FRANKENMUTH, MI--(Marketwired - May 15, 2014) - The 8th Annual Tour de Frankenmuth, a two-day, cycling weekend, returns to Frankenmuth May 24 and 25, 2014. The Tour de Frankenmuth includes a bike race and cycling tour of Michigan's Thumb and is one of many Bikes, Barks & Balloons Memorial Day Weekend Activities. The public is invited to participate in any or all of our events over the weekend.

Tour de Frankenmuth is sponsored by Zehnder's of Frankenmuth. The race's $5000 winner's purse and bragging rights are up for grabs in the eighth annual road race. A FREE KID'S RACE is scheduled at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Zehnder's Tour de Frankenmuth brings over 400 participants into Frankenmuth along with several hundred fans. Just like the major races across Europe and the U.S., the Tour de Frankenmuth promises plenty of cycling excitement. The gathering place for all events is Zehnder's Park in Downtown Frankenmuth, just south of Zehnder's Restaurant. All events will be held rain or shine and is coordinated by the Revolution Racing Club.

One For The Thumb!
The Gran Fondo de Thumb is back for a fifth year. Gran Fondos are long distance, mass-participation cycling events that are timed, but are not races, and have become immensely popular in Europe and are just now becoming popular in North America. Our Gran Fondo features a tour of Michigan's Thumb. With routes for beginners and expert riders, the Gran Fondo includes 15-mile, 65-mile and the extreme 130-mile long routes. Riders choosing the longest route will end at the wind turbines of Ubly.

Additional Family Fun Weekend Events
Dog Bowl 2014 - The Midwest's Largest Olympic Style Event for Dogs invites you to the seventh Annual FREE family Dog Bowl at Frankenmuth River Place. Bring your canine athlete and get in on the action. Dock Dogs, Disc Dog and many other events will be featured throughout the weekend.

Balloons Over Bavaria - Over thirty balloonists, will compete for accuracy in achieving flight tasks and striving to hit targets on the ground in six flight attempts over the weekend. Experience the Balloon Glow featuring tethered hot air balloons that glow & flicker in the evening sky. Meet the pilots, get autographs and even take pictures with the children in the basket. Balloon Glows are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Fireworks Finale - Weekend events will conclude with a fantastic Fireworks Display, sponsored by PEPSI, Sunday evening beginning approximately 9:45 p.m.

For more information on the Tour de Frankenmuth cycling events and the Memorial Weekend activities go to www.tourdefrankenmuth.com., www.dogbowlfun.com or www.frankenmuth.org.

The Bavarian town of Frankenmuth, 90 miles north of Detroit, is one of the state's top tourist destinations with more than 3 million visitors each year. In addition to Zehnder's 1,100 seat restaurant with a marketplace, bakery and gift store, Zehnder's of Frankenmuth owns and operates Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark,  and the 18-hole championship golf course, The Fortress.  In 1998, Golf Digest recognized The Fortress as one of the top 450 public golf courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Frankenmuth was voted the best day trip in Michigan by Detroit News readers, and Zehnder's was honored as one of the top vacation-stop restaurants in the state. Learn more about Zehnder's at www.zehnders.com or call 800-863-7999, for dining, golf, meetings and lodging.