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New Events Announced for Watkins Glen International

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During a pep rally to kick off Opening Weekend for the 2024 season, Watkins Glen International announced several new fan events designed to welcome more community members to the historic New York State road course.

While fans are used to seeing race cars speed through the famed Esses and taking on the challenging elevation changes, for the first time they will be able to spin two wheels around the circuit as the track introduces Bike The Glen on May 15. Kids 12 and under can Bike The Glen for free, while adults pay $15 per person to ride their bicycles the length of the road course.

WGI is also introducing track tours for community members and fans traveling to the Southern Tier. Tour The Glen opportunities will occur once a month, beginning on May 18. Fans can experience the track as they never have before by riding around the facility and taking pictures in Victory Lane, at the start/finish line, or by sitting on the same stage in the media center where winning drivers conduct interviews after taking the checkered flag.

Tour The Glen passes can be purchased for $20 per adult, $15 per kid, and kids 4 and under are free. The 2024 Tour the Glen dates are May 18, June 29, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 28, and Oct. 29.

“We want to welcome our neighbors and visitors to the area and hope they share the same sense of pride in Watkins Glen International as our team,“ said Dawn Burlew, President of Watkins Glen International. “The Glen is going to continue to open up new opportunities for the community to come to the track and contribute to the tourism of the Southern Tier throughout the season. We look forward to making additional event enhancement announcements throughout the year.”

The Glen is also adding to the fan experience for community members during major event weekends in 2024. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen race weekend in June will now feature an IMSA preview event on Wednesday, June 19, from 5 – 7 p.m. at nearby The Yard FLX, which opens this year. Fans will be able to participate in Go Kart races, collect driver autographs, listen to live music, and win VIP tickets to the weekend’s IMSA races.

Thursday night of both the NASCAR Go Bowling at The Glen and IMSA Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race weeks will feature Glow Party Track Walks. Live music will get the night started before fans get the opportunity to walk the track under the stars. Glow items will be available for purchase to enhance the fan experience. The event is free for all fans with a ticket to the weekend’s events.

Watkins Glen International is also revitalizing the WGI Celebratory Brick program, which allows fans to etch their name in history forever at the track. Community members and fans from near and far may purchase a brick to commemorate a milestone, honor a loved one, or just share their family’s love for WGI. Details will be available soon on TheGlen.com. Bricks will be displayed in a central location near “The Pyramid” souvenir store behind the Jackie Stewart Grandstands.

In addition to the new events, two fan-favorites in Drive The Glen and the Chemung Canal Trust Company Summer Concert Series return for 2024. In Drive The Glen, for $30 per vehicle, fans can drive three laps led by the WGI pace car around the road course in their personal vehicle (sorry, no motorcycles, RVs or motorcoaches). Details, available dates, and registration are available at TheGlen.com/drive-the-glen.

The Chemung Canal Trust Company Summer Concert Series on Thursday evenings opens on June 13 leading into the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend. Additional concerts are scheduled for July 18, Aug. 15, and Sept. 5 and all take place from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The full concert lineup will be announced on TheGlen.com/summer-concert-series at a later date. Concerts are free to the public and will showcase performers from the region. All ages are welcome at the family-friendly event, and food and drink will be available for purchase.

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