Leesburg Bikefest | Monster Favorites Award Winner 2008
Leesburg Bikefest | Monster Favorites Award Winner Event Page
An event that has become the Motorcycle Monsters favorite event in the US, is Leesburg Florida Bike Fest. Because Leesburg promoters learned quickly and responded to their attendees, wants, Leesburg is one of the fastest growing and most popular Motorcycle parties anywhere. In 12 short years, Leesburg has entered into the Monster's top 10 events in the U.S. and become the Monster Favorite for 2008.
The Monster believes one of the most important elements of any M/C event is the vendors. Outside of the local riding, bands, food establishments and other entertainment features ( stunt riders, and biker celebrities), the vendor area is where bikers spend much of their time. "Live to ride and ride to shop", is the motto of many affluent cruiser riding enthusiasts looking for motorcycle specific parts, accessories, and apparel. Leesburg has hundreds of vendors and plenty of great deals. With so much product to look at, riders can spend the full three days enjoying the vendor areas alone. One major vendor from Daytona told the Monster that he did more sales at Leesburg in 2008 than he did on Main Street in Daytona during Bike Week. This vendor of 25 years told the Monster, "we did more sales, paid less vendor rent, sold our products for less, and had a great time in Leesburg. We'll be back."
One major void , the Monster did notice was the "big rig" vendors from the major parts houses and nationally know builders, that may have not yet discovered Leesburg. When those boys find this diamond in the rough, they will likely come in huge numbers. Also the Rats Hole Show has many local Florida builders and few of the "Biker Build Off" types that you might find in Daytona or Sturgis. This will also likely change when the word gets out. The "up side" to the Rats Hole is that their are hundreds of world class builders in Florida and their was no lack for talent in the Rats Hole Leesburg.
By offering attendees, free entertainment on eight stages, in a beautiful setting filled with hundreds of vendors, ample food offerings and beer stands, it is easy to get comfortable in Leesburg. If you like music, a cool beer, and a couple of hundred thousand of your biker buddies hanging out, Leesburg is the one for you. That's right, a couple of hundred thousand folks now attend Leesburg during their 3 day run in April.
It can be a little hot in central Florida in April, and you can get a shower now and then but the heat is bearable and the rain usually doesn't last long. Grab a cool one and find a tent and chill, it will be all ahead full again shortly.
Main Street in Leesburg looks a lot like Main in Sturgis when you get four rows of gleaming scoots parked for 7 or 8 blocks straight
Leesburg is also probably the most affordable major event in the country given the fact that the music concerts are all free, and attendance is free to stunt rider shows, rider training seminars, the Rats Hole Show bike show and most everything else. Until you get the urge for a cool beer or one of those famous Italian sausages, you probably can leave you chain drive wallet in your pocket. For a lot less than a night at the local concert arena, motorcyclists can spend a great week-end at a major event.
As for the entertainment ranking, the Monster would call the entertainment value excellant but you won't find the "mega acts" that you could find in Sturgis or Daytona. ZZ Top and Kid Rock are not yet booked for Leesburg but neither are they charging the $65 to $75 dollars that you might pay at the Chip or Rocking the Rally for those great acts. For my money Pat Travers or Skid Row is "just peachy", especially if the total ticket price is "Free". I'll catch ZZ or Kid Rock on the cable and save my $75.00 a head.
Another great part of the Leesburg experience is that local hotels and camp grounds have not yet decided to overcharge bikers for a place to stay. Hopefully this will not change as in 2008, rooms were a little hard to come by within 50 miles of Leesburg. Book early and the Holiday Inn Express and Hampton is clean and resonably priced.
Another great part of Leesburg is the low key attitude of the local law enforcement, and local towns folk. Everyone is warm, friendly, and anxious to have the bikers enjoy their fine city and make you feel welcome. When we left one of our "Monster Crew Cars" in the "wrong parking lot", a local tow operator moved our vehicle to another public lot and charged us nothing. The City of Leesburg paid for the tow. WOW!! Tow your vehicle in and "no-charge". Pay attention Daytona Beach P.D.
If you haven't yet discovered Leesburg, give it a shot. You will not be dissappointed and you will probably will escape with enough money to make you Harley Payment. Yippe No RipOffs.
