AMHERST – Organizers of this year’s Bordertown Biker Bash could not be happier about the three-day festival’s new location.
A year after operating in the Amherst Town Square Mall parking lot, the festival has moved across South Albion Street to the Atlantic Superstore property and there’s a schedule chock full of events between July 13 and 15.
“Every year we seem to grow a little bigger and this year will be no different,” organizing committee member Bill Digdon said. “This is much more than a biking event, it has become a large community festival.”
As soon as last year’s event wrapped up, organizers went to work planning this year’s Bordertown Biker Bash. Making the move across the street was something that makes sense since everything will be located in one area, making it easier for participants and festival goers to get around to the vendor village as well as the many activities planned over three days.
“The change in venue allows us to be more like a festival since everything is in one place,” committee member Randy Thurber said. “It has allowed us to continue to expand. From the first year we held the biker bash we have continued to grow as we tweak things here and there. It has allowed us to become bigger and more successful.”
This is the fourth year for the biker bash that was held in downtown Amherst for the first two years before moving to the Amherst Town Square Mall last year and the Superstore this year.
Some of the highlights include the Hub City Stunters, who are returning for a show on Friday, July 13, while Pure Adrenaline is hosting two shows on Saturday, July 14.
The second show will feature a showdown of sorts between the Hub City Stunters and Pure Adrenaline.
“It’s something that hasn’t been done before,” organizing committee member Peter Rushton said.
Tim Hortons is also back as a major sponsor of the ride across the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island. The Tim Hortons Blitz the Bridge will feature a couple of hundred motorbikes travelling from Amherst to Summerside and back on July 14 while there will also be the Defenders Chapter 11 Poker Run for Champs.
There will also be a Toys for Tots Charity Run to Advocate Harbour and back on Friday, July 13.
That night, Loaded Dice will be performing in the entertainment tent. They will perform a lot of AC-DC music as well as more rock and roll while on Saturday, July 14 C-4 will perform after the aerial show and Cool Water will take to the stage.
Sunday, July 15 will feature the Blessing of the Bikes and the Rolling Church Ride, that will this year go down Route 6 toward Pugwash.
“It’s something that’s unique to our festival. Other festivals have the Blessing of the Bikes, but none of them have the Rolling Church Ride,” Digdon said. “The bikes will stop at various churches along the route and some of the churches will have a short service for us lasting about 10 to 15 minutes each.”
Around 1 p.m. the participating bikes will parade through Amherst, down South Albion to Church Street and then to Victoria Street, Willow Street and Robert Angus Drive, ending at the festival site.
It will be led by the oldest motorcyclist in North America, who will turn 99 just after the Bordertown Biker Bash.
Other highlights include a show and shine sponsored by the Amherst Artisan Gallery and Crossroads Cycles while Nova Scotia Works and CANSA are sponsoring children’s activities on Saturday, featuring pony rides, games, races and other events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will also be two lottery draws during the weekend, including the return of the Dream Big Contest that’s partnered with the Shriners in support of the Shriners Children’s Hospital and a 50/50 raffle that’s being supported by the Amherst Rotary Club with proceeds going to Camp Tidnish.
The Dream Big draw is being sponsored by Crossroads Cycles, Roy Duguay Sales and Service, Freedom Cycle, Cumberland Honda, Atlantic Superstore and Toys for Big Boys with the winner getting a $3,000 shopping spree at one of the sponsors.
Organizers are thrilled with the number of vendors who have already committed to coming to the Bordertown Biker Bash. Approximately 45 vendors are confirmed with some of the region’s biggest bike builders and suppliers coming to Amherst for three days.
There is no admission charge for most of the biker bash events.
What is needed are volunteers. To offer your help, go to www.bikerbash.ca .
Twitter: @ADNdarrell
