Events and Activities

Major Taylor racing in Paris 1908

Past events

"Major Taylor: Champion of the Race," a new documentary from Indiana Public Media, will be shown at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in the Saxe Room of the Worcester Public Library.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the producer/director, Todd Gould; Major Taylor's great-granddaughter Karen Brown Donovan; historian Dart Adams; and others.

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Reserve seats here.

The one-hour documentary explores the life and legacy of the fastest bicycle rider in the world at the turn of the 20th century, featuring interviews with noted historians, athletes, and social justice advocates. Passages from Major Taylor's autobiography are voiced by Grammy-winning jazz musician Branford Marsalis.

The film premiered on WTIU in Indiana on Feb. 26 and is being offered to PBS stations nationwide this spring.

Additional in-person screenings

Feb. 29 - Indianapolis - followed by a panel discussion with producer Todd Gould, Butler University history professor Charlene Fletcher, Major Taylor Association president Lynne Tolman, and Major Taylor's great-granddaughter Karen Brown Donovan, moderated by Kisha Tandy of the Indiana State Museum

May 19 - Chicago - details to come

June 15 - Indianapolis - details to come

View the trailer.

July 21, 2024 George Street Bike Challenge
for Major Taylor
Worcester, Mass.

See how fast you can pedal up George Street, a two-block quad-buster where 1899 world champion Major Taylor made his mark. It's one rider at a time against the clock in this steep uphill time trial in downtown Worcester, presented by Landry's Bicycles and the Seven Hills Wheelmen. For details, click here.

Past Events

• April 20, 2024  WPI Concert Band premiere of "The Ride"
  
  
• February 26, 2024  PBS documentary premiere: "Major Taylor: Champion of the Race"
  
  
• February 1-29, 2024  Major Taylor at the Worcester Public Library
  
  
• January 23, 2024  Author talk by Charles R. Smith Jr.
  
  
• November 2023  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• October 14, 2023 Glassner Autumn Challenge
  
  
• July 23, 2023 George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 15, 2023  Summer Sizzler
  
  
• July 8, 2023  Up and Over in New Hampshire
  
  
• July 8, 2023  MTCC Dayton 2023 Signature Ride
  
  
• June 16-18, 2023  2023 Major Taylor Convention
  
  
• May 11, 2023  Annapolis Bicycle Club and BikeAAA presentation
  
  
• April 25, 2023  "Biking While Black" documentary film screening
  
  
• April 23, 2023  Cascade Bicycle Club's Ride for Major Taylor
  
  
• April 15, 2023  Major Taylor Carolinas Unity Ride
  
  
• February 8, 2023  Scotch Plains Public Library presentation
  
  
• January 18, 2023  Preservation Worcester: "The Worcester Whirlwind"
  
  
• December 10, 2022  Indoor sprints: "Racing Major Taylor"
  
  
• December 8, 2022  MassBike at the Major Taylor Museum
  
  
• November 2022  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• October 22, 2022 Glassner Autumn Challenge 2022
  
  
• July 24, 2022 George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 17-18, 2022 International Cycling History Conference
  
  
• July 9, 2022 MTCC Dayton 2022 Signature Ride
  
  
• June 17-19, 2022  Major Taylor Invitational
  
  
• June 4, 2022  Ride to Remember Black Wall Street
  
  
• April 29, 2022  Author talk - Major Taylor biographer Michael Kranish
  
  
• April 27, 2022  Shrewsbury Historical Society presentation
  
  
• November 2021  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• October 29, 2021 Major Taylor Museum opening
  
  
• October 23, 2021 Glassner Autumn Challenge 2021
  
  
• September 17-18, 2021 Unity Ride
  
  
• July 23-25, 2021 Harriet Tubman Freedom Ride
  
  
• July 10, 2021 MTCC Dayton 2021 Signature Ride
  
  
• June 18, 2021 Black Wall Street 100
  
  
• February 27, 2021 Major Taylor Community Ride (Georgia)
  
  
• November 2020  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• June-July 2020  1 Million Miles for Justice
  
  
• July 10, 2020  Pactimo livestream with Major Taylor Association
  
  
• February 27, 2020  "The Worcester Whirlwind" presentation at Worcester Senior Center
  
  
• February 22, 2020  Selma to Montgomery 55th Anniversary Ride
  
  
• November 23-December 1, 2019  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• August 10, 2019  Major Taylor Trail Keepers ride
  
  
• August 4, 2019  Major Taylor Bike Tour with Preservation Worcester
  
  
• July 28, 2019  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 13, 2019  MTCC Dayton 2019 Signature Ride
  
  
• May 18, 2019  GEAR UP: The Science of Bikes
  
  
• May 7, 2019  "The World's Fastest Man" author Michael Kranish
  
  
• February 2019  Black History Month
  
  
• November 24-December 1, 2018  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• July 27, 2018  Indiana historical marker rededication and tribute at Major Taylor Velodrome
  
  
• July 22, 2018  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 21, 2018  Major Taylor Victory Ride and unveiling of Chicago mural
  
