ROGERS, Ark. — Bikes, Blues & BBQ is kicking off this week and the City of Rogers is preparing for the motorcycle rally that will feature live music, food and vendors.
The rally is taking place in Rogers Oct. 5-8 after moving from Fayetteville for the first time in over 20 years.
“We’re expecting somewhere between 300,000 people in the area,” said Keith Foster with the Rogers Police Department.
The Rogers Police Department, the Benton County Sheriff's Office and Bikes, Blues and BBQ will provide security for the rally.
"From ten in the morning to three in the morning, we’re going to be out there doing our best to keep everybody safe.”
Foster says the department is also bringing in an additional 40 officers to monitor the rally.
“It's an all-hands-on-deck situation," Foster said. "So, pretty much all of us are going to be working this event at one point or the other. If it’s your day off pretty much guarantee you’re gonna be at work this. We still have our officers that we had to have cover the street in addition.”
Bikes, Blues and BBQ started in 2002 and is a nonprofit event that benefits women, children and the under-served members of the Northwest Arkansas community. Since its conception, the rally has given out more than $3 million to local nonprofits and is the world's largest charity motorcycle rally.
The Children's Safety Center has received around $15,000 from the rally over the last decade to help local child abuse victims.
“Without the support of local organizations like the rally, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We saw 632 kids just last year and all of those kids received free services because of important organizations like the rally,” said Emily Rappe Fisher, Development Director of the Children's Safety Center.
Once the rally is over the rally's board will count up what money is left after operating costs and gives grants to between 35 and 45 local nonprofits. The rally also gives another dozen or so donations to nonprofits from funds raised during the event.
The Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club in Fayetteville serves 4,000 members a year, and also receives funding from the event.
“The majority of the funds are used for, to help our operations and programs and to do the things we do for the community which is providing after-school care, providing activities and programs for the community to get involved," said Eric Shuldt, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club.
The events will include a BBQ competition, mapped rides, motorcycle demos and live music acts performing at the Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live in Downtown Rogers.
Wednesday:
- 11 a.m.: Harley Davidson Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 11 a.m.: BMW Motorcycle Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
Thursday:
- 9 a.m.: Harley Davidson Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 9 a.m.: BMW Motorcycle Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 12 p.m.: Party Line Band (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Eureka Springs)
- 12 p.m.: Blew Reed (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Rogers)
- 3:45 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 4 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 5 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 6 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 7:15 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 7:30 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 9 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
Friday:
- 9 a.m.: Harley Davidson Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 9 a.m.: BMW Motorcycle Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Poker Run- Siloam Springs/Bella Vista (Starting at Arkansas Music Pavillion, Roger)
- 12 p.m.: Mr. Lucky Band (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Rogers)
- 12 p.m.: TLC Combo (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Eureka Springs)
- 2:45 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 3 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 12 p.m.: Big Mama Band (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Rogers)
- 12 p.m.: Vince Turner (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Eureka Springs)
- 4:45 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 5 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 6:45 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 7 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 9 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
Saturday:
- 9 a.m.: Harley Davidson Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 9 a.m.: BMW Motorcycle Demo Rides (Rogers Convention Center)
- 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Poker Run- Huntsville/Eureka Springs (Starting at Arkansas Music Pavillion, Roger)
- 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Frisco Inferno BBQ Competition (Downtown Roger)
- 10 a.m. Car Show (Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall, Rogers)
- 12 p.m.: Travis Kidd (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Rogers)
- 12 p.m.: Dominic Roy (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Eureka Springs)
- 1:45 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 2 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 4 p.m.: Big Mama Band (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Rogers)
- 4 p.m.: Vince Turner (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Eureka Springs)
- 4:15 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 4:30 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 6:15 p.m.: 12 O'Clock Shop stunt show (1st Street, between Cherry St. & Pine St.)
- 6:30 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
- 9 p.m.: Live Music (Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live)
Music lineup:
The music acts will be performing at the Butterfield Stage at Railyard Live in Downtown Rogers.
The live music performance lineup for the 2022 rally goes as follows:
Thursday:
- 4 p.m.: Gary Hutchison
- 4 p.m. Tom Bryant Band (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Rogers)
- 4 p.m. Just Bill (Pig trail Harley Davidson, Eureka Springs)
- 6 p.m.: The Swade Diablos
- 7:30 p.m.: Chris Cameron Band
- 9:15 p.m.: 90LB Wrench
Friday:
- 3 p.m.: Jon Dooly
- 5 p.m.: Green Acres Band
- 7 p.m.: The Juice
- 9 p.m.: Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal
Saturday:
- 2 p.m.: Jon Dooly
- 4:30 p.m.: Earl and Them
- 6:30 p.m.: The ShotGunBillys
- 9 p.m.: Dead Metal Society
If you plan on being a part of rides, there are a series of maps listed for you to check out and save or print to keep up with.
You can explore the different mapped routes and even rate or add a comment.
From Oct. 4 to Oct. 9 to these sections of Downtown Rogers' streets will be closed during the rally:
- 1st St. south of Cherry Street, by the Butterfly Park (Closed: 10/4 -10/9)
- 1st Street between Cherry Street and Poplar Street (Closed 10/7 - 10/8)
(Existing construction on Arkansas St. between Poplar St. and Pine St., and on Poplar St. between 1st St. and Arkansas St. will be in place.)
“Vehicles watch out for motorcycles, motorcycles watch out for vehicles," Foster said "Let’s see if we can get through this with the minimum amount of traffic accidents.“
The Rogers Police Department Chief of Police Jonathan Best released a statement in support of the rally and cautioning safety which says in part:
"Dear Bikes, Blues and BBQ Visitors,
It is with great appreciation and excitement that I welcome you to Rogers, Arkansas for the 2022 Bikes, Blues and BBQ Motorcycle Rally."
The statement went on to say that during past rallies, the "Northwest Arkansas area has at times seen an increase in motor vehicle or motorcycle collisions and along with that comes the possibility of more fatal collisions. That being said there will be no tolerance for careless or reckless driving, burnouts, rapid throttle advances or driving while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance," Best said.
You can read the full statement below.
For more information about Bikes, Blues & BBQ, click here.
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