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| Biketoberfest® is a registered U.S. trademark of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, all rights reserved. |
|
| Biketoberfest® is a
fun-filled, family event that attracts motorcycle enthusiasts from
throughout North America and Europe. Festivities include motorcycle
races, street festivals, concerts, charity rides, expos, seminars
and celebrity appearances. |
| October 19-22, 2006 |
| Daytona Beach, Florida |
| For more information on
activities or accommodations, contact the Daytona Beach Area
Convention and Visitors Bureau (DBACVB) at 1.866.296.8970 (U.S. and
Canada only), 1.386.255.0415 or visit www.biketoberfest.org! |
Biketoberfest's
Birthmother -- Janet Kersey, a Daytona Beach native, was
hired as director of tourism events and promotions by the DBACVB to
create special events that would attract visitors during off-season
periods. Her first assignment was to create a special biker event,
similar to the ever-popular Bike Week, centered around the American
Motorcycle Association's annual fall races held each October at
Daytona International Speedway. The event, named "The Daytona
Fall Tour," was held on October 16-18, 1992.
The Daytona Fall Tour featured a 125-mile scenic touring ride
through Volusia County, bike shows, races at Daytona International
Speedway and Bikefest -- a series of activities offered by Main
Street merchants. The motorcycling festival attracted 5,000 new
visitors, mostly from the Florida market, to the Daytona Beach
area.
Biketoberfest® Is Born -- The success of the
Convention and Visitors Bureau's Daytona Fall Tour attracted
increased interest from local merchants and the surrounding
community. In 1993, local companies -- such as The News-Journal
Corporation, The Adam's Mark Daytona Beach Resort, and Daytona
Harley-Davidson -- sponsored concerts, trade shows, and other
activities. Under the CVB's direction, the Biketoberfest®
Development Committee was established and as a result, the number
of activities increased to 40 in a three-day timespan.
That year, the event's name also changed from The Daytona Fall
Tour to Biketoberfest®. The new name became popular
domestically and internationally, especially among motorcycle
enthusiasts in Germany where the Oktoberfest celebration is held
nationwide. The CVB's London office began a marketing campaign
aimed at drawing European bikers who wanted to escape Europe's
winter weather and enjoy a fun-filled Florida holiday.
Biketoberfest® 1993 drew 15,000 new visitors and
generated more than $4.6 million dollars for the Daytona Beach
area.
Growth Spurt (1994-1997) -- Biketoberfest®
1994 featured 80 countywide activities over a four-day period,
attracting about 25,000 new visitors from Florida, the eastern and
western United States, and Canada. Those visitors generated an
estimated $4.6 million impact.
The number of countywide activities during Biketoberfest®
1995 grew to more than 150. Approximately 43,000 visitors from
the United States, Canada, and Europe visited the area during the
motorcycle festival. The total economic impact was $20.75 million,
prompting a further expansion of the event in 1996.
Biketoberfest® 1996 expanded to more than 300
activities in two counties --Volusia and St. Johns. Also that year,
the tourism bureau launched a Web page for the event.
Biketoberfest® 1997 was named one of the top 25 events
in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. It had an
attendance of approximately 60,000. The event generated an economic
impact of $32 million.
Biketoberfest® 1998 -- With the addition of the NASCAR
Pepsi 400 to the October schedule of events, Biketoberfest®
1998 was filled with activities that the entire family could enjoy.
Returning activities included the Fall Cycle Scene Championship Cup
Series and The Daytona Beach Harley-Davidson Seafood Festival.
There was also a special appearance by legendary daredevil Evel
Knievel.
Also new to the line-up was the "Tuesday Night
Biketoberfest® Internet Chat" hosted by the CVB. The chat
-- held every Tuesday night leading up to Biketoberfest® --
gave visitors a chance to ask questions and find out
up-to-the-minute information about the event. Lucky participants
even got the chance to "chat" with a celebrity.
Biketoberfest® 1999-- Once again, Biketoberfest®
was named one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events.
Approximately 75,000 motorcycle enthusiasts attended the event. On
the Internet, the official event Web site settled into its
permanent home at www.biketoberfest.org and hosted Easy Rider star
Peter Fonda in its first in-house chat event.
Biketoberfest® 2000 -- Biketoberfest® 2000
included several new activities, the most ambitious being the
Daytona Harley-Davidson Thunder Over Dixie 2000. This touring event
and concert benefited the Boggy Creek Gang Camp -- a year-round
camping facility for chronically ill children and their
families.
Also that year, the Biketoberfest® Development Committee
expanded its rider safety campaign. Done in conjunction with the
Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the campaign included posters
and radio public service announcements. In addition, the campaign
was promoted on the official Biketoberfest® Web site. The
Biketoberfest® Web site included rider safety tips,
information on the city's code of conduct and a link to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site. The
committee also continued its three-year-old "Please Ride
Quietly" campaign which reminded visitors and residents to
ride without excessive revving or roaring of engines, especially
after 11 p.m.
