Tifton is gearing up to welcome a possible 500 bicycle riders to Tifton Friday for the three-day Georgia BikeFest 2009.

This weekend will be the first time that Georgia BikeFest has been held in Tifton, and locals who are organizing a grand welcome for participants hope it won’t be the last.

“Anytime you bring 1,000 people to Tifton it’s exciting,” said Tyron Spearman of the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association. “They will be here for three days, eating and sleeping somewhere, and that will be a plus for our economy.”

The Association, Main Street Tifton and the Tift County Recreation Department are coordinating the event. The headquarters for the event will be located at the Tift County Recreation Department, 401 N. Victory Drive, where bikers will register beginning Thursday evening and begin and end their rides each day. Those who register will receive a goody bag full of items donated by local businesses.

Some bikers will camp in the area between the TCRD and Eve Park. Bikers will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at the TCRD’s Multi-Purpose Building, as well as enjoy snacks and drinks along each day’s bike ride.

Friday’s ride, “The Ty Ty Tour de Tift,” is a 50-mile tour of “beautiful, flat farm land in Tift County,” according to the Bike Ride Across Georgia Web site at www.brag.org. Bikers will visit Ty Ty, Omega and Eldorado. On Saturday, participating bikers will ride “The Counting Chickens Ride to Fitzgerald.” A small prize will be given to the rider who counts the most chickens in Fitzgerald. Tifton Mayor Jamie Cater will ride with the group Saturday.

Sunday’s “Where’s Music Row Ride” is to Nashville, which will include visits to Adel, Sparks, Lenox and Eldorado. Each day, bikers have various options that are shorter than the full rides.

BRAG gives each host city $1,000 to assist in the cost to sponsor the event. Rest stops along the ride routes are staffed by local volunteers. There will also be a Tifton Welcome Tent that will provide promotional information for area businesses.

Participants will be entertained Saturday night by “The Shuffler,” Ed Branch’s band, and Denzil Newbern in the courtyard next to Tifton City Hall downtown.

For more information or to volunteer, call Fran Kinchen at 556-7439. To register to participate in the rides, go to www.brag.org.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.