Downtown Doylestown streets close at 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, for the 35th annual Doylestown Arts Festival. The 22nd Bucks County Classic bike race joins the festival Sunday, Sept. 13, in what organizers call "Bucks County's Biggest Weekend."

Organizers estimate the weekend draws more than 20,000 people, according to Central Bucks News. As we reported Sept. 9, the Arts Festival brings more than 160 juried artists, five music stages, food vendors and children's activities to downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

The Bucks County Classic adds professional cycling on Sunday. Riders will race a 1.4-mile closed circuit through downtown featuring eight turns and about 90 feet of climbing per lap.

Racing begins at 9 a.m. with masters and amateur categories. The pro women's race (50 kilometers) starts at 11:40 a.m. Children's races follow at 1:05 p.m., and the pro men's race (100 kilometers) begins at 1:55 p.m. Awards are at 4 p.m. A free "Ride the Course" event at 11:10 a.m. is open to anyone with a bike and helmet.

Brian Boger, team director of the Doylestown-based Bike Works Powered by Fred Beans Cycling Team, told the Bucks County Beacon: "We've raced the best across the country this season, but nothing compares to racing in front of our hometown."

Race Director Laura Reppert said in a July Patch article that the Classic is the only major race in the country held in a town rather than a city.

Road closures and towing

Saturday closures run 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Main Street (Ashland to Court), State Street (Broad to Clinton), Hamilton Street (West Court to West Oakland), West Oakland Avenue (Main to Clinton) and Pine Street (Garden to Oakland). The Pine Street, Dommel Way and Plaza West lots also close. Hamilton Street and West Oakland Avenue stay closed overnight into Sunday.

Sunday adds closures for the bike race: Court Street (Clinton to Broad), Pine Street (Court to Oakland), East and West Oakland avenues (Lafayette to Pine) and Main Street (Court to Ashland). West Ashland Street (Lafayette to Main), Lafayette Street (Ashland to Oakland) and Hamilton Street (Court to Ashland) also close. Access inside the race course will be controlled from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m.

Vehicles parked after 5 a.m. in posted restricted areas either day will be towed, according to the borough's website.

Free parking and shuttles

The Bucks County Commissioners approved free parking in county-owned garages for the weekend. Free options include the Union Street Garage (Broad and Union), Court Street Garage (Court and Broad), Central Bucks High School West (375 W. Court St.), Lenape Middle School (313 W. State St.) and the Fanny Chapman complex near State Street and Borough Mill Road. The Wells Fargo lot on Wood Street is free Sunday only. The Clinton Street lot at Clinton and Wood is reserved for accessible parking.

The Doylestown DART shuttle runs free, handicap-accessible routes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Route A connects the Union Street Garage with Clinton and Wood streets. Route B links the Fanny Chapman area with Ashland and Green streets. Route C runs between Central Bucks West and Clinton and Wood streets. A full loop may take 30 minutes or longer.

SEPTA Regional Rail serves the Doylestown station, several blocks from the festival grounds. Ride-share users should use 124 E. State St. as a drop-off point.

Both events are free and run rain or shine. The Bucks County Classic expo area on Court Street between Pine and Broad will feature food trucks and local businesses.