WICKER PARK — The winner of a watermelon carving contest at Easy Bar this Wednesday will walk away with a pair of free tickets to the relocated Tour de Fat, a vaudevillian bike and beer fest that's moving to Northerly Island after several years in Logan Square's Palmer Park.
To celebrate the 18th season of the touring Tour de Fat festival, Easy Bar and fest sponsors New Belgium Brewing are hosting a "Tour de Fruit" party from 9-11 p.m. Wednesday, featuring a watermelon carving contest on the patio of the Wicker Park bar at 1944 W. Division St.
"The guest with the most creative carving" will win a pair of tickets to Tour de Fat on July 29 at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, a bar spokeswoman said.
Watermelon carving supplies are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participation in the carving contest is free.
During the event, guests will also enjoy complimentary sweet and savory watermelon salads.
Featured New Belgium Beer specials at Easy Bar on Wednesday will include Juicy Watermelon ($6.50), Citradelic Tangerine IPA ($6.50), Passion Fruit Voodoo Imperial IPA ($7), and Transatlantique Kriek sour ale ($8).
This year, the Tour de Fat has ditched its neighborhood bike parade and free admission and will charge attendees between $20-$30.
The Roots, Third Eye Blind and All-American Rejects are among the bands booked to play the zany fest, which encourages costumes and offers bike-related activities like a slow ride race rewarding the last cyclist to cross the finish line, magic shows, vendors and more.
Children under 12 who are with a parent or guardian will get in free, according to the Tour de Fat website.
Organizers of the Tour de Fat previously said the fest would move Downtown to accommodate for more people and ultimately raise more money for the festival's nonprofit partners.
Chicago is one of 33 city stops that the touring Tour de Fat will make this year; West Town Bikes will benefit from a portion of ticket sales.