  
• July 14, 2018  MTCC Dayton 2018 Signature Ride
  
  
• June 23, 2018  Juneteenth Bike Day in Peoria
  
  
• November 26, 2017  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• October 26, 2017  Shrewsbury Senior Men's Club presentation
  
  
• September 10, 2017  "Songs of Hope"
  
  
• July 23, 2017  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 15, 2017  MTCC Dayton 2017 Signature Ride
  
  
• April 20, 2017  Black Tavern Historical Society presentation
  
  
• November 26, 2016  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• October 2, 2016  Major Taylor Century / Gran Fondo New England
  
  
• July 24, 2016  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 24, 2016  McDermott 3 State Tour
  
  
• July 19, 2016  Worcester Public Library summer reading program: "Major Taylor, World Cycling Champion"
  
  
• July 16, 2016  MTCC Dayton 2016 Signature Ride
  
  
• November 26, 2015  Major Taylor birthday rides
  
  
• October 17, 2015  Dallas Tour de Hood - Major Taylor Community Bike Ride
  
  
• September 17, 2015  Richmond mural dedication ceremony
  
  
• July 11, 2015  MTCC Dayton 2015 Signature Ride
  
  
• February 21, 2015 Owls Head Transportation Museum presentation
  
  
• October 5, 2014 Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 27, 2014  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 12, 2014  MTCC Dayton 2014 Signature Ride
  
  
• June 27-29, 2014 Longsjo Classic
  
  
• October 6, 2013 Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 21, 2013  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 13, 2013  MTCC Dayton 2013 Signature Ride
  
  
• September 30, 2012 Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 22, 2012  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 14, 2012  MTCC Dayton 2012 Bike Tour
  
  
• February 2012  Black History Month
  
  
• October 2, 2011 Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 24, 2011  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• June 10, 2011 Major Taylor Down Under
  
  
• February 2011  Black History Month
  
  
• November 14, 2010 "Bicycle Dreams"
  
  
• October 3, 2010 Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 25, 2010  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• July 17, 2010  MTCC Dayton 2010 Bike Tour
  
  
• June 2010  Dutch team visits "Worcester Whirlwind" hometown
  
  
• February 2010  Black History Month
  
  
• October 4, 2009  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• August 13, 2009  Indiana Historical Marker Dedication
  
  
• July 26, 2009  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• June 27, 2009 Worcester African American Festival and Juneteenth Celebration
  
  
• February 2009  Black History Month
  
  
• October 11, 2008  Colonel Allensworth Century and Fun Ride
  
  
• September 21, 2008  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 27, 2008  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• May 21, 2008  Major Taylor statue dedication
  
  
• November 27, 2007  "Marshall 'Major' Taylor" Book-signing by Marlene Targ Brill
  
  
• September 23, 2007  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 29, 2007  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• September 24, 2006  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 24, 2006  Major Taylor Boulevard Dedication Ceremony
  
  
• July 23, 2006  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• February 2006  Black History Month
  
  
• October 2, 2005  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 10, 2005  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• May 21, 2005  Kissena Classic
  
  
• April 21, 2005  Slide Show and Book-signing by Andrew Ritchie
  
  
• February 20, 2005  Banff Mountain Film Festival -- World Tour
  
  
• February 13, 2005  Major Taylor Reading Week
  
  
• February 5, 2005  African American Festival
  
  
• October 29, 2004  Metal Cowboy
  
  
• October 10, 2004  Jack & Jill Bicycle Event
  
  
• October 3, 2004  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 25, 2004  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• April 16, 2004  Book-signing -- "Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist"
  
  
• February 15, 2004  Major Taylor Reading Week
  
  
• November 1, 2003  "Worcester Whirlwinds: Bicycles and Weather"
  
  
• September 28, 2003  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 20, 2003  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• June 25, 2003  Meet "the next Major Taylor"
  
  
• June 21, 2003  Ride to Remember Major Taylor
  
  
• April 27, 2003  Exploring the African American Experience in Cambridge: Major Taylor
  
  
• February 16, 2003  Major Taylor Reading Week
  
  
• October 12, 2002  Central Mass. Cyclo-Cross to End Homelessness
  
  
• September 29, 2002  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• July 28, 2002  George Street Bike Challenge
  
  
• April 14, 2002  Riding High
  
  
• January 21, 2002  "Keeping the Dream Alive"
  
  
• January 5, 2002  Women's Day at Cycle Loft
  
  
• October 13, 2001  Black Church Choirs Festival
  
  
• September 30, 2001  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• Feburary 3, 2001  African American Festival
  
  
• October 2, 2000  Major Taylor Presentation
  
  
• May 18-24, 2000  Major Taylor Week
  
  
• January 31, 2000  Applebee's Grand Opening
  
  
• September 1999  Artists' presentations
  
  
• September 26, 1999  Major Taylor Century
  
  
• August 1999  Photo display of statue designs
  
  
• August 15, 1999  Larz Anderson Bicycle Show & Swap
  
  
• July 23, 1999  Major Taylor Centennial Day
  
  
• May 17, 1999  Bike Week Kickoff Party at Redbones
  
  
• October 17, 1998  Worcester Black Choir Festival
  
  
• September 12, 1998  Tatnuck Watershed Festival
  
  

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