Las Vegas Bikefest! ~ Fremont Street

The Las Vegas Bikefest is an annual event that draws tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the globe. Bikefest usually takes place in early October, so this event overlaps with the local Halloween festivities. Prior to 2013, the Bikefest was a citywide event and the custom bikes were lined up along the Las Vegas Strip all the way to downtown. In recent years, the Bikefest event has been moved to downtown, which actually is a cooler scene, because this area is where the old Las Vegas traditions still thrive. 

During Bikefest, every kind of motorbike that can be imagined is lined up in the parking areas downtown. Every bar downtown rolls out the "Bikers Are Welcome" signs and the Fremont Street Experience Canopy zone turns into a wild party. The Fremont Entertainment District becomes a sea of black leather jackets and everybody is there to have a good time. The bandstage music venues most often include speed metal, ’80s pop, Zeppelin and AC/DC, so if you are into the American beer bar scene, then you will feel right at home! 

One of the traditional Bikefest hot spots is Hogs & Heifers Saloon, which is a notoriously wild Las Vegas biker bar that is located across the street from the Downtown Grand Casino. This old west saloon definitely welcomes bikers with open arms. Huge crowds of motorbike fans gather at this saloon to party and check out the cool looking bikes parked on the street. Hogs & Heifers definitely is the most happening place to be  during Bikefest!

Overall, I had a blast at the Las Vegas Bikefest event and I met many great people.  I spent 14 years riding nothing but motorbikes, so it was easy to get in tune with this cool scene. Blue Oyster Cult headlined at Cashman Center and the main event will be featured in a second article. The Las Vegas Bikefest is a wild and wicked fun annual event that is well worth experiencing while in town, especially if you prefer to ride on two wheels!