No rumble this year

Annual motorcycle rally victim of coronavirus

For some with less-than-welcoming attitudes about the annual Bikes, Blues and BBQ motorcycle rally, the question this week probably came to mind: Who needs another reason to not want those throngs of rumbling riders coming to Northwest Arkansas?

We’ve long appreciated Bikes, Blues

& BBQ , the locally created event that is unquestionably about good times, fun rides, food and music, but it also creates a side-benefit. Thousands of dollars in most years eventually make their way into the coffers of local nonprofit groups whose volunteers pitch in with the festivities for the benefit of their cause. Rally officials say in its 20-year history, the nonprofit event has raised more than $2 million for area charities. That’s nothing to dismiss lightly, even if the four-day event creates a bit of a ruckus. OK, a bunch of a ruckus.

We don’t own or ride anything on two wheels beyond bicycles, but the yearly fall event is a spectacle worth seeing at least once. It’s the only event we’ve ever been to in which the participants actually ride into town on part of the attraction of the event itself. Those rows upon rows of custom-designed and -painted motorcycles include some amazing artwork, full-on expressions of the personalities or preferences of their riders.

And every year, we say it: It’s great fun to see all those motorcycle enthusiasts roll into town, and by the time it’s over, we and a lot of area residents are ready to say “Thank you and so long.”

This year, though, nobody will get a chance to say hello or goodbye.

Organizers of Bikes, Blues & BBQ’s 20th-year event last week put down the kickstand and said the 2020 ride isn’t going to happen. And everyone reading this can probably guess why.

Covid-19, rather than motorcycles, is disrupting a lot of plans in Northwest Arkansas and the rest of the world.

The event’s executive director made a wise call, given the thousands upon thousands of people the event draws from, well, pretty much anyplace people ride motorcycles.

“We just didn’t feel like it was most appropriate to bring in people from all 50 states across the country into Northwest Arkansas,” Executive Director Tommy Sisemore said.

That’s a big and disappointing necessity for the organization. Just Friday, the Arkansas Department of Health said positive covid-19 cases in Arkansas in the previous 24 hours, 703 cases, included the largest single-day numbers of “community spread” since the pandemic began. The state since March has had 14,631 positive tests returned.

That’s going to hurt local hotels and some local restaurants, but in the midst of this pandemic, we suspect nobody living in Northwest Arkansas will be disappointed to avoid the massive crowds associated with past rallies.

We do like Sisemore’s idea, though: “I would just urge everybody, if they see fit, to look at the list of charities we donate to annually, or any charity in Northwest Arkansas, and make a donation if they can allow it with their finances.” That’s a great request.

We hope by next year there’s nothing to discourage the return of the event.