All roads lead to Colonial Beach Bike Fest October 10-13

This October grab your leathers, rev your engine and head to Colonial Beach for legendary music performances, delicious food and undeniable camaraderie at the 10th annual Colonial Beach Bike Fest.

While the Colonial Beach Bike Festival has become a cornerstone for the town, it took a lot of hard work, dedication and planning to make the festival what it is today.

Steve “Smurf” Keene, a founder and director of the event, said the initial planning for the festival took about two years to complete.

Keene, an avid motorcyclist and at that time general manager of an area Harley Davidson dealership, moved to Montross with his wife Tina back in 2011. As they were learning the lay of the land they found themselves often grabbing dinner and drinks at High Tides on the Potomac in Colonial Beach.

After becoming regular patrons at High Tides, they became friends with the restaurant owners, Vicky and Bryan Coffman. Through drinks and conversation, Bryan and Smurf quickly bonded over their shared love of motorcycles.

As they were all sitting down at the boardwalk-side restaurant talking about their experiences at different bike fests throughout the country, Smurf recalled him and Bryan saying, “Why not do something like that here?”

According to Smurf, that conversation quickly snowballed into meetings and planning.

Soon after that initial conversation, Smurf and Bryan were having dinner at High Tides with Chamber of Commerce president Carey Geddes and a Southern Maryland radio announcer John J. “Ripley” Wiley.

With a core team ready to get to work, the wheels were in motion for the planning of the event.

“We knew it was gonna be a ton of work,” Smurf said.

The team enlisted the help of renowned artist Jay Haiden to come up with logos and t-shirt designs; Ripley used his radio platform for promotions; Carey began working with area business people for planning, and Smurf got Harley Davidson involved through his dealership.

When proposing the festival to the town council for approval, Smurf said they had to break their preconceived notions of biker culture and demonstrate how it was going to be an incredible opportunity for the town. Through presentations and discussions, the team eventually got the approval and support of council and the dominos began falling into place.

The team tactfully decided the second weekend of October would be the best time to slate the event as it falls between Myrtle Beach Bike Week and Daytona Beach Bike Week.

Bikers drive far and wide to attend festivals, so they wanted to make sure they wouldn’t be competing with other large festivals in the circuit, Smurf said.

In a team effort between the bike fest committee, the town, fire department, police department and many businesses, the inaugural Colonial Beach Bike Fest was held in October 2014.

According to Smurf, their expectations were surpassed with over 10,000 bikes traveling to Colonial Beach. That’s more than Ocean City had for their very first bike festival.

The bike fest is more than just a festival, Smurf said. Rather, it’s an experience of camaraderie and friendship as well as an introduction for many to the town of Colonial Beach.

Location. Location. Location.

“It’s really in the perfect location. It’s close to Richmond, D.C., and it’s just not that far to go for a lot of people who can only come for a day and not a whole weekend,” he said.

Surf said his wife, Tina, a realtor for the area, has sold a number of homes to people who have discovered Colonial Beach through the festival.

“It’s about bringing people to Colonial Beach,” he said.

Over the course of the decade a number of traditions have transpired.

Each year the festival gets started with an honor ride for veterans that serves as the “official kick-start” to the weekend.

Over 200 bikes receive a police escort from Quantico to Town Hill in Colonial Beach to begin the weekend.

During the opening ceremony, guest speakers, including area dignitaries, welcome the crowds for the weekend, a King George High School Color Guard presents the colors and the National Anthem is sung.

For the rest of the weekend, the town is taken over by bikers and vendors coming from up and down the East Coast and even some as far as Arizona.

Smurf remembered the time he felt that had really succeeded, when one year they had Michael Ballard from Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, the world’s largest biker bar, come and give his stamp of approval of the event.

Music

According to Smurf, a key element to the festival each year is the music.

In its inaugural year they were able to get legendary Molly Hatchet to perform. The band is making its return to Colonial Beach to perform for the 10th anniversary this year, too. The Molly Hatchet show is tentatively set for 5 p.m. October 12.

Over the years they’ve had a number of notable performers including Foghat, Swamp Da Wamp and Australian band Long Reef.

This year in addition to Molly Hatchet, Cougar Flash will be the closing band.

Smurf said one of his favorite parts of the festival so far has been seeing just how personable and kind all the bands have been. He said they don’t just perform and leave, but they come to hang out and get to know people.

One of Smurf’s favorite memories was getting to jam backstage with the drummer of Foghat, Roger Earl.

He also recounted the time Artimus Pyle, the former drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, performed Free Bird.

“That one hit ya in the heart,” Smurf said.

Smurf added his favorite performance, however, is one that happens each year, when his wife Tina sings the National Anthem, alongside Sally Adams, to get the weekend started.

Blessing of the  Bikes

Festival goers can also look forward to the annual bike show which is set to take place in the parking lot of The Riverboat Restaurant. There, the annual blessing of the bikes will also take place.

“It’s an event that really brings people together, and I think that’s what we all need,” Smurf said.

This year, Smurf said they anticipate a near 30,000 bikes to come to Colonial Beach for its biggest festival yet.

While the town has reached a milestone of a 10-year anniversary, the fun’s just getting started.

“As long as we’ve got a good showing, we’re gonna keep rockin’ it,” Smurf said.

For an event unlike any other in the Northern Neck, be sure to mark your calendar for the 10th annual Colonial Beach Bike Fest, October 10-13.