Pinellas News

Tarpon gears up for inaugural Bike Fest

By Eric Horchy | Suncoast News
Published: September 20, 2012

TARPON SPRINGS - Ready or not, the Sponge Docks will rumble this Saturday when the inaugural Tarpon Springs Bike Fest rolls into town.

A stretch of Dodecanese Boulevard is scheduled to be closed off 2 to 8 p.m. while thousands of motorcycles of all sizes, shapes, colors and makes ride in and pack the area.

Adding patriotism to the event, the entire day will mark National is POW/MIA Recognition Day. That day of remembrance is officially held on the third Friday of each September.

"It started as just a bike festival," said Rea Sieber, president of the Sponge Docks Merchants Association and organizer of the Bike Fest. "But we realized after we scheduled the date that it was also the weekend of the POW/MIA Recognition Day, so it rolled right together."

A special ceremony in honor of all POWs and MIAs will be led by the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club. Sieber said crowds may be treated to a flyover.

The day's festivities begin with the majority of the bikes rolling to the docks down Dodecanese Boulevard for the 5 Class Ride-In Bike Show, sponsored by Gulf Coast Harley Davidson.

Judging of the motorcycles will take place largely in the lot at the end of Hope Street, where restrooms were installed. The winners will be announced on the main stage at 5 p.m.

Visitors to Bike Fest will have plenty to occupy themselves with throughout the day, with live music at two stages, interactive games and plenty of food and beverage vendors.

The live music is planned for 3 to 7 p.m. The Roy Sites Band will be featured on the main stage, and Joel and Dakota will perform at a second site, further east on Dodecanese Boulevard.

Sieber said she hopes this event will take off and attract plenty of attention — especially at this time of year.

"It's the dregs," she said of late-summer business and in September, in particular. "It is a very, very slow time of year for the Sponge Docks. This will help since September is the slowest month of the year to bring some visitors to the area and some business to the shops."

The anticipation received a positive boost last month with the success of another first-time event, Hippie Fest.

"Hippie Fest was quite successful last month so we're hoping [Bike Fest] will be the same."

ehorchy@suncoastnews.com (727) 815-1071