In a few weeks, music won’t be the only sound filling the square in downtown Mountain View. The roar of motorcycle engines coupled with chatter and excitement from visitors will join the expected instruments and voices usually found in the folk-music capital of the world.
The 10th Annual Mountains, Music and Motorcycles event in Mountain View will be Aug. 15-17, and organizers are excited about bringing people to the area.
“We’re celebrating a passion a lot of people have for riding motorcycles,” event team member Grady Spann said. “We’ve got everything possible for people who love to ride motorcycles. We’ve got great roads, friendly people, good food and a good atmosphere.”
The first year, 300 motorcyclists came out to Mountain View for the event. Organizers say it is hard to estimate how many bikers come to town for Mountains, Music and Motorcycles since it has grown, but estimates for last year’s event reach close to 20,000.
“We’re a package deal here for bikers,” Spann said. “Motorcycle tourism is a big thing, and we’ve got it all.”
Spann said that in past years, he has talked with riders who traveled from as far north as Canada for the event, and he said it is important for visitors to feel welcome. Mountain View has provided that welcoming atmosphere for the bikers, and the event is expected to continue to grow.
With the influx of visitors in Mountain View for the event, the economic impact on the town is substantial. Spann said hotels and cabins get booked up, and many people who visit Mountain View for the first time with Mountains, Music and Motorcycles end up putting the town on their list of vacation destinations for the future.
On Aug. 14, the night before the event officially starts, the Stone Drive-In will host a motorcycle night with a motorcycle-themed movie starting at dark.
On Aug. 15, bikers are encouraged to ride the Ozarks and experience the twists and turns surrounding the town. Popular runs include the Fox Run, the Push Mountain Run, the Big Flat Run, the Big Dam Ride and the Buzzard Run.
At 7 p.m. Aug. 15, motorcyclists with Smagical Motorcycle Trials will perform on the square. Afterward, the Blues Concert on the Square will begin at 8 p.m.
Tim Winningham, who also serves on the organizing team, said the music is usually a big draw for the event.
“We have some great music,” he said. “It’s what this town is known for, and we usually have a good turnout for the music performances.”
The weekend will continue with a bike show on the square and a car show at Centennial Bank on Aug. 16. The car show is in its third year as part of Mountains, Music and Motorcycles, and registration will take place from 8 a.m. to noon. Preregistration is $15, and registration the day of the show is $20. Cars will be judged in 17 classes, and first and second places in each class will be recognized. There will be four judges’-choice trophies and some people’s-choice trophies.
Also on Aug. 16, Danny Dozier and the Lighthouse Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m.
On Aug. 17, the weekend will wrap up with a biker church service at 9:30 a.m. on the square.
For more information on the event, visit www.mountainsmusicandmotorcycles.com or call the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce at (870) 269-8068.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.