SPRINGDALE -- The city is revving up for Bikes, Blues & BBQ's return.
The City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to recognize Bikes, Blues & BBQ as a city-approved special event.
Web watch
For more information about Bikes, Blues & BBQ, visit http://www.bikesblu…">www.bikesbluesandbb…
Source: Staff report
Council action
The City Council also approved granting two water/sewer easements along Johnson Road to the Water and Sewer Commission.
Source: Staff Report
The annual event will be held in Fayetteville and Springdale from Sept. 20 to Sept. 23. This will be the event's 18th year, said Michelle Devers, event director.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ was a Fayetteville-exclusive event, but was extended to Springdale four years ago and will return to Arvest Ballpark for all four days of the event this year, Devers said.
"We will do the car show again [at Arvest Ballpark] on Saturday, Sept. 23," Devers said. "We're still working on a few things, so we don't have those finalized for announcement yet."
Military Appreciation Day will be held at the ballpark on Sept. 21.
"We did a small military appreciation last year, but this year we're expanding on that," Devers said. Various branches of the military will be present, Devers said.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ was only a one-day presence in Springdale when it first expanded beyond Fayetteville, but became a four-day event in 2016.
"We've seen growth at Arvest Ballpark, and we're continuing to grow at that venue, and we hope to see growth this year as well," Devers said.
Bikes, Blues & BBQ was filling Springdale hotels before it expanded to the city, said Bill Rogers, vice president of communications and special projects for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce.
"But by having Bikes, Blues & BBQ events at Arvest Ballpark, it gives us a chance to showcase our city in a better way, it gives us a chance to help our economy and it also helps the event grow," Rogers said.
Rogers welcomes the annual event becoming a greater presence in Springdale.
"The original footprint of Bikes, Blues & BBQ has been expanded several times, and it's been expanded in an attempt to make the event bigger, and a bigger event brings more people to town and revenue to the region," Rogers said.
There are no plans to hold official Bikes, Blues & BBQ events in Northwest Arkansas cities beyond Fayetteville and Springdale, Devers said.
NW News on 08/23/2017