A few scattered cyclists were enjoying the Katy Trail on Sunday, a stark difference from the 2,500 who were originally scheduled to be there for a live music and cycling event.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pedaler's Jamboree Bicycle & Music Festival has been rescheduled from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
"It's probably the biggest bicycle-music festival in the world," said Mike Denehy, the event director. "There isn't anything quite like it. And it's definitely the biggest party ride in Mid-Missouri. It's something you really have to experience to appreciate."
Time will tell whether the pandemic affects the ride in September, he said, but he's hopeful it can go on as planned.
Jefferson City was to host the event for the first time this past weekend. It was to the final destination for the cycling event that was to start at Flat Branch Park in Columbia and travel on the Katy Trail to Jefferson City.
When the event takes place over Labor Day weekend, riders will stop in McBaine, Cooper's Landing, Hartsburg and North Jefferson City for breaks and live music performances.
Their final stop will be the historic Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, where participants will camp and watch the two headliner bands, Cowboy Mouth and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.
Other bands performing at stops on the route will include Columbia bands Loose Loose and The Comancheros and, from Lebanon, Dawson Hollow.
Food vendors, beer gardens and entertainers ranging from jugglers to acrobats will also be along the stops.
Jefferson City became one of the host cities of the event, thanks to the flooding of 2019. It is having to push back its hosting duties to Labor Day weekend thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the jamboree was significantly altered after the floods, we previously reported.
This year, to avoid areas where flood damage is still an issue, the route was changed again. Flood damage to the Salt Creek bridge between Rocheport and Franklin, in particular, affects the regular route.
So when changing the route, organizers decided to have the event end in Jefferson City this year, which also marks the 30th anniversary of the Katy Trail State Park.
Cyclists finishing the ride will camp on-site at the Missouri State Penitentiary, the first time that's been allowed.
"We figured that was the best place to host that many people in a safe environment," Denehy said, adding participants "will be able to explore Jefferson City, but they will have a secure, private space" at MSP.
"It could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said.