News Flash… every month we get a few emails from readers asking if we can list their poker run or bike show in the calendar. We always say, “Yes, send over the info and we would be glad to.” However, there is a catch: to make the newsstand in time for your event, we need to get the info at least three months ahead of time. So if you want us to post your event info, we need time to do so. Email any info to ernie.lopez@sorc.com
May 28-30
Gulfport Memorial Day Blowout
Gulfport, MS
This annual party enters its 29th year with a big to-do at the Gulfport Racetrack. Come on out for three days of live music, food, a bike show, bikini contest, tattoo contest, and more. For more information, visit gulfportmemorialdayblowout.com.
June 7-11
Americade
Lake George, NY
Guided minitours, BBQ, fireworks, and hot air balloon rides are just some of the fun to be had on the shores of Lake George during this year’s Americade. It’s a weeklong touring rally that draws more than 50,000 people each year. If you’re in the area and you haven’t been, this event is worth a look. For more information, visit americade.com.
June 9-12
Republic of Texas Rally
Austin, TX
This four-day orgy of motorcycling always kicks off the second Thursday in June each year and is held at the Travis County Exposition Center in Northeast Austin. The ROT Rally is proud to be a part of Austin and bring top named entertainment to the event each year. Friday night, the city of Austin cooperates by closing off 54 square blocks of the downtown area for a huge party on Congress Ave. It is considered the largest biker party in a downtown area of a metropolitan city, expecting more than 50,000 participants in 2011 and will draw more than 200,000 spectators to the downtown streets. The attractions include a ride-in bike show, custom bike builders, the World Famous Wall of Death, comedians, national named bands, the Paradise Bar, a tattoo expo, contests for the ladies, stunt riders, 350 vendors and distributors, the ROT Rally Friday night parade, and more. For more information, visit rotrally.com.
June 11-19
Laconia Motorcycle Week
Laconia, NH
While Americade is winding down, Laconia is revving up. If one week of two-wheeled fun in the Northeast just isn’t enough, you can make your way over to New Hampshire to keep the party going. There’ll be lots to do, ranging from food and music to vendors and demos, including demo rides on Polaris ATVs. For more information, visit laconiamcweek.com.
June 18-25
High Seas Rally: Alaska
Vancouver, BC
High Seas Rally and the HOHS Dialysis Fund has hit the one-million-dollar mark in funds raised. Now, you can enjoy the trip as the rally travels into the seas of Alaska. It’s been described as a little known biker rally with a worldwide reputation—a reputation of being the most unique, fun, and most generous group of bikers to sail the seven seas. The unique part is that the rally takes place on a cruise ship. The fun part is all the outrageous fun, games, parties, and camaraderie. The generous part is raising an average of $150,000 per seven-day cruise to provide a vacation of a lifetime for bikers or friends of bikers that require kidney dialysis treatments to join the cruise free of charge. The free part includes paying for all the medical staff and medical equipment to be brought onboard the ship to perform the dialysis treatments, pay for the dialysis patient’s airfare, balcony cabin, and give them each $400 to spend during the cruise. For more information, visit highseasrally.com.
July 5-7
25th International Women on Wheels Ride In
San Jose, CA
Members and non-members (women, men, and children) are welcome to this annual event in northern California. It’s primarily a social gathering, but there’ll also be vendors, guided and self-guided rides, seminars, a banquet and an awards ceremony. For more information, visit womenonwheels.org.
July 6-9
Wing Ding 33
Knoxville, TN
This Gold Wing event is part trade show, part party, and all fun. It must be—boring parties don’t last 33 years. There’ll be food, entertainment, and fun for everyone. For more information, visit gwrra.org.
July 11-15
Wolf’s Head Lake Superior Tour
Ontario, Canada
The Wolf’s Head Lake Superior Circle Tour is the ride of a lifetime. It’s a 1,500-mile journey around the lake with some of the most incredible vistas in North America, a great bunch of people, and at a relatively slow pace to maximize sightseeing time. Pretty scenery, shipping museums, lighthouses, quaint villages, and the boreal forests of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Ontario provide plenty of photo opportunities along the way, not to mention the wildlife. For more information, visit wolfsheadrally.com.
July 16
Los Angeles Calendar and Motorcycle Show
Long Beach, CA
Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of this yearly custom bike show at the Queen Mary. The Calendar Show moves from the Queen Mary Event Park in past years, now dockside next to the historic Queen Mary ocean liner on Saturday in the exciting Seawalk Village which replicates an old British seaside town for a step back in history. This year’s festivities include the Calendar Motorcycle Show with its Calendar Bike Building Championship, celebrity bike builders, leading manufacturers, vendors, the Calendar Girl Music Festival, and all-day admission to the famed Queen Mary Ghost Ship with the Saturday Night Builder’s Party in the Queen’s Observation Bar. Exhibitor display and vendor prices have also been reduced to help industry partners in the current economy. The show features many of the world’s top pro and amateur custom street bike builders in attendance with their newest two-wheeled creations of rolling art to compete in the Calendar Show Bike Building Championship with a bulging purse of cash and awards including the coveted Best of Show Trophy. This year the Calendar Bike Building Championship will follow the AMD World Championship Classes with the premier Pro Builder Freestyle Class Class sponsored by Iron Works magazine and four other classes for American V-twin Customs, Vintage Bikes, and Metric Sportbikes/Cruisers. For more information, visit fastdates.com.
July 28-31
Sun and Surf Run
Ocean Shores, WA
This rally will be held at the Ocean Shores Convention Center in Ocean Shores, Washington, on July 28 through 31. This event has something for everyone—biker games, bike show, live music, concerts, parades, poker runs, Miss Sun and Surf, and much more! Vendors from all over the country will be in attendance on their way to Sturgis! All proceeds to benefit Sun Charities, a non-profit organization that donates to children’s charities such as Boyer Children’s Clinic. Be sure not to miss the beautiful girls in the Miss Sun and Surf bikini contest. For more information, visit sunandsurfevent.com.