LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO – The largest motorcycle rally in the Midwest returns to the “Best Recreational Lake in the Nation” during the 2021 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, Wednesday, Sept. 15 through Sunday, Sept. 19.
Bikefest features five days of scenic motorcycle rides, live music, vendor villages, giveaways and special events taking place throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area.
One of the biggest highlights of the festival is the free Harley Davidson motorcycle given away to the lucky winner of the Bikefest Passport Run. To participate in the Passport Run and qualify for the free bike giveaway, attendees make a $20 donation to receive their passport and then must visit each of the 19 passport locations to obtain a different stamp on their passport. Riders may complete more than one passport, if they desire. Completed passports must be turned into the designated Passport Booth at Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson no later than 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19. The lucky winner’s passport will be drawn at random on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Harley dealership. Proceeds from the Passport Run go to the Christian Motorcycle Association.
In addition to the Passport Run, there are four suggested scenic rides that wind through the rolling Ozark terrain that range from 75 miles to 128 miles in length. The Bikefest website features printable maps of each route. The Lake of the Ozarks-area ride (“Around the Lake”) clocks in at 85 miles and showcases many beautiful views around the Lake. The “State Park Cruise” is 104 miles traveling from Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Osage Beach to Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton and on to Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Mo, highlighting three of the state’s most popular parks and takes less than two hours. The “Ha Ha Tonka Ride” cruises along the periphery of this state park with scenic stops along the way. The longest ride focuses on the “Mother Road” – historic Route 66 – and covers 128 miles from Osage Beach to the small town of Devil’s Elbow near the Big Piney River in Pulaski County.
Throughout Bikefest there will be live music and nightly concerts at all the participating restaurants, bars and various venues across the entire Lake area. Attendees can enjoy a variety of music featuring local and regional artists as well as big-name acts and celebrated tribute bands. Some of the notable concerts include Jackyl at Shady Gators on Friday, Sept. 17, Kevin B. Klein at Luby’s Stage on both Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17 and 18, Slaughter and Vixen at The Regalia Hotel on Friday, Sept. 17, and Machine Gun Symphony and Hells/Bells, an AC/DC tribute band, at the Horny Toad Entertainment Complex on Saturday, Sept. 18. For a complete list of Bikefest concerts, visit lakebikefest.com/events-schedule/.
To accommodate the thousands of motorcycles, Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Lake Ozark will be closed to all traffic excluding two- and three-wheel vehicles (with the exception of emergency vehicles) from Ballenger Road to Bagnell Dam from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. from Wednesday, Sept. 15 through Monday, Sept. 20. As in years past, the center lane will be open to allow motorcycle parking. All the Bagnell Dam area businesses will be open for business.
One change to note for this year is that vehicles will not be able to travel over Bagnell Dam as it is closed for scheduled road work and maintenance. However, attendees can still access the Bagnell Dam Strip by taking a small detour around the dam.
For complete details on the 2021 Lake of the Ozarks BikeFest, including a schedule of events, concert locations and performing artists, complete list of Passport stops, Lake-area riding routes and more, visit www.LakeBikefest.com.
Anyone traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks for Bikefest will find accommodations to fit every style and budget. There are full-service large-scale resorts and smaller family-owned and operated resorts as well as charming bed and breakfasts or comfortable cabins and cottages. There is no shortage of fully furnished vacation rental homes and condominiums to choose from. There also is a selection of familiar hotels and motels at the Lake. For those who prefer sleeping under the stars, there are spacious campgrounds and RV parks interspersed throughout the area. For a complete list of accommodations available at the Lake, visit the “Lodging” tab at www.FunLake.com.
Visitors also can learn more about all the fun events, attractions and activities, as well as lodging and dining options available all year at the “Best Recreational Lake in the Nation” at www.FunLake.com or by calling the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).
