BikePgh is a bike advocacy organization that  “works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride.”  They’re also a neighbor; the office is at 3410 Penn Avenue, at Doughboy Square.

BikeFest is Bike Pittsburgh’s annual fundraiser, but it’s more than that; it’s also a ten-day celebration of bicycling and a wide-open event in which anyone can organize and submit an event.  BikeFest kicks off this Friday August 12 at the Pittsburgh Opera.  The evening starts at 6:00 p.m. with a V.I.P. event, with the main event starting at 8:00 p.m..  They’ll have dj’s and a performance by Lungs Face Feet, the gypsy style brass and drum band (who played at the Polish Hill Arts Festival).  Click here to buy tickets in advance.

There are multiple bike-related events each day following, including various bike tours of Pittsburgh, bike polo games, bike maintenance classes, a bike scavenger hunt, zombies on bikes, dance parties, and more.  There’s a lot to do and it all sounds fun — check out the full schedule.