Inside and Out of Bikefest
Leesburg Bikefest is more than Just Bikers but Townspeople Who Care.
Hogs, Softails, Sportsters. If you are not sure what is being described, you need to get yourself down to the Leesburg Bikefest for some motorcycle education. The last weekend of April has been designated as a “biker holiday” in Leesburg as over 200,000 bikers visit Lake County to share beers and motorcycle talk with their fellow bikers.
Yet behind all the activities and entertainment lies a town that comes together to make Bikefest as smooth and organized as possible without limiting the fun.
“We are more a festival that is controlled within a certain perimeter and we’re accountable for the event,” says Joe Shipes, Executive Vice-President of The Leesburg Partnership.
The past 12 years of success has shown this year’s Leesburg Bikefest is continuing the tradition of being a well-oiled machine of preparation and enjoyment.
As soon as the tents are taken down and the merchandise is boxed up, the Leesburg Partnership comes together again to discuss what is on tap for next year’s event.
“We usually start planning for next year’s Bikefest the day after the event. It is an ongoing process. 90 days out from the event is when it really heats up but we start booking bands 6 months out,” Joe says.
On the merchandise side of Bikefest, local vendors connected with the Partnership begin planning for next year’s event just months after the previous Bikefest concludes.
Besides the year-round efforts performed by the Partnership, Leesburg’s finest in law enforcement and area businesses help out to add to the stability and energy of Bikefest.
“Our reputation is friendly police as their tolerance is higher and they treat the bikers like guests. Their attitude is that they want these people to feel welcomed,” Joe says.
Police recruit officers for the event two to three months ahead of time, though there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of willing participants from the department.
“Overall bikers are pleasant to be around and the environment breeds this so we don’t feel we have to be heavy with enforcement,” says Lieutenant Robert Hicks of the Leesburg Police.
The Friday before Bikefest prompts the flurry of activity for the Partnership as Joe and his staff move onto the event grounds in downtown to prepare the area.
“It’s like a circus at this point,” Joe says as out-of-state vendors begin to arrive and equipment trucks start to deliver tents and materials.
Already the Partnership has been logging in seven-day work-weeks for the past month as they handle everything related to Bikefest, from vendor concerns to equipment issues.
Once the sun rises on April 24th, the vigorous fun ensues and is non-stop until the event’s conclusion Sunday afternoon.
Judging by the amount of people who make an annual trip to Bikefest each year, the blood, sweat and tears of the Partnership, police and volunteers has paid off with many happy bikers.
“I think Leesburg is building up to a level like Daytona but are doing it pro-actively, not reactively, when handling Bikefest,” says Jason Crenshaw, a regular event attendee who has helped out friends at Gator Harley in the past. He is also on the magazine cover.
So next time you’re riding the streets of Leesburg on your Harley or sports bike, thank a Partnership staff member, police officer or volunteer for what they do to make Bikefest the highlight of your year.
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