Dear Greater Mankato Bike and Walk Advocates Supporters:
We are proud to announce the first annual Kato Bike Fall Fest, which will be based at Mount Kato from September 26-28, 2025. Greater Mankato Bike and Walk Advocates (GMBWA) will present the weekend of activities in collaboration with the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN).
The Kato Bike Fall Fest, the first public multi-day cycling event ever held in South-Central Minnesota, will encourage thousands of participants to enjoy our late summer and fall colors amid the serene landscapes and trails of the Minnesota River Valley. In addition to our family friendly rides on Mankato’s beautiful paved trails and quiet rural roads, participants will also be introduced to other cycling experiences, including gravel riding, cyclocross, mountain biking, bike polo, and BMX.
Our events are made possible through local volunteers, and funding comes from our sponsors and registrations. Those funds are intentionally given back to our community to support cycling and walking activities. For the last 13 years, our events have attracted thousands of cyclists from throughout the midwest to Mankato.
Since our inception in 2010, GMBWA has encouraged individuals and families to walk and bike as part of a fun and healthy lifestyle. We also view biking and walking as important solutions to many environmental problems. We work with city, county, and state government, and business and non-governmental organizations, to improve our communities’ infrastructure and opportunities for walking and biking. We do so through sponsoring events like “May Bike Month,” the “River Valley 100,” (August 24, 2025), and “Walktober.” We also offer community bike education in our local schools, and provide small grants to local groups that support our mission and vision.
We appreciate your support of GMBWA, and we hope to earn your support on this signature, large-scale ride event. Please visit our website for the latest updates (katobikewalk.com).
Chris Corley
North Mankato
President, Greater Mankato Bike and Walk Advocates
Local Organizations Recently Funded Through GMBWA include Key City Bike, Mankato Area BMX, Mankato Interscholastic Cycling Team, Southern Minnesota Independent Living Enterprises (SMILES), and the YWCA New Americans Program