Gettysburg Bike Week celebrated its 20th anniversary rally, cancelled last year because of COVID, at the Allstar Events Complex on Emmittsburg Rd. on Thursday through Sunday.
“We had to wait an extra year to celebrate our 20th,” said event coordinator Kelly Shue. “Last year was a nightmare for everyone, but to see the joy on people’s faces to be out, socializing, and cutting loose a bit—it made the wait worth it.”
“This is probably our best year ever. We’ve definitely growing over the past five years. We had a really good band lineup and the weather cooperated,” said Shue.
This year’s rally set attendance records at the events, which included mini-bike racing, a stunt show, and the annual Battlefield Ride of Chrome on Saturday.
Musical groups included the Metallica tribute band Fade To Black, hard rock ensemble Buckcherry, and the local glamrock group KIX.
Shue said all of the food vendors at the site were from Gettysburg. “They were thrilled and they were thrilled for the town,” she said.
Noting the benefits of the event to Gettysburg’s economy, Shue said “there is no other event that could possibly bring more money. Bikers can’t bring anything with them – they pack the restaurants, the hotels, and the stores.”
“I love organizing it for the community,” she said.
Plans for next year’s rally, number 21, are already in the works.
Charles Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Publisher and Editor in Chief.