(Radio Iowa) — Thousands of people will be traveling this weekend to Onawa, the starting point for RAGBRAI. The annual bicycle ride across the state will begin Sunday morning in the Monona County community and end in Davenport next Saturday (July 28)th. Jen Collison, with the Onawa Chamber of Commerce, believes the town of 3,000 residents is ready for 20,000 visitors.

“There’s been a lot of mowing and weed-eating, porta-pots are coming in, picnic tables, we’re starting to close streets,” Collison said. “The businesses have been great as far as decorating their store fronts.”

The Monona County Fairgrounds will serve as the primary site for campers Saturday night, but tent camping will also be allowed at the high school, in all city parks, and on the grounds of the Onawa Library. “Every piece of green grass is being used at this point for tents,” Collison said.

The entertainment in Onawa includes four live bands. Onawa last hosted RAGBRAI in 2004. According to Collison, the town has been preparing for this weekend since January. On Sunday, the first day of RAGBRAI, bicyclists will pedal 43.3 miles to Denison. The other overnight host cities are Jefferson, Ames, Newton, Sigourney, and Iowa City.