Dirty Fest 2026: Good Friends, Great Stories… and an Unholy Amount of Dirt
If you’ve been around BMX long enough, you know there are events… and then there are gatherings.
Dirty Fest 2026 has become one of those rare BMX weekends where the bikes matter, sure… but what really brings people together is the culture, the history, and the shared understanding that somehow, decades later, we’re all still completely obsessed with BMX.
For those who don’t know, Dirty Fest has grown into one of the great annual celebrations of old-school BMX. Riders, collectors, industry legends, racers, and lifelong fans all come together for a weekend that feels less like an event and more like a giant family reunion… except this family has way better stories and significantly more scars.
This year, I once again had the pleasure of setting up shop with my daughter, Hayley, running the Radical Rick booth together. And honestly, that alone made the weekend special.
There’s something pretty cool about standing behind the booth, signing autographs, talking with fans who grew up reading Radical Rick, hearing stories about dog-eared copies of BMX Plus! magazine from the early ’80s, and watching people laugh when they realize that somehow this weird little comic character we created all those years ago is still connecting people today.
We spent the weekend slinging shirts, hats, books, and all things RAD… but the best part was never the merchandise. The best part was reconnecting with old friends.
Getting to catch up with legends like Eddie Fiola, Stu Thomsen, and Bill Ryan reminded me why BMX has always been bigger than the sport itself. These aren’t just names from old magazine covers. These are flesh and blood friends I’ve known for decades.
A special hats off to Mike Miranda and the Dirty Knobs podcast crew for throwing yet another epic event for the ages.
Now… Let’s talk about the downside. The dirt. Dear Lord, the dirt.
I’m not sure there was a single moment during the entire weekend where Hayley and I were either breathing dirt, eating dirt, wiping dirt off merchandise, cleaning dirt off our faces, or wondering how dirt had somehow made its way into places dirt should never be allowed to go. It was relentless.
The kind of dust that makes you question every life decision that led you to standing in the middle of a BMX track for eight straight hours. And somehow… I’d do it all again tomorrow. Because events like Dirty Fest remind me of something I’ve known for a long time: BMX was never just about racing. It was always about community.
It was about friendships that somehow survive forty-five-plus years. It was about shared memories. And for me personally, it was a reminder that Radical Rick has been lucky enough to become part of that story for generations of riders who still carry that same BMX spirit with them.
So to everyone who stopped by the booth, shared stories, bought merch, grabbed a photo, or simply came by to say hello… Thank you. And to Dirty Fest… Next year, maybe slightly less dirt? Probably not. Stay Rad. And don’t be a wimp.
— Damian Fulton
, Creator of Radical Rick