Grateful Gravel: More Than a Ride—A Celebration of Community and the Future of Outdoor Recreation
On Saturday, July 25, the Mad River Valley will come alive with bicycles, live music, great food, craft beer, and an incredible sense of community as Grateful Gravel 2026 rolls into town.
But this year’s event represents something much bigger than another outstanding day on Vermont’s legendary gravel roads.
Grateful Gravel will serve as the first major public event held at the Mad River Valley Recreation Hub—marking an exciting milestone for a project years in the making.
The Recreation Hub was made possible through a Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) Community Grant, a program that invests in outdoor recreation infrastructure as an economic development strategy. The goal is simple: create places and experiences that strengthen local businesses, attract visitors, improve quality of life for residents, and support Vermont’s outdoor economy.
The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce was proud to play a significant role in developing the VOREC application and partnering throughout the project alongside many community organizations. The Recreation Hub is a perfect example of how thoughtful investment in outdoor recreation benefits not only those who recreate here—but also our restaurants, lodging properties, retailers, outfitters, and the entire local business community.
There could hardly be a more fitting event to christen the Hub than Grateful Gravel.
Created by the Mad River Riders, Grateful Gravel blends Vermont’s incredible gravel cycling with the spirit of a Grateful Dead music festival. Riders can choose from three challenging gravel routes—or, new this year, guided mountain bike rides featuring the debut of the Recreation Hub’s newest trail. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed ride or an all-day endurance challenge, there’s an option for every level of cyclist.
When the riding ends, the celebration is just getting started.
The afternoon transforms into a community festival featuring live music, local food, Vermont craft beer, and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with friends old and new.
This year also marks the Grand opening of the Cousins Brewing Beer Garden, adding another exciting gathering place to the Recreation Hub campus. It’s the perfect venue to enjoy an afternoon of music while raising a glass to another successful day in the Valley.
Food will be provided by Silk Road Catering, whose creative menus and exceptional cuisine have earned a devoted following throughout Vermont. Riders receive a post-ride meal, while additional food and beverages will be available throughout the afternoon for everyone attending.
Music lovers don’t even need to ride to join the fun. General admission tickets are available for the afternoon and evening performances, featuring Mad River Valley favorite Sugar Shack opening the festivities before Waterbury’s Dark Star Project closes out the evening with an energetic celebration of the Grateful Dead songbook.
Beyond the fun, Grateful Gravel continues to support an important mission.
Proceeds benefit the Mad River Riders, whose volunteers build and maintain more than 60 miles of publicly accessible trails throughout the Valley. Their work has helped establish the Mad River Valley as one of New England’s premier mountain biking destinations while creating year-round recreation opportunities for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, and families through programs like the Mad River Rippers youth mountain bike initiative.
Events like Grateful Gravel showcase what makes the Mad River Valley special: passionate volunteers, collaborative organizations, thriving local businesses, world-class outdoor recreation, and a community that understands that investing in recreation is also investing in our economy.
Whether you come to ride, dance, enjoy great food, sample local beer, or simply spend the afternoon with friends, Grateful Gravel promises to be one of the signature events of the summer—and the perfect way to celebrate the opening chapter of the Mad River Valley Recreation Hub.
We hope to see you there.
Recreation Hub Project Partners
The Mad River Valley Recreation Hub was made possible through collaboration among many dedicated partners, including:
- Mad River Valley Recreation District
- Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Mad River Riders
- Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC)
- Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Vermont Community Development Program
- Town of Waitsfield
- Town of Warren
- Sugarbush Resort
- Cousins Brewing
- Numerous community volunteers, local businesses, and project supporters whose vision and dedication helped bring the Recreation Hub to life.
If you’d like, I can also make this more “destination marketing” in style—with stronger storytelling, more emotional language, and a tighter opening that feels like something you’d see in Vermont Sports or Yankee Magazine, while still serving the Chamber’s goals.
