by Mari Radtke
Once again, RAGBRAI riders pass through Primghar on the first night of their trans-Iowa annual bike ride. Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa is an annual event sponsored by The Des Moines Register. It starts somewhere on the western border of Iowa and crosses to the eastern border, Missouri or Big Sioux to the Mississippi. A seven day route is planned with overnights along the way. The annual event is a tremendous undertaking.
2025 is RAGBRAI LII. Riders travel through Primghar every few years. The last trip through town, like this year, coincided with the opening day of O’Brien County Fair. This year, all riders should be out of Primghar by 2:00pm. Animals are scheduled to arrive at Fair Grounds that same evening, Sunday July 20, after 4:00pm. If these schedules hold, traffic snarls should be minimal.
Primghar officials held an informational meeting Monday April 21 at the Primghar Community Building. RAGBRAI Primghar is the Facebook page set up to share information about plans, vendor applications, city amenities, ideas for activities and more.
Although RAGBRAI’s travels isn’t formal for each rider, certain parts are. Primghar is “open” from 7:00am until 2:00pm. That means amenities and attractions are asked to keep these hours for riders, items like food booths or special attractions. Before or after those hours, official RAGBRAI assistance or medical response is not available to RAGBRAI riders in Primghar.
The official route begins in Orange City Sunday morning. It travels through Granville to Highway 136, then north to B40. The route winds through Primghar off B40 onto Green Street, east on 1st Street NE and south on Hayes, back to B40 where the route continues east toward Hartley, May City, Wahpeton and for the overnight in Milford.
Primghar’s special notes to its citizens mention that the side roads on the square will be closed late evening Saturday through the last of the RAGBRAI guests. Current planning for RAGBRAI parking is at the empty lot near the lumber yard, and support vehicles parking can be found near the school.
Bike parking for the hundreds, maybe thousands of tourists coming through will be available on or near the route, allowing riders to rest, explore, and refresh. If a business on the square is open that day, officials say, “Make it clear that you are open?” If you do not, you may find you entry or exit blocked by parked bicycles.
There is an expense to even being a pass-through city for RAGBRAI. Fundraisers are being planned to pay for things like port-a-pots. Thirty five have been ordered for Primghar for that day. Some fun fundraising ideas proposed were ROYAL FLUSH, the old toilet in the front yard that costs to be removed and sent to your next best friend. Sponsorship of a pot is also being considered. Temporary self-promotion for the pot can add to the fun. Other ideas for fundraising can be brought to city hall or posted on the FB page.
Vendors are welcome. So far there have been inquiries from 2 smoothie booths, 1 coffee, a steak sandwich stand and – the RAGBRAI favorite – homemade pies. Other booths are also welcome, but remember, riders don’t have a great way to carry items. Be thoughtful. Each booth has a pricetag. Local vendors, $100 and in-county vendors and not for profit vendors, $200. All other vendor booths are $350. Each booth is 10’ x 20’. Each extra booth footage is $200. Vendors must be in place no later than 6:00am.
Primghar’s theme is “One of a Kind” and is a version of poker. After all, Primghar is the only one in the world!
Organizing committees are grouped by card suits – diamonds (finance by City Office staff), Clubs (food vendors, ice, water, service club involvement, etc.), Hearts (Entertainment, music, photo booths,, minor medical care, and non-food vendors), Spades (signage coming into town and leaving, beautification, bike parking) and Jokers, (cleanup during and after the ride).
From Granville to Primghar is said to be the longest stretch of this year’s ride, 19.2 miles. Riders will be hot (or cold and wet), hungry and needing a rest when they arrive in Primghar. This community needs to be prepared to meet those needs. Watch the FB page, O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier or ask at City office for how you can be involved.
RAGBRAI officials will be conducting a pre-ride road inspection and be in Primghar June 1. Interested people can ask questions or offer samples of their wares directly to planners that day.