Bikers roll in without an official Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally

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FAYETTEVILLE -- Many hospitality businesses in Northwest Arkansas prepared last week as if the Bikes, Blues & BBQ motorcycle rally was going on as planned.

That's because some bikers showed up for the event even though it was canceled again this year because of the pandemic.

This year's rally, originally planned for Wednesday through Saturday, joined the long list of canceled or postponed fundraising events.

The rally touts itself as the world's largest charitable motorcycle rally, drawing an estimated 300,000 people annually, about 170,000 of whom officials estimate come from out of town.

The rally's board also canceled the event last year because of the pandemic. Until last month, it was scheduled to go ahead this year. However, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ultimately pulled the permits allowing the rally to put its main stage on the campus's east parking lot of Baum-Walker Stadium.

Administrators at Washington Regional Medical Center had written letters to city and university officials expressing concern about the hospital's ability to handle an influx of trauma patients associated with the rally while also dealing with covid-19 patients.

The rally has raised more than $3 million for local nonprofit groups in its 20 years, according to the festival website. Canceling the event over the past two years has put a dent in charities' budgets in the region.

Read more at: ArkansasOnline.com