Motorcycle rally for the family, and for a cause

Northwest Arkansas’ Bikes, Blues and BBQ is not your typical motorcycle rally. For one thing, it’s the nation’s largest motorcycle rally for charity. And, it’s family-friendly. Bikes, Blues & BBQ is held every September and draws almost half a million bikers to the area. While it is great for the area’s economy, the best part of the rally is that over the years, more than two million dollars in profits have gone entirely to charity.

The event began in 2000 after six years of meticulous planning and calculation by three dedicated men, Richard Watson, Steve Ward, and Neal Crawford. Watson was Fayetteville’s police chief and had the idea for the rally initially after buying his first Harley Davidson bike. The trio also included Fayetteville’s Chamber of Commerce President (Ward) and a successful local business owner and operator (Crawford).

Together, they began putting together a plan. Crawford began hosting bike nights at his local restaurant, Jose’s on Dickson, to gauge community interest in a bike rally. After receiving a positive response from the community, Bikes Blues & BBQ was born.

The rally started off small with only about three hundred attendees the first year, but those numbers escalated quickly and in less than two decades, attendance is over 400,000. This means that almost half a million people visit Northwest Arkansas annually for one week every September, which is an invaluable amount of exposure for local businesses.

Last year’s Bikes Blues & BBQ rally brought between 69 and 80 million dollars in economic revenue to Northwest Arkansas, so it is easy to say that Watson was correct when imagining the economic benefits to hosting such a boisterous and ambitious rally.

Watson felt that Northwest Arkansas was an ideal place for a bike rally not only because of the indisputable economic benefits the rally would bring but also because of the prime location in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. The Ozarks are full of fun rides because of the curvy, well-maintained roads abundant throughout the area. Visitors and attendees are encouraged to check out bikesbluesandbbq.org to find fourteen ride maps of beautiful, scenic motorcycle rides that range in difficulty from novice to advanced. These rides go all the way up to Missouri, giving visitors a tried and true tour through all of the beauty of the Ozarks while stopping in the quaint hidden gem towns along the way.

Each year, the rally primarily takes place in Fayetteville, with the majority of the action happening on Dickson Street, but the rally is spread all throughout Northwest Arkansas. Each city’s downtown generally becomes more biker-friendly during the rally to be gracious hosts for our welcome guests. The main stage of the event is located on Dickson Street, but just as many events happen at the Washington County Fairgrounds, the University of Arkansas’ Baum Stadium, the Fayetteville Town Center, and more.

Some of the exciting events scheduled to take place this year include a poker run, a karaoke contest, the Miss BBB pageant, and the Arkansas State BBQ Championship to decide the best BBQ in the area. This is a family-friendly rally, so there are even events for kids, like the Kids Q BBQ contest for children. The annual “Parade of Power” is a loud local favorite, beginning at the Washington County Fairgrounds and making its way through town all the way to Dickson Street.

For those wanting to avoid the highly trafficked Dickson Street, there are plenty of events outside of the rally’s central area. Every year, Parson’s Stadium in Springdale hosts a demolition derby during the Bikes Blues & BBQ weekend for guests that want to see some loud noises and big automobiles. The Walmart AMP in Rogers usually has a show or two going on during Bikes Blues & BBQ as well. During the 2018 rally, the AMP truly catered to the biker target market, bringing in smashing hit rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd during Bikes Blues & BBQ weekend.

Eureka Springs transforms into a biker’s haven during the rally, because of Bluegrass and BBQ, an annual event hosted by The Farm Camping and Events. The Farm is located directly on the official Eureka Springs Bikes Blues & BBQ trail, which makes it the perfect spot for this festival full of live bluegrass music, great food, and all kinds of unique local craft vendors. The Bluegrass and BBQ festival also includes camping, which is an awesome option for bikers seeking some back-to-nature lodging for the weekend.

Due to the heavy influx of traffic during the week, anyone planning a visit to Northwest Arkansas around the Bikes Blues & BBQ week needs to plan early and proactively, but this family-friendly bike rally is absolutely worth all of the planning. With activities all across the area for all ages, and with the added bonus of all proceeds going to benefit local charities, this bike rally with a purpose is certainly not to be missed!

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