Reminder: Bikes, Blues and BBQ Rally September 24-27, 2014

Just want to remind you that Bikes, Blues and BBQ Rally is just around the corner. Why not mark your calendars now for September 24-27, 2014, so you will have time to schedule the events that are most important to you. It might not be possible to see and do everything due to the magnitude of happenings this year.

BB and BBQ grows bigger and better every year. Springdale has events on tap for the first time. Beautiful Arvest Ball Park will be the site of a motorcycle rally, car show, live music, steak cook off, and a vintage bike show, sponsored by the Ozark Vintage Motorcycle Association on September 27. Sign in for some of those activities is September 26.

Arvest Ball Park is easily accessible from I-49 (formerly I-540). Use brand new Exit 71.

BB and BBQ has become one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country. Best part of all is that proceeds go to local charities.

New Year Good News for Local Charities

As we pass from the season of giving into the new year it seems appropriate to take note of some great news for local charities.

The 2013 Bikes, Blues and BBQ Motorcycle Rally back in September was a big success in all respects. Held each fall in Fayetteville, the goal of the rally has always been to provide family-friendly entertainment and raise funds for local charities at the same time. As the many events have caused venues to spread to surrounding areas, the charitable giving has spread as well.

This year’s donations total $105,000, a $15,000 increase from 2012. There is a long list of recipients. The largest donation, $28,000, was given to Northwest Arkansas Economic Development district and it included $5,000 for Meals on Wheels program in Fayetteville.

Next largest donation was $20,000 to Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club.

Several $5,000 checks were given to other local groups including Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center; Peace at Home Family Shelter; and LifeStyles, Inc. which helps people with disabilities reach their full potential within the community

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA and Sheriff Ralph Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund also received donations.

I’m not going to take space here to list every recipient but all are worthwhile organizations that work hard to make life better for many people in our area.

Thanks to the organizers, participants, and visitors to Bikes, Blues and BBQ. Hope 2014 is even more successful.

Bikes, Blues and BBQ – September 18-21, 2013 -- in Fayetteville

The huge BBBQ motorcycle rally is coming to beautiful Fayetteville, Arkansas, again—and soon. In fact, it is one week earlier than usual this year. Be sure your calendar is marked for September 18-21. BBBQ has become one of the premier rallies in the country. Hundreds of thousands of folks participate and watch whether they have a bike or not.

Music starts at 4 p.m., Wednesday, September 18^th and doesn’t stop until midnight Saturday. Even then the festivities continue with the Miss BBB contest.

If you want an earlier start for great music, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackberry Smoke will be performing at a pre-rally on Thursday, September 12^th at the AMP (Arkansas Music Pavilion) located at Washington County Fairgrounds.

The Fairgrounds is the official campground for the BBBQ rally. There you will find Beer Gardens, free music, and the barbecue contest on Friday. Free shuttle service is offered to all the Dickson Street action.

There are special events for women such as “trying on” a Harley or Yamaha. Other activities you won’t want to miss include a car show featuring customs, street rods, and vintage vehicles. Two Poker Runs will be sponsored by Fayetteville Fire Fighters. The Stokes Air Bike Show will showcase more types of bikes than most of us can imagine.

And the Parade of Power is usually incredible (you might want to bring some ear protection).

Since the first BBQ rally was held in 2000, more than $600,000 has been raised and donated to local charities. This year is no different. All proceeds will be donated to organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, NWA Free Health Clinic, Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club, Horses for Healing and many more.

It’s fair to say there is something for everyone. Music, food, sights to see, and beautiful weather join together to make the rally memorable. BBBQ has always prided itself on being family friendly so bring the kids and enjoy your time together.

For more information:

Official Website

Events Schedule (be sure to scroll down to see events already scheduled)

Official Blog with information about the Pre-Rally Party

Pig Trail Named #2 on Discovery.com’s List of Top Ten Motorcycle Rides in North America

If you’ve ever been sightseeing in NW Arkansas, chances are you have driven the Pig Trail. It’s a truly scenic section of Hwy. 23, between Brashears on the north end and Ozark on the south end. It can be easily accessed from Hwy. 16 in southeast Fayetteville or from Ozark on I-40. 

