CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The capital city is gearing up for the Pro Road National Championships .

With hundreds of cyclists expected to take over the roadways and thousands of spectators expected to come out and watch, Tim Brady, the President and CEO of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, said there will be multiple areas with events for families to enjoy.

“Thursday and Friday evenings is the Criterium race in downtown Charleston. Slack Plaza will be the place to be for that,” Brady said. “We’ll have a DJ, there’ll be a vendor village and expo area inside of City Center at Slack Plaza. With the new PODA legislation, you can buy a beer at one of the breweries and come out and watch the race.”

Downtown restaurants like Black Sheep Burritos and Brews are also gearing up for race week.

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“We’ve got the amazing corner turn here at Quarrier and Summers,” Kevin Madison, General Manager for Black Sheep Burritos and Brews. “We’ve got two patios, people can enjoy drinks and food and watch the races, but you’ve also got the vibe of the expo and live entertainment and things at city center and Slack Plaza.”

Another hot spot for spectators will be Bridge Road. Brady said KRT buses will provide shuttles to South Hills all weekend for anyone who wants to watch the races there. On Sunday, Bridge Road shops will also be partnering to offer food, games and music.

“They’ll have food, drinks, face painting for kids, games for kids,” Brady said. “This is going to be a great watch zone.”

If you’re looking for BBQ, downtown will be the spot for you on Saturday.

This year, the Bob Burdette Center will be partnering with USA Cycling to host their annual fundraiser “Charley West BBQ Fest.” You can pay $10 to taste and vote on the best BBQ dishes! All proceeds will go to the group’s after school program.

“Families that maybe wouldn’t be able to afford it on their own we bring in certified tutors/teachers to come in and help them with their math and their reading skills,” Dianna Graves, Executive Director of Bob Burdette Center. “So, we’re very excited the cycling event is going to be here and hopefully bring in a lot of extra people who might like BBQ.”

Brady said another great watch location will be the Haddad Riverfront Park where the start and finish lines will be located.

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