scenic Highway 11 near Walhalla.  Not only will there be 30-mile and 60-mile bicycle rides through the rolling countryside, but the whole family can enjoy slow-cooked barbecue, local craft beer, bluegrass and Americana music.  Bands performing are The John Blocker Band, Vilai Harrington and Conservation Theory.  Vendors include South Carolina Botanical Garden, Bee’s Crafts, Doc Watson’s Blacksmithing Demonstration, Bread for Life, Dennis Taylor’s birdhouses and Hammer and File Wooden Tables. To top off the merriment, local barbecue will be expertly prepared by Whitmire & Son, while local craft brewers Thomas Creek and Oskar Blues will pour their brews for adults. Rally in the Valley is Oconee Forever’s annual event to raise awareness for natural resource conservation in Oconee County.  The funds raised from the event will be channeled into enhancing protections and awareness for special natural areas, farms and wildlife habitat in Oconee County. Cyclists’ registration fee including food and drink: Online cyclists’ registration through May 21 is $35. On the day of the event, cyclists’ registration is $45.  Fee for children under 12 is half-price. General admission including food and drink is $25. Fee for children under 12 is half-price. Event-day cycling registration will begin at 7am with the 60-mile ride to begin at 8am and the 30-mile ride beginning at 9am. BBQ, brew and bluegrass event begins around 11am. Sponsors for this year’s event include Mary Ivester, Blue Ridge Bank, Community First Bank, Bountyland Petroleum, Cary Hall, Wildwater Ltd, Ag South Farm Credit, Edward Jones, Excel Rehab and Sports, and Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.  For online registration and more information, visit http://www.oconeeforever.org/rallyvalley/.