Festival Weekends
Festival Weekends are what most riders look forward to each season. There is racing of course, but also time spent hanging with friends, camping, pre-riding the race course, games, and all sorts of fun activities! Below you will find information for each race, links to register for camping and links to register your riders for Festival Weekends.
With the 2026 changes, your NICA PitZone registration for 2026 now includes attendance for all event weekends. However, camping is not included. Links for camping registration (where applicable) will be listed for each event below!
Bluff Bash Festival -September 4 to September 7, 2026
7141 County Hwy. N, Arpin, WI 54410
If you'd like to camp at this Festival, please click the link to the left. Camping is in a large field that is designated for our team. Amenities are limited.
Please be prepared to bring all of your own food and water. Fires are permitted at some locations but firewood is not provided. There are no showers, however porta-potties are available.
Camping Registration Deadline for the Bluff Bash is Monday, August 24th at Midnight.
DeForest MTB Bluff Bash Notes:
Team Pitzone Location (our team gathering area) is TBD:
Location Notes:
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Navigating to the address for Powers Bluff County Park directly will put you at the wrong side of the venue, pleae use the address above or search for the "Powers Bluff North Trailhead"
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This is a combined North and South Conference Festival Weekend. Please note DeForest MTB is in the "South" Conference, and slated to race on Saturday.
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Trouble finding our PiZone location? Look for the DeForest Norskies purple and yellow flags and tent!
Minooka Mania Festival - September 18 to September 20
1927 E Sunset Dr, Waukesha, WI 53189
If you'd like to camp at this Festival, please click the link to the right. Camping Registration for Minooka is done through the Waukesha County Parks Department. The link on the left will take you to the registration page. Camping is first come-first served for this event so please register ASAP! The camping weekend is labeled "WICL HS Camping" and the cost is $36 for the weekend.
DeForest MTB Minooka Mania Notes:
Team Pitzone (our team gathering area) for Minooka is TBD
Location Notes:
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Minooka Park requires a day-pass to enter - https://www.waukeshacounty.gov/parks-and-land-use/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-trails/annual-memberships-daily-permits/
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If not camping, parking will be on a hill overlooking the Start/Finish/Pitzone areas. After parking simply walk down.
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Trouble finding our PiZone location? Look for the DeForest Norskies purple and yellow flags and tent!
Englewood Epic Festival - September 25 to September 27
W1414 Co Rd Z, Fall River, WI 53932
If you'd like to camp at this Festival, please click the link to the left. Camping is in a large field that is designated for our team. Amenities are limited. Please be prepared to bring all of your own food and water. There are no showers, however porta-potties are available. Registration deadline for camping at Englewood is midnight, Monday, September 7th.
DeForest MTB Englewood Epic Notes:
Team PitZone (our team gathering area) is TBD
The Englewood Epic Festival is the DeForest Team's "Home Festival". This means our rider's families are expected to make a strong effort to volunteer for the league at this event. If you are not a coach and will be attending this Festival with your rider, please be prepared to sign up for at least one volunteer position. Link for volunteer sign-up will be provided here closer to the date of this Festival.
Location Notes:
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Parking and camping are in a large cleared field immediately off of (and visible from) the north side of the county road. Volunteers will be present to aid you with directions for parking. (Note: If your map directions take you to what appears to be a private residence -- you likely just need to go a little further down the county road.)
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Do not use the gravel road next to the camping area (Even if you may have previously used it during private team practice)
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Trouble finding our PiZone location? Look for the DeForest Norskies purple and yellow flags and tent!
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The course start/finish can be reached by walking northeast from the parking area.
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This is a working farm that also has a world-class mountain biking course, no pets and no campfires please.
Gnarly Nordic Festival - October 16 to October 18
W5806 County Rd W, Wild Rose, WI 54984
If you'd like to camp at this Festival, please click the link to the left. Camping is in a large field that is designated for our team. Amenities are limited. Please be prepared to bring all of your own food and water. There are no showers, however porta-potties are available. Deadline to register for camping at Gnarly Nordic is midnight, Monday, October 5th.
DeForest MTB Gnarly Nordic Notes:
Team PitZone (our team gathering area) is TBD
Location Notes:
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Please, do not use the ski chair lifts or tubing hills at all during this festival weekend
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Trouble finding our PiZone location? Look for the DeForest Norskies purple and yellow flags and tent!
Trek Festival - October 23rd to October 25th
97 Canal Rd., Waterloo, WI 53594
If you'd like to camp at this Festival, please click the link to the left. Camping is in a large field that is designated for our team. Amenities are limited. Please be prepared to bring all of your own food and water. There are no showers, however porta-potties are available. Deadline to register for camping at the Red Barn State Championship at Trek is midnight, Monday, October 5th.
DeForest MTB Trek - Red Barn State Championship Notes:
Team Pitzone (our team gathering area) is TBD
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This Festival Weekend allows us special access to Trek's private trails
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Both the North and South Conferences will be riding together at this Festival Weekend.
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Getting to and from the race start from parking and/or PitZone for this location typically takes slightly longer than for other events. Please give yourself extra time.
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Trouble finding our PiZone location? Look for the DeForest Norskies purple and yellow flags and tent!