Press Release
2009 Noble Street Festival Will Be May 2nd
Cheaha Challenge Set for May 3rd
January 14, 2009
ANNISTON, ALABAMA - The Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club has confirmed the 6th Annual Noble Street Festival will be May 2. The 17th Annual Cheaha Challenge bicycle ride to be May 3.
Sunny King Automotive Group has confirmed support for the festival’s Sunny King Criterium bike races in 2009. "We absolutely love being a sponsor of the Sunny King Criterium and Noble Street Festival," said Patty King, CEO of Sunny King Automotive. "Thanks to the vision, dedication and efforts of so many, this event has become THE CYCLING EVENT for the State of Alabama, just as we had hoped," King added.
Red Diamond, Inc. has also confirmed as title sponsor of the festival’s Red Diamond Restaurant Tour, a showcase of local restaurants serving delicious cuisine from tents along Noble Street during the festival. "The Noble Street Festival and Cheaha Challenge benefit from unbelievable volunteer support and cooperation from the City of Anniston & City of Piedmont," said Sherman Pitts, CFO of Red Diamond. "There is something for everyone and the restaurants provide excellent food at the festival," added Pitts.
"We are blessed with a long list of supportive and community-minded sponsors," said Mike Poe, director of the events. "It’s a win-win for the community, as the events provide free family entertainment, promote eco-tourism, and benefit charities," added Poe. The Noble Street Festival has donated more than $40,000 to Calhoun County Relay for Life since 2005. The Cheaha Challenge has donated more than $22,000 to the Chief Ladiga Rail Trail.
The festival attracts several thousand local and out of town guests to historic Noble Street in downtown Anniston and was selected a Top 10 Event in Alabama in 2006 by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel. The festival features the Sunny King Criterium, consisting of nationally recognized pro and amateur bicycle races, the Red Diamond Restaurant Tour, featuring more than 12 local restaurants serving from tents along Noble Street, the McWane KidZone, providing multiple educational and healthy activities for children, the Mellow Mushroom Mad Dash, offering running races for children and adults, the Hot Blast Music Café, and the Pedaling Art Tour, a showcase of local and regional cycling-related sculpture and art. The Sunny King Criterium attracts professional men and women cyclists from the U.S., as well as from several foreign countries. For the 4th consecutive year, the races will be included on USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar, a collection of the top races in the U.S.
The Cheaha Challenge has become the largest recreational cycling event in Alabama, attracting almost 700 cyclists from more than 25 states. The Cheaha Challenge begins in Piedmont, Alabama and leads cyclists over Cheaha Mountain, Alabama’s tallest mountain. The ride has been billed the "Toughest Ride in the South" due to the numerous hills along the route. Pitts has completed the Cheaha Challenge for several years. "The Cheaha Challenge continues to be the century that gives me motivation to train all year. It’s simply the best century ride I have ever participated in," said Pitts. "These two events put together make for one great weekend. I can’t wait," summarized Pitts.