Thousands of bikers from across the country will cruise into Lake of the Ozarks this Thursday for one of the Midwest's biggest bike rallies, Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest.
The four-day event is celebrating its 10th year, and more than 35,000 motorcyclists and spectators are expected for a variety of Bikefest activitiest, including scenic rides, live music, vendor villages, two bike giveaways, contests and festivities, custom bikes and a festival atmosphere throughout the Lake Area, according to the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Three vendor villages with a plethora of biker-focused products and services will be stationed at key areas of the Lake. Those vendor villages are at The Dam Freedom of Road Riders (FORR) Campground in Lake Ozark, Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson in Osage Beach and the Toad Cove Compound at Camden on the Lake Resort/H. Toads in Lake Ozark.
In addition to the vendor villages, Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark is another favorite Bikefest hot spot. The center lane of the historic Bagnell Dam Strip will be blocked off for ample parking for bikes, allowing both riders and the general public to walk around to check out all the motorcycles.
The Bikefest's website - LakeBikefest.com - offers maps of three different touring routes throughout Missouri's Ozark hills, including a 84-mile ride showcasing the beauty of Bennett Spring and Ha Ha Tonka state parks a three-hour, a 115-mile ride that showcases a stop at the historic community of Devil's Elbow near the Big Piney River and a 96-mile ride around the Lake of the Ozarks.
Music is another focal point of Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, with concerts scheduled throughout the weekend across the entire Lake area. For a complete list of concerts and venues, visit the events page on the Bikefest website.
According to the CVB, other Bikefest activities include burn out pits, riding skills competitions, sport bike stunt riders, a bike wash, a large bike auction held at Surdyke Yamaha and the Eldon Noble Eagles National Beef Jerky Contest on Saturday at Beavers at the Dam. Additional festivities going on at the Lake during Bikefest include an audience participation mystery production at the Camden County Historical Society and Museum, Fall Little Niangua Mountain Man Festival in Roach and the Laurie Hillbilly Festival at the Laurie Fairgrounds.
Participants completing the 2016 Passport Program will be entered in a drawing for a 2015 Harley Davidson Amber Whisky Street Bob. The program requires a visit to each of the 24 passport locations to get a stamp, according to the website.