Mountains, Music and Motorcycles Enters Its 13th Year – Join Us August 18-20th!!
Mountains, Music and Motorcycles Enters Its 13th Year – Annual Event Draws Bikers From All Across America
Riding enthusiasts agree, some of the best motorcycling in America is in the Ozarks. Built on that simple premise, a festival organized thirteen years ago with no budget and heavily dependent on volunteers. The first event drew about 350 motorcyclists. Now, thousands of bikers are expected to this annual event.
The 13th annual Mountains Music and Motorcycles will be held August 18, 19 and 20 in downtown Mountain View, AR. Visitors to the event, which is open to all ages and free, will be able to take part in a variety of activities.
“Friday the vendors open, and folks are encouraged to visit the downtown merchants throughout the day” said John Morrow, Event Coordinator. “The local VFW is also sponsoring a Poker Run for Friday. Friday evening we have two fantastic bands playing: The Syllamo Trio and Done Tore Down. Syllamo Trio is a local group of veteran touring musicians, and Done Tore Down is made up of members of the Lockhouse Orchestra, with Danny Dozier presiding.”
Saturday events will kick off with a Poker Run, Car Show and Shine and Bike Show. At 10am there will be the opening ceremonies. Biker Games, a crowd pleasing favorite, comes next on the schedule. Other events throughout the day include a stunt show and pepper eating contest. “We end the evening on Saturday with two more high-energy bands: The Arkansas Brothers and Mr. Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes,” John said. “Both of these groups continue the tradition of having great, crowd pleasing bands playing free to the publlc on the square.”
Mountains Music and Motorcycles is still operated and managed by volunteers. The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce sponsors this event and all funds raised pay for the event. It is a major fundraiser for multiple charity groups through the years.
“We like to use the Poker Run as a way to give back to the community,” Morrow continued. “This year’s charity will be Royal Family KIDS, the Nation’s leading network of Camps, Clubs and Mentoring for children of abuse, abandonment and neglect.”
All activities are centered on downtown Mountain View. Sunday morning the event ends with a biker church service in the natural setting of the city park amphitheater.
Parking around the historic town square is restricted to motorcycles only during Saturday’s activities. It has grown from the town square to encompass many side streets and other business parking lots. The event brings in visitors that are exposed to the unique culture of this area and generates thousands of dollars in tax revenue for the region. Mountains, Music, and Motorcycles focuses on the fact that Mountain View and the region is a motorcycle destination for motorcycle enthusiasts from around the nation. As Roadrunner Magazine states in an article that focused on Ozark Mountain Rides (June 2010) “This is some of the finest motorcycling in the US, period.”
