Planning for the 20th Fat + Skinny Tire Festival has been underway for a while, and Friday the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved the road closures request for the part of the event that will take place downtown Warsaw on May 16.
Mike Cusick, KCV Cycling president, and Nick Hauck, KCV Cycling treasurer, requested that Main Street, from Lake to High streets; Center Street, from Lake to High streets; Market Street, from Buffalo to Indiana streets; Lake Street, from Main to Center streets; Buffalo Street, from Fort Wayne to Market streets; and Indiana Street from Fort Wayne to Market streets be closed on May 16.
While the downtown Warsaw events are 7 to 10:30 p.m., and the road will reopen at 12 a.m. May 17, the road closures will be staggard like they were for the 2024 event.
“Last year was our 19th year. Between collaboration with the Chamber, Go Rogue, Main Street Warsaw, the city and great weather, I think we had one of the largest turnouts we’ve ever had for Friday night, so we want to thank everyone for their support last year,” Cusick stated. “This year, we want to do much the same thing. Really, the same plan. We have the same plan for the same course for the riders and the same downtown activities, and what we did last year was a little different with some of the road closures (starting) at 2, and then Lake Street and Market Street being closed at 5. That worked really well for us last year, so that’s our request this year again.”
He said that plan allowed for plenty of time to clear the streets of cars, set up all the barricades that needed to be set up and comfortably start the event on time.
Hauck thanked the Warsaw Street Department.
“Last year it was so flawless when the street department came in, blocked all the streets for us. We dropped a barricade, we dropped the barricades for the street closures and it was so seamless. So thank you, guys for that,” he said, adding that they’d like to do that again with the street department help if possible.
Indiana State Police will be on site to help control traffic on Lake and Market streets, Hauck said.
“We also plan on keeping the turns one lane on Lake and Market open, that way we can have some of that cross traffic through there on those two turn lanes,” he continued.
Mayor Jeff Grose said last year’s event was a great event and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Board of Works approved the road closures request 2-0, with Councilwoman Diane Quance absent.
“So this year is the 20th, so we invite everyone to come join us Friday night - and the whole weekend - to enjoy (the festival). We love putting on the event. We appreciate the support from everyone and we want everyone else to enjoy it, so thank you,” Cusick said.
The Fat + Skinny Tire Festival this year is scheduled for May 16-18. More information about the event can be found on its website at fatandskinnytirefest.com.