5 events for the whole family: Children and parents get their money's worth here

There's nothing better than packing the whole family into the car and heading off on a biking holiday. Hardly anything attracts mountain bike families to the mountains more than the prospect of a few days with the kids and their favourite hobby. It gets even better when there is an event at the destination that is perfectly tailored to families. Then everyone from the youngest daughter to the seasoned bike dad can have fun at the same time.

So it's no wonder that the selection of special family offers has grown impressively quickly in recent years. We took a closer look at five particularly cool events for the whole family. Organiser Karen Eller also tells us in a short interview what makes a bike event a unique experience for families.

Italy: Family Bike Derby at the Paganella Bike Park (19-21 June 2025)

Karen Eller and Holger Meyer from Die Rasenmäher are parents themselves and organise several highlight events for families every year. The Family Bike Derby at the end of the Whitsun holidays is a matter close to their hearts and should therefore be in every family calendar. The many possibilities around the Paganella Bike Park promise young and old an unforgettable mountain bike experience in the Dolomites.

The programme not only includes guided tours with experienced guides, but also plenty of side events. These include bunny hop, wheelie and screwdriver workshops, for example. The bike weekend also offers families the opportunity to test the latest equipment from Scott, Continental and Deuter.

From a pizza and pasta party right by the lake to a lunch with local Trentino specialities at the mountain hut, there is also plenty of culinary delights on offer. Professional photo and video recordings are guaranteed to keep the Family Bike Derby in your memory for a long time.

• Date: 19.-21.06.2025
• LocationPaganella Bike Park
• Price415 Euro (per adult, incl. child)

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Switzerland: Family Bike Vibes Arosa (08.-10.08.2025)

The Arosa Bikeschool has a lot of experience in providing a unique mountain bike experience for a wide variety of participants. The Family Bike Vibes are all about fun and games. Families have the opportunity to explore the trails in the Bike Kingdom Arosa together and then split up again into individual level groups. Guided rides are also planned, as well as riding technique courses for adults and children.

Children can look forward to a children's Olympics in the Event Village. Even off the bike, the indoor fun park, bouncy castle, event village and much more offer plenty of opportunities to let off steam. The Family Bike Challenge is the highlight of the weekend. Families go on a treasure hunt together and can prove how well they work as a bike team.

• Date: 08.-10.08.2025
• PlaceBike Kingdom Arosa
• PriceCHF 230 (per family with max. 3 children)

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Austria: BIKE Festival Leogang (12 - 14 September 2025)

The BIKE Festival Leogang is fully focussed on families with a variety of events and hands-on activities for children. The Epic Bikepark Leogang provides a backdrop for the colourful hustle and bustle of the exhibition grounds that could not be better imagined.

In addition to the opportunity to put the latest equipment through its paces, many stars of the MTB scene will be on site. Kids can experience them up close during joint workshops or rides organised by the BIKE Academy.

At the Lazer Junior Trophy on the legendary pump track of the bike park, the youngsters can show how much competitive spirit they already have. The VPace Kids Cup is also part of the BIKE Festival Leogang and offers children from the age of five the chance to take part in a downhill race.

• Date: 12.-14.09.2025
• PlaceEpic Bike Park Leogang
• Pricefree of charge (registration fees for individual events may apply)

>> Here we show how families experience the MTB races for children.

Austria: Kids Bike Camp Tirol (11 - 14 August 2025)

The Bike Academy Kids Camps can look back on a wealth of experience in working with families. The bike school for children has been running since 1999. The pedagogically trained guides playfully introduce the youngsters to important riding techniques. Meanwhile, parents can relax and enjoy their time in the Kitzbühel Alps while biking or hiking.

The Kids Bike Camp is not designed purely for downhillers, but also encourages the youngsters to pedal themselves. Of course, the many lifts and single trails in the region are also used.

The programme starts at nine and ends at 3 pm. This means that families still have time to enjoy the OD trails in Oberndorf together. The programme ends with the Grand Prix of the Bikeacademy, a team technique competition.

• Date: several dates, e.g. 11-14 August 2025
• LocationOberndorf in Tyrol
• Price290 Euro

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Germany: Family Camp Treuchtlingen (22-24 August 2025)

Westwood Trail Adventures and Lechrider Kids are working together to organise the Mountain Bike Family Camp on the Heumödern trails in Treuchtlingen. The trails in the Altmühltal provide fun for kids of all skill levels. Under the guidance of professional guides, the MTB kids learn, for example, the correct braking technique and various cornering techniques. After the camp, all participants are guaranteed to find active off-road riding even easier. Photo and video analyses directly on the trail make the training sessions particularly effective. If you wish, you can be accommodated directly in the family-run Heumöderntal valley station and live just a few metres away from the trail park for the weekend.

• Date: 22.-24.08.2025
• Location: Heumöderntrails Treuchtlingen
• Price: 79 Euro

Good reasons for a bike event with the whole family

Karen Eller from Die Rasenmäher organises various family mountain bike events. We asked the expert three burning questions.

BIKE: Why should families definitely visit an MTB event together?

KAREN ELLER: After we were often asked at our successful Father & Son Days event why there was no Mother & Daughter event, we started to think about it. There are so many women's events that mothers and daughters can take part in. But there wasn't really a family event.

Above all, an event where the kids aren't dropped off in their own group (childcare-like) so that Mum and Dad can shred, but where they can actually bike together with other families in groups.

This is how biking families get to know other biking families. This quickly leads to new friendships for the next bike holiday together, where mums ride with mums, dads with dads and kids with kids.

If (as in our case) a "neutral" guide or coach is also present, this also takes the pressure off the heads of the family in terms of responsibility. Mum and Dad can take it easy and still go biking with the whole family.

Is it really possible to reconcile the needs of children and parents of different ages? What does it take?

It is absolutely possible. We always focus on the weakest children when organising. This means that the parents take a back seat and the focus is on the little ones. Nevertheless, they are allowed to hand over responsibility from time to time.

To equalise the situation, we also offer a day on which the mothers get together in a group, the fathers go enduro biking with a guide and the kids are together. Of course, different groups with different ages are ideal for this.

Otherwise, on a weekend like this, everyone is simply relaxed and happy that they are having fun together and, above all, with other like-minded families.

What impresses you most about an event like Father & Son Days?

At the Father & Son Days, I'm impressed by how cool and relaxed the dads are as an outsider mum who is only there to help organise the event. Helmets, gloves, caps and pads are left lying around on the grounds every day. It's not so bad! It's still there the next day.

And the fathers rarely stress about whether their child is allowed to ride in this group or that group. When it comes to grouping, we also orientate ourselves to the kids and it's becoming more and more common for the dads to ride at the back - voluntarily and also because their youngsters have simply become so fast.

At the Family Bike Derby, on the other hand, it's just so nice to see how the families ride stress-free in a group because the guide is in charge and Mum and Dad can relax.