ARNOLD–The annual Devil's Den Motorcycle Rally is back in Arnold for its 10-year celebration along with concerts, BBQ, raffle, live auction, and the Mike Nelson Memorial Poker Run.
Former board president Mike Nelson began working with Devil's Den after the event's first year and played a major role in the annual festivities. He was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2020 and passed away in September of last year.
In a 2018 interview with KCNI/KBBN, the late Mike Nelson said the rally is all about fun, friendship, and getting together with the community for people who love music and motorcycles.
"Every year we keep getting bigger and bigger. There's more people showing up. We're getting more and more bikes taking the poker run every year," Nelson said.
Longtime event organizer Heather Hagler has been involved with the Devil's Den Motorcycle Rally since the beginning and said this year is bittersweet in continuing the traditions, but having to do so without Mike.
"It's very bittersweet. There's just so many things that...Mike and I were a pretty big team so a lot of the planning it was Mike and I back and forth. Obviously other board members too but Mike and I had been in it the longest out of everyone. Adding the memorial was just one thing we could do for him," Hagler told KCNI/KBBN.
The Mike Nelson Memorial Poker Run takes place on Saturday, July 10 and Hagler said it was a well-deserved honor to include Mike's name. She said the family helped out each year including Mike's wife, Kendra.
More details at: SandHillsExpress.com (http://sandhillsexpress.com/local-news/mike-nelson-memorial-poker-run-10th-annual-devils-den-motorcycle-rally/)