Hwy 23 continues north to Missouri and south towards Little Rock but the section known as the Pig Trail is less than 20 miles long. It features curves of all shapes and sizes with inclines and declines to hold your interest. The flowering trees in spring and beautiful fall foliage are awesome. You’ll see the Mulberry River, Boston Mountains and Ozark National Forest.  The trail is paved and virtually devoid of commercial development.

Though the Pig Trail is well known in these parts, it’s interesting to note that The Discovery Channel has recently named the trail #2 on its list of Top 10 Motorcycle Rides in all of North America. That is something to brag about.

I think Bikes, Blues and BBQ Festival held in Fayetteville each September has brought more publicity to the trail. Hundreds of thousands people converge on NWA and surely many of them carried stories back home about our Pig Trail.

I’ll be writing more about Bikes, Blues and BBQ around the end of August or first week in September. Mark your calendar for September 18-21 if you want to reserve the dates. (It's a week earlier this year).

Moreinformation on the Pig Trail

One biker’s review

And in the "quality of life" department--check my other blog for more details on new kudos awarded to Fayetteville by Livability.com: #9 college town and #8 barbecue. 

Bikes, Blues & BBQ Rally is Bigger Than Ever

Get ready for an even bigger and better Bikes, Blues and Barbecue Rally in NW Arkansas this year. Each year since inception in 2000, the rally has added more of everything. The growth has been phenomenal in just a few short years.

The fun begins next week--Wednesday, September 28 and doesn’t slow down until midnight October 1.

Hundreds of thousands of people flock each year to a number of venues in Fayetteville. This year the Rally will expand to include two days of events at Parsons Arena in Springdale.

There will be motocross, professional and amateur racing, Harley-Davidson Village, Parade of Power on Saturday, music, food, plenty of vendors, BBQ competition, Miss BBQ competition and way more.

The best parts of all are it’s good family fun and all proceeds go to local charities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, Horses for Healing, CASA, Peace at Home Shelter, and many others.

More than $600,000 has been donated so far.

Let’s all go have fun for a good cause.

For more information, check the BBBQ website.

Santa Came Early to NW Arkansas

In this time of giving and good will the announcement last week seemed appropriate. Grants totaling $80,000 were awarded to local NW Arkansas non-profit groups.

The funds came from the 2010 Bikes, Blues and BBQ rally, which was held in early fall. It’s a substantial increase from 2009 grants of $45,000. I think the 2010 grants bring the grand total to more than $600,000 since BBQ’s first rally in 2000.

Donations went to many worthwhile organizations in NW Arkansas – Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club, Meals on Wheels, Horses for Healing, Seven Hills Homeless Center, Youth Bridge, Big House Youth Outreach, and more. A complete list of all grants will be available later.

Bikes, Blues and BBQ is the only rally in the country that donates all proceeds to charities. It brings together bikers from all over the country, thousands and thousands of spectators, family fun, food, entertainment, and contests. Its very presence is a big boost to the local economy.

Turning all profits over to non-profit organizations is only icing on the cake.

Bikes, Blues & BBQ Rally in Fayetteville

It’s that time of year again. In just a little more than a week from now, Northwest Arkansas will once again welcome motorcycles from all over the country to the 11th Annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ Rally. The rally runs from Wednesday, September 29 through Saturday night, October 2, 2010.

Many people will rev up their bikes and arrive early. Who can blame them for wanting to be here as long as possible? The Ozarks are beautiful and the weather is near perfect in the fall. Warm days, cool evenings, and hints of fall color in the trees.

There will be thousands of bikes to see with events such as a Poker Run, a Parade of Power, customization competition and Battle of the Bikes competition.

And this year there is so much music and entertainment planned, it has to be spread over several venues. It all starts Wednesday, September 29, at 5:30 and keeps on going.

The BBQ is world class. The smoky aroma of barbequed chicken, ribs, pork, and beef brisket wafts around Fayetteville beginning Friday morning with public tasting events. The best of the best will be named Saturday afternoon with trophies and cash prizes awarded.

A 2010 Harley-Davidson Rocker C motorcycle will be raffled off.

More than 100 vendors will be on hand with everything from sunglasses to Harleys.

Don’t overlook (perhaps I say “look over”) the Ms. BBB competition.

As if all that isn’t enough, classic cars & trucks, street rods, tuners, and low riders will also be showing off.

Join the hundreds of thousands of people who come each year for the BBB Rally. Fayetteville is only six hours from Dallas and St. Louis, five hours from Memphis and Kansas City, and two hours from Tulsa, Oklahoma and Branson, Missouri.

