Hotels are filled to the brim. Houses and apartments are being rented out. And then there are some who hauled in a R.V. or packed up a tent.
Fayetteville is jam packed for the 14th annual Bikes, Blues and BBQ, a motorcycle rally that brings in bikers from all over the nation.
The official campground of Bikes, Blues and BBQ is at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Besides it being a cheaper place to stay for the night, bikers can enjoy extras like live music, a beer garden and are in walking distance from tasting the BBQ made in the cook-off on Friday (Aug. 19).
Tasting tickets for the BBQ cook-off can only be purchased at the campground for $6.
Rick Valdez of Kansas City, Mo., has decided to stay at the campground for at least three years and said he prefers it to a hotel.
"It’s more open and a little more free," he said. "You just sit out here at night, have a good time and talk to your buddies; watch bikes go by and just party."
A veteran motorcycle rider of 45 years, Larry Burnett of Kansas City, Kans., said this was his first time to Bikes, Blues and BBQ.
"It’s been a nice experience, people are real friendly and I get a chance to just mess with people," he said.
Burnett was sitting outside of the livestock arena at the campground, where the bathrooms were.
"I just tease them, carry on, telling them it costs money to go to the shower or the bathroom," he said.
The use of showers and bathrooms are included in the camping spot price.
Bikers can drive their bikes up to their tent and go to sleep for the night, which makes for a noisy campground. A biker from Illinois said that she prepared for that.
"I went to bed pretty early last night because I figured last night is probably the very end of all that," she said. "From what I understand, a lot of people are going to be here and it’s going to be a good time and it might get a little rowdy."
There is a high chance of rain on Friday (Aug. 20) and officials said that they do not have special plans to accommodate for the rain at the campground.
The campground also offers a free shuttle to Dickson Street starting on Thursday (Aug. 19). It will leave the campground at the top of every hour from 5 p.m. to midnight and return from Dickson Street at every half-hour ending at 12:30 a.m.
The official website lists that people interested in camping should make reservations, but they are no longer being taken. Spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the gate.
Rates
Primitive tent camping
- Two nights per two-person tent: $45
- Three nights per two-person tent: $55
Self-contained (no water or electric hook-ups) R.V. spots (generators allowed)
- Two nights: $105
- Three nights: $135