Since the Tour de France won’t be coming through Lawrence this year (or ever), the next best thing may be the Tour de Fat.

New Belgium Brewing Company, the makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, will bring the bike-and-brew fest Saturday to Burcham Park, Third and Indiana streets. Organizers selected Lawrence as one of a dozen stops in the United States because of its “extensive trail system and strong cycling community.”

Making the rounds in their 1963 Airstream (or “Beerstream,” as it’s dubbed), the New Belgium gang promises a variety of happenings.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., live music will be provided by Trucker, the Art Bentley Band and by David Swalve and Julia Peterson. Activities include a morning bike ride at a $5 cost, a vintage bike show and games such as a mini-cruiser race, paperboy challenge and slow ride. Additionally, two limited-edition 2002 classic cruiser bikes will be given away.

Food is supplied by Buffalo Wild Wings, La Parrilla and Old Chicago. New Belgium samplings of its new brew portfolio will be available.

Proceeds from the Tour de Fat go to the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club and the Environmental Studies Student Assn. For more information or to register for the bike ride, call (888) 622-4044 or try the Web site at http://www.newbelgium.com/tdf2002_lawerence.shtml.

In addition to the Tour de Fat, the city will mark Earth Day with a variety of free events on Saturday.

Beginning at 10 a.m., Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St., will offer mural painting, face painting, a recycling toss, an environmental maze and other activities.

The Earth Day parade will start at 11 a.m. at South Park, 11th and Massachusetts streets, and travel to Seventh Street. The parade will end in Buford M. Watson Jr. Park, where an information fair will be set up.

A household hazardous waste collection will be from 8 a.m. to noon at the Douglas County Public Works Yard, 711 E. 23rd St. Paint and paint-related items, pest control products, household cleaners and other products will be collected.

Another parade is scheduled Saturday in Jefferson County. The fourth-annual Kansas’ Greatest Patriot’s Day Parade begins at 1 p.m. in downtown McLouth. The parade commemorates the beginning of the Revolutionary War and features a variety of floats, vehicles, marching groups and costumed riders.

Other Patriot’s Day activities are a children’s parade at 11 a.m., a petting zoo, quilt display, crafts show, climbing wall, military memorabilia display and a community meal at McLouth High School.

For those who are into sports, the Kansas Relays will continue today and Saturday at Memorial Stadium. A variety of field and running competitions are scheduled, beginning at 8 a.m. each day. A complete list of events can be found in today’s Sports section.

Also, the Scott McHorter and Emily Nelson 5K Run, Walk and Roll will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kansas River levee trail. The event is a benefit for ARC of Dallas and Natural Ties of Lawrence. For more information, call Jill at (785) 312-5208.