FAYETTEVILLE — Bikes, Blues & BBQ is growing. Again.
As has been the trend with the annual motorcycle rally, the number of people coming to this year’s event is likely to increase, organizers believe, in spite of higher gas prices and other economic stresses.
“We continue to grow,” event director Joe Giles says. “We optimistically think we’ll grow again this year.”
While the number of visitors is always the subject of some debate, many thousands will come from all across the country to join the fray from Wednesday through Oct. 1 on Dickson Street and the associated venues at the Tyson Track Center and Washington County Fairgrounds. And, for the first time in the rally’s history, Springdale is getting in on the action as an AMXA Arenacross exhibition comes to Parsons Stadium during the rally’s final two days.
Organizers hope that the Arenacross event will expand the rally’s already wide demographics and attract as many as 10,000 fans.
The featured draw will be “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram, a freestyle motorcrosser and race car driver.
The Arenacross bikes are perhaps atypical of the other motorcycles at the rally, but the emphasis is clearly on cruisers.
FAQ
BIKES, BLUES & BBQ
WHEN - Wednesday through Oct. 1
WHERE - Various locations in Northwest Arkansas, including Dickson Street, Randal Tyson Track Center, Parsons Stadium and more
COST - Rally attendance is free; some events (such as concerts) are ticketed
INFO - www.bikesbluesandbbq.org
Dickson Street remains a vital part of the rally, serving as home to a beer garden, live music stage and the finals of the Miss Bikes, Blues & BBQ contest. Vendors will line the street as well.
In recent years, as the rally has grown, it has moved to affiliated venues. The Randal Tyson Track Center/BaumStadium area also offers a beer garden and exhibitions and will serve as the launching point for two early morning poker runs.
Growing in prominence this year is the Washington County Fairgrounds. Like other venues, there will be live music and a beer garden there, but this year the fairgrounds will also serve as home to two new attractions: Circus Una, a highwire motorcycle act, and the Booger County Lawn Mowers, a group that stages tractor pulls on garden equipment. At least one of the lawn mowers has an engine capable of producing 170 horsepower, Giles says.
The fairgrounds also hosts the barbecue element of the rally. The Arkansas State Barbecue Championship takes place there on Oct. 1. Although that event doesn’t provide public tasting opportunities, an event on Sept. 30 does.
The people’s choice award is given to the barbecue team that achieves the most votes from amateur judges. Tickets for a tasting kit are $6 and are limited to the first 3,000. The tasting begins at 6:30 p.m., but tickets will be available starting at 8:30 a.m.
In expanding the offerings there and elsewhere, Giles says he and his team hopeto alleviate crowding along Dickson Street.
“They just don’t fit physically down there,” he says.
And, in a similar move to ease the traffic burden in Fayetteville, the route for the Oct. 1 parade has changed to keep the motorcycles on Dickson Street for a shorter amount of time.
Having the event in multiple locations helps maintain its family-friendly atmosphere, Giles says. Dickson Street retains its party feel - especially late at night - and other venues offer events such as the lawn mower tractor pulls that trend towardyounger audiences.
To help keep it family friendly, nudity is prohibited rallywide, and vendors are not permitted to sell items of questionable taste.
That, coupled with the charitable giving associated with a successful rally year, keeps people coming back.
“They are coming here for the roads, the rides, and the safe atmosphere,” Giles says.
“It’s such a charity-driven rally.”
And there’s nothing a child and his family wouldn’t enjoy, he says.
“They are overwhelmed by the amount of chrome.”
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
SEPT. 30
3:30 p.m. - Circus Una Highwire Act
5-8 p.m. - Lawn mower races
5:15 p.m. - Circus Una Highwire Act
6:30-8 p.m. - People’s Choice BBQ Competition
7:30 p.m. - Circus Una Highwire Act
OCT. 1
Noon - Barbecue competition judging
3 p.m. - Barbecue awards ceremony
PARSONS STADIUM
SEPT. 30
4 p.m. - Arenacross race practice
6:30 p.m. - Arenacross meet and greet
8 p.m. - Arenacross Pro race
9 p.m. - “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram Show
OCT. 1
11 a.m. - Amateur and kids motorcross racing
2 p.m. - Heat races
6:30 p.m. - Race finals
9 p.m. - “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram Show
DICKSON STREET
WEDNESDAY
3-11 p.m. - Beer garden open
10 p.m. - Miss Bikes, Blues & BBQ semifinals (Jose’s)
THURSDAY
Noon to 11:30 p.m. - Beer garden open
10 p.m. - Miss Bikes, Blues & BBQ semifinals (Jose’s)
SEPT. 30
10 a.m. to midnight - Beer garden open
10 p.m. - Miss Bikes, Blues & BBQ semifinals (Georges’s)
OCT. 1
8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. - Beer garden open
8 a.m. - Bike show registration
Noon - Bike show and judging
3:30 p.m. - Parade of Power
Midnight - Miss Bikes, Blues & BBQ finals
RANDAL TYSON TRACK CENTER/BAUM STADIUM AREA
WEDNESDAY
3-9 p.m. - Beer garden open
THURSDAY
Noon to 9 p.m. - Beer garden open
SEPT. 30
7:30 a.m. - Poker run registration
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Beer garden open
8:30 a.m. - Poker run departs
4 p.m. - Poker run returns
OCT. 1
7:30 a.m. - Poker run registration
8:30 a.m. - Poker run departs
10 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Beer garden open
4 p.m. - Poker run returns
BIKES, BLUES & BBQ MUSIC SCHEDULE
Dickson Street Main Stage
Wednesday
5:30 p.m. - Nathan Aronowitz
7:30 p.m. - Lil’ Hoojin
9:30 p.m. - The Staggering Odds
Thursday
4 p.m. - Ouachita
6 p.m. - Charliehorse
8 p.m. - The Nace Brothers
10 p.m. - Red Ambition
Sept. 30
2:30 p.m. - Dante and the Hawks
4:30 p.m. - The Shotgun Billys
6:30 p.m. - The Uncrowned Kings
8:30 p.m. - Louisiana Crossroads
10:30 p.m. - Joe Giles and the Homewreckers
Oct. 1
3 p.m. - Oreo Blue
4:30 p.m. - Leah and the Mojo Doctors
6:30 p.m. - The Rich Fabec Band
8:30 p.m. - FOS Project
10:30 p.m. - David Kimbrough Jr.
Baum Stadium Stage
Wednesday
5 p.m. - Travis Kidd
6:30 p.m. - Jeff Fox
Thursday
4 p.m. - Gary and John
5:30 p.m. - The Dirty Dogs
7 p.m. - Catfish Jackson
Sept. 30
3 p.m. - Gary and John
5 p.m. - Ransom
7 p.m. - The Boston Mountain Playboys
Oct. 1
2 p.m. - Cathead Biscuit
3:30 p.m. - Russ and Mike
5 p.m. - Zack Bramhall
7 p.m. - Trick Bag Washington County Fairgrounds
Sept. 30
5:30 p.m. - Music for Plants
8 p.m. - Ruckus Arkansas Music Pavilion
Sept. 29
7:30 p.m. - Candlebox, $12-$42 Sept. 30
7:30 p.m. - Jamey Johnson, $27-$52
Whats Up, Pages 18 on 09/23/2011