What bikers will be doing on SPI this weekend
Get your engine revving and head out on the open highway to South Padre Island for the 15th annual Bike Fest this weekend.
The four-day rally attracts bikers and families looking for long weekend packed with live music, food, contests and dozens of vendors for your shopping pleasure.
This year the Mexico Fiesta Run, a guided bike tour to Mexico, has been canceled because of new passport requirements, and organizers have a concern for riders’ safety (READ MORE ABOUT THIS). To make up for that, the bike fest has announced two new events for 2009.
Take a guided ride from SPI to Edinburg for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the South Texas Motorcycle Museum, which opens to the public Friday morning.
And on your own time, use your Global Positioning System to help you track waypoints all over the Rio Grande Valley in the new BikeFestGeoCaching event.
A day pass will get you into the event, including concerts, but some events may still require a small fee to participate.
For more information, call (956) 668-7484, or visit www.spibikefest.com.
SPI Bike Fest
WHEN: Thursday – Sunday
WHERE: South Padre Island Convention Center, Padre Blvd. between Retama St. and Mesquite St.
COST: $15 day pass, adults; $5 day pass, children 5-11 years old; free children 4 and younger
BUY TICKETS: www.spibikefest.com
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CLICK HERE FOR A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
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CLICK HERE FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE PERFORMERS
ATTRACTIONS
Thursday – Sunday
Vendors
Explore the dozens of vendors inside and outside at the SPI Convention Center. Browse bikes, threads, food, gifts, tattoo parlors, jewelry and much more.
Thursday – Saturday
BikeFest GeoCaching
Join in the high tech treasure hunt that is a new event for Bike Fest. BikeFestGeoCaching has participants scour the Valley for more than 40 waypoints, at their own leisure, over the weekend. Competitors will use their Global Positioning Systems to help find the points and win prizes.
Friday, 10:30 a.m.
South Texas Motorcyle Museum Tour, 4705 E. Richardson Rd., Edinburg: The museum that was inspired by an exhibit at the International Museum of Art & Science in McAllen will be celebrating its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and will be officially open to the public on Friday. The collection includes bikes from 1913-2007. A guided ride from SPI to Edinburg will start up at 8 a.m. For more information about the museum, visit www.stxmm.org.
Saturday, 7:30 a.m.
King of the Causeway 50 Mile Race Registration for the bicycle race starts at 6 a.m. at Port Isabel High School. From there, a car will lead cyclists to the start point and the competitors will bike a 50 mile course around south texas, ending in Laguna Vista. At 6 p.m., another race begins, this time with cyclists in a 10-mile race over the causeway.
Saturday, 9 a.m.
Bike Show Check out the bikes at the SPI Convention Center’s south parking lot. The winners will be announced at noon.
Saturday, 6:15 p.m.
Iron Horse Memorial Sunset Parade Immediately following the 10-mile bicycle race across the causeway is the bike parade.
Sunday, 7:30 a.m.
Poker Run Combine two loves: biking and poker. Hop on your bike and hit the checkpoints to get your cards. Best poker hand wins.
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Field Events (for children) It’s time for the little ones to get into the action! Field events and games for children will be held at the east parking lot at the convention center. Prizes will be awarded to winners.
Sunday, 6 p.m.
Bike Raffle Giveaway If you bought a raffle ticket in hopes of winning the bike, check your numbers and find out as the weekend comes to an end. Though you don’t have to be present to win. (But it’s more fun if you are there!)
PERFORMERS
Friday
RHETT ROTTEN
Genre: Thrilling stunts
Watch motorcycle racing taken to the extreme with Rhett Rotten and his Wall of Death! Rhett “Rotten” Giordano rides vintage bikes around the vertical wall of a giant wooden barrel. The spectacle includes death-defying tricks and stunts on different bikes and a go-kart.
www.wallofdeathinc.com
WHEN: Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m.
WHERE: Wall of Death
ALBERT PHIPPS
WHEN: Noon
WHERE: Bud Stage
BRAINWAVE
Genre: Rock
In the mood for some ‘80s and classic rock? Brainwave, the McAllen four-piece band, plays hits from bands like Whitesnake. They’ve been playing the local bar scene since 2006.
www.myspace.com/brainwaverockband
WHEN: 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
STONED
WHEN: 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
STONE FREE
WHEN: 8:15 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
CAROLINE PICARD
Genre: Comedy
Stand-up comedian Caroline Picard likes her shows to play more like a rock concert. She’s not shy about her views, and the phrase “politically correct” doesn’t seem to exist to the “Cajun Queen.” Be warned: she doesn’t do a clean show!
www.carolinepicard.com
WHEN: 9:45 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
SATISFACTION
Genre: Rock
If you missed the Rolling Stones in concert, here’s your chance to catch the next best thing: Satisfaction, a tribute band. Not only does the band play songs like “Start Me Up,” “Paint It Black,” and, of course, “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction),” the members look so much like the real deal, you’d swear it was Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on stage. www.rollingstoneshow.com
WHEN: 10:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
Saturday
RHETT ROTTEN
WHEN: Noon, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m.
WHERE: Wall of Death
BREE STEVENS
WHEN: 3:45 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
KYLE BENNETT BAND
Genre: Country/Southern rock
North Texas already knows the Kyle Bennett Band – now the band is getting to know the rest of the state. The country band kicks off the country concerts at the Island on Saturday. The band blends rock and country to create a smoother sound than you’d expect. www.myspace.com/kylebennettband
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
CAROLINE PICARD
WHEN: 8:30 p.m., 10 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
RICH O'TOOLE
Genre: Country/Rock
He’s new on the Texas country circuit, but Rich O’Toole is a hard worker. His tour schedule is full until the end of the year, and he’ll be opening for Jackson Taylor at the SPI Bike Fest on Saturday.
www.myspace.com/richotoole
WHEN: 9 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
JACKSON TAYLOR BAND
Genre: Country
Jackson Taylor lived a hard life, which likely contributed to some of his songs. The native Texan plays honky tonks throughout the southern states, and he’ll be bringing his storytelling through songs to the SPI Bike Fest on Saturday. www.myspace.com/jacksontaylorandthesinners
WHEN: 10:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
Sunday
RHETT ROTTEN
WHEN: Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
WHERE: Wall of Death
ENSEMBLE LA MISION
WHEN: Noon
WHERE: Bud Stage
LA SOMBRA
Genre: Tejano
The widely popular Tejano band La Sombra have been making music and entertaining audiences for more than 25 years. After the ‘90s, the albums released by the band were greatest hits compilations, but the band that inspired so many other tejano artists reunited in 2008 to play some shows. La Sombra will be opening for La Mafia on Sunday. www.myspace.com/lasombradetonyg
WHEN: 2:45 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
LA MAFIA
Genre: Tejano
Sunday is Tejano day at the SPI Bike Fest. Grammy award-winning Latin band La Mafia top off the weekend with hits like “Vida,” and “Un Million de Rosas.” From the looks of La Mafia’s calendar, the band doesn’t play live often, so if you want to see the Houston-based group, make sure you’re at SPI this weekend! www.lamafia.com
WHEN: 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bud Stage
