Tour de Palm Springs kicks off with vendor expo today

Festivities for the 16th Tour de Palm Springs will get under way in the downtown area today.

The Vendor Expo will begin at noon on North Palm Canyon Drive between Tahquitz Canyon Way and Alejo Road.

The all-day event includes bike gear and apparel, live music, food, a beer and wine garden and information on cycling programs.

Starting about 6 p.m., high school and community college jazz bands will perform on North Palm Canyon as part of “Tour de Jazz.” Bands and choirs will perform downtown and at food stops along the cycling routes on Saturday.

With more than 10,000 cyclists from 42 states set to participate, the rides start at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow and will include a “century” 100-mile route. A variety of other rides are for distances anywhere from 1 to 55 miles; participants can also walk one to three miles. Proceeds will benefit about 125 local charities, according to organizers.

Palm Canyon between Tahquitz and Alejo will be closed Friday and Saturday.

The event raises money for 125 local nonprofits and organizations.

For information and registration for the Tour de Palm Springs, visit tourdepalmsprings.com, or call (760) 674-4700.