Biketoberfest® 2001 -- The Daytona Beach area's
first post-September 11 tourism event, Biketoberfest® 2001
attracted motorcycle enthusiasts from throughout the U.S. who
proudly displayed their patriotism. The event was also host to a
record 8 major fundraising campaigns by area non-profit
organizations, including Easter Seals of Volusia and Flagler
Counties, the United Way of Volusia- Flagler Counties, the Florida
Lions Conklin Centers for the Blind and the Zangi Grotto masonic
lodge. That year, Biketoberfest® was designated a Southeast
Tourism Society Top 20 Event for October 2001.
Biketoberfest® 2002 -- Biketoberfest® celebrated
its tenth anniversary during the 2002 festivities. In commemoration
of this milestone, the Convention and Visitors Bureau created and
distributed the event's official tenth anniversary poster at
local visitor information centers. In addition, Main Street jeweler
Humphreys & Son sold limited edition commemorative
Biketoberfest® coins. Only 500 of the pure silver coins were
minted.
Biketoberfest® 2003 -- The eleventh annual
Biketoberfest® event was a celebrity-studded affair that
featured appearances by The Teutel Family -- stars of the popular
Discovery Channel series American Chopper -- and Jesse James --
star of the cable network's Monster Garage program. The 2003
event also marked the debut of the official Biketoberfest®
Pocket Guide and merchandise line. In addition, the popular
festival was selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's
Top 20 Events for the month of October 2003.
Biketoberfest® 2004 -- Even an historic hurricane
season in August and September couldn't stop the momentum of
Biketoberfest®. An estimated 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts
still found their way to the Daytona Beach area for this annual
pilgrimage of fun and festivities. Waiting with a warm welcome were
loads of locals ready to put the weather behind them and share a
smile and a story. The locals also asked for and received a
one-time, special exception for a 10-day extension of the event to
help get our community back on its feet. That year the Daytona
Beach Area CVB launched a colorful new official event web site at
www.biketoberfest.org, where
visitors could book rooms and find out about the latest activities
planned. Biketoberfest® 2004 was enhanced by the ten day
extension and early activities such as the first Stars and Stripes
Weekend on Main Street. Although there was no racing at the Daytona
International Speedway because of infield construction, the first
Buffalo Chip event was held there.
Biketoberfest® 2005 -- The 13th edition of
Biketoberfest® came and went like a typical teenager -
unpredictable and highly dramatic! With Wilma lingering south for
the entire four days of the event, crowds were lighter than
anticipated. Visitors who were here for the festival reported
having a great time throughout the event. As activities continue to
expand throughout the entire County of Volusia, one major highlight
was the grand opening of Destination Daytona, a 109,000 square foot
Harley Davidson dealership, which will welcome bikers year-round.
Inside the complex the Daytona Beach Area CVB opened an
"Official Visitors Center". Another highlight was a new
nighttime event, the Biketober Motorcycle Classic at Daytona
Lagoon, featuring over 100 top-notch bikes from all across the
country in a beautiful waterpark location.
Biketoberfest® is a registered trademark of the Daytona Beach
Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, all rights reserved. |
| Daytona Beach, Fla. -- Motorcyclists
craving that one last ride before storing their bikes away for
winter won't want to miss Biketoberfest®, an award-winning
autumn motorcycle rally that offers riders a weekend brimming with
plenty of sun, beaches, bikes and fun. This year's event is
slated to take place October 19-22, 2006 at locations throughout
the Daytona Beach resort area. |
| Scheduled activities include motorcycle
shows and rallies that showcase vintage and custom bikes such as
the Main Street Rally, the Boardwalk Classic Ride-In Bike Show and
the Daytona Beach News- Journal Motorcycle Expo. Throughout
Biketoberfest® 2006, visitors will have the chance to take
demonstration rides on the newest machines from top manufacturers,
including Honda and Harley-Davidson, at the world-famous Daytona
International Speedway. This speedway event will also feature live
entertainment as well as food and apparel vendors. |
| Visitors can look forward to enjoying
delicious food and live rock, blues and reggae music at the
area's three popular street festivals which are scheduled to
take place on Beach Street, Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., and the
legendary Main Street. Admission to all three festivals is
free. |
| In addition, throughout the festival weekend
there will be concerts at area nightclubs as well as charitable
activities like the popular Zangi Grotto Pinewood Cemetery Tour
which funds the organization's program that provides free
dentistry to handicapped children. |
| Those who want to break away from the crowds
and experience Florida's natural beauty should place a
leisurely ride along The Loop at the top of their vacation to-do
list. This 22-mile scenic ride takes riders through the area's
rural countryside and offers spectacular oceanfront views. |
| Official Biketoberfest® posters, wallet
cards and event guides will be available free-of-charge at the
Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau's official
Biketoberfest® Welcome Centers at DAYTONA USA (adjacent to
Daytona International Speedway) and at the new Daytona
Harley-Davidson dealership located at I-95 and U.S. 1 in Ormond
Beach. Official Biketoberfest® merchandise will be available
for purchase in the gift shop inside the City of Daytona
Beach's welcome center located in Riverfront Park at 355 North
Beach Street, in the city's historic downtown district. |
| For information on accommodations and a
complete calendar of events, visit the official Biketoberfest®
event Web site, www.biketoberfest.org, or
contact the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
toll-free at 1-866-296-8970. |
| Biketoberfest® is a registered
trademark of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,
all rights reserved. |
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