Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI announces family-friendly events on July 26

On Thursday, July 26, 2012, Cedar Rapids will welcome as many as 20,000 RAGBRAI® riders to stay and play in our city. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI committee is excited to announce a family friendly area for kids to enjoy fun survival style games and entertainment at the Rockwell Collins Outplay Island Kids Zone and General Mills Kid's Cove Bike Safety event. Both events are free. All local and visiting families are welcome to enjoy the entertainment and safety programs at these events.

Rockwell Collins Outplay Island Kids Zone will be held in Greene Square Park, downtown Cedar Rapids on Thursday, July 26 from 2 p.m. -7 p.m. This event will offer many fun activities for kids throughout the day. There will be an entertainment stage with family friendly acts such as Theatre Cedar Rapids's Camp Rock! Disney Dancing Group, MovMent Dance Hip Hop dancers, What's Up Jugglers, Cedar Rapids Historian and Storyteller Darrin Crow, Cedar Rapids Titan Dolls, an obstacle course and rock climbing inflatables, Salvation Army Kettle Jump, Dunk Tank, Funny Face Designs face painting, PapaBalloon, Tiki Toss and more. KZIA is the media partner for this event.

The General Mills Kid's Cove Bike Safety event will be held across the street from Greene Square Park in the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art parking lot from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Members of the Linn County Safe Kids Coalition will be there distributing bicycle helmets and safety information to kids. The helmets are free and safety professionals will be there to fit the helmet on each child's head. Helmets have been proven to reduce the risk of head and brain injury when a crash occurs by as much as 85-88 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. KGAN/KFXA is the media partner for this event.

A complete schedule of events will be available on the Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI website www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI Mission Statement

The Cedar Rapids community will work together to provide an exceptional overnight stay for 2012 RAGBRAI participants and friends. We will provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment promoting local businesses and highlighting community assets. The Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI event will be financially self-sustaining. Learn more at www.CedarRapidsRAGBRAI.com.

RAGBRAI®

Des Moines Register Media owns and produces RAGBRAI, a trek across Iowa that's the world's oldest, largest and longest annual bicycle ride. RAGBRAI riders will overnight in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Anamosa and Clinton this year.

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