The rally is good, clean fun. A lot of effort goes into keeping it family friendly and in line with community values.

BBB is self-funded and does not receive any government funding. All proceeds go to local charities. Since the rally started in 2000, more than a half-million dollars has been donated.

For more information, check out the BBBQ website.

Bikes, Blues and Barbecue Announces Charitable Contributions

$45,000 – that’s the amount Bikes, Blues and Barbecue Motorcycle Rally was able to donate to local charities last week. It comes at a time when many worthwhile causes are in great need due to the economic downturn.

The recipients include such well-known names as Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society of the Ozarks, Muscular Dystrophy, and the Jones Center for Families. Several more non-profit groups perhaps not as widely known but equally worthwhile include Peace at Home Shelter, Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, Horses for Healing, and CASA of Northwest Arkansas.

Bikes, Blues & Barbecue was not able to make any donations in 2008 because of expenses incurred to enlarge venues and other one-time expenses so it’s wonderful to see the rally back in the black.

Since 2000, BBB has given more than $500,000 to local charities.

Kudos for all you do!

For more information:

http://www.bikesbluesandbbq.org/charities.htm

Bikes, Blues and Barbeque in Fayetteville, AR

What a party! The 10th annual Bikes, Blues and Barbeque Rally was held in Fayetteville September 23-26, 2009. If you weren’t there, you should have been. Hundreds of thousands of people made their way to the festivities for music, food, seeing and being seen, parade of power, poker run, and more.

There were all kinds of bike competitions: plenty of conversions, plenty of chrome, and all shining in the sunshine.

I couldn’t count all the bands and musicians that were on hand to provide music and dancing.

The Barbecue cook off saw 53 teams compete and was won by The Smokin Hills of Overland Park, Kansas.

The Ozark Mountain weather certainly contributed to the success of Bikes, Blues BBQ. We’d had quite an unusual spell of overcast weather leading up to opening day. As soon as the rally started, blue skies broke through and temps stayed in the low 70s. Just absolutely gorgeous weather.

The whole purpose of Bikes, Blues & BBQ is to conduct a safe, fun and family-friendly motorcycle rally and all profits go to local charities. It will take about a month for all expenses to be paid at which time the charitable donations will be announced.

Mark your calendar now for next year’s rally - September 29 – October 2, 2010.

For more information and pictures:

http://www.bikesbluesandbbq.org/

It’s Almost Time for Bikes, Blues and Barbecue in Fayetteville Arkansas!

Mark September 23-26 on your calendar and come to Fayetteville for the big BBB event. Each year it grows bigger and better.

What’s to do, you ask?

Show off your motorcycle, ride it in the Parade of Power or the Poker Run. If you don’t have a bike, there will be thousands of them to look at. Most of the major motorcycle companies will be present and some will offer demo rides.

Eat some of the best barbecue around or help decide the People’s Choice Award. The Kansas City Barbeque Society has added BBB to its 2009 Great American BBQ Tour.

Listen to great music – free.

Enjoy breathing good, clean air. Enjoy good, clean family fun. Enjoy the beautiful Ozarks.

And if all this isn’t enough, how about the fact that the proceeds go to local charities and no taxpayer funds are used to host the event. Hundreds of volunteers make it happen.

See you there?

For more information:

http://www.bikesbluesandbbq.org/

Sometimes “No Vacancy” is Good News

There’s been many a time while traveling that I saw “No Vacancy” signs and wished the “No” part wasn’t lighted. But according to the Arkansas Business Journal, hotels in Fayetteville and the surrounding area are happy to report “no vacancy” for both the Razorback football team’s opening game on September 19 and the big Bikes, Blues and BBQ shindig September 23-26 (more on that later).

I keep hearing pieces of good news in various sectors and one has to wonder if indeed the worst is over. I honestly don’t know about that but then, who does?

I do know to having sell-out crowds descend on Fayetteville is extremely good news. Let’s hope everyone has a wonderful September in NW Arkansas. We’ll tell them “Y’all come back real soon!”

P.S. If you haven’t made reservations yet for those two weekends, you might want to get on the phone or on line to do so.

For more information:

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?zone=AB_ENEWS_EarlyLateBreaking&lID=&sID=&ms=&cID=PM&aID=116238.54928.128364