(Aug. 10, 2017) In preparation for Snow Hill’s second annual Ride To Sturgis event, organizers have begun registering vendors for a Motorcycle Swap Meet on Sept. 16.
Michael Day, Snow Hill economic development consultant, said the nominal fee would be waived for those who sign up prior to the event.
“If they sign up now it’s free,” he said. “Day of registration is $25.”
The Ride to Sturgis event is timed to coincide with OC Bikefest and Delmarva Bike Week, both of which draw large throngs of motorcycle enthusiasts to the area.
The idea came to life during a conversation between Day and Pocomoke River Canoe Company owner Barry Laws, as they tried to conceive of a means to siphon off a small percentage of the more than 100,000 bikers who descend on the Lower Shore during mid-September.
“He said, ‘well we’ve got Sturgis Park,’ and I just connected the dots and said, ‘oh we’re going to do that,’” he said. “We’re playing on the name and the emotional heartstrings of the bikers.”
The 77th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is taking place from Aug. 4-13 in South Dakota. Founded in 1938, the event was attended by a record crowd of more than 739,000 people in 2015.
Day said the swap meet in Snow Hill is targeting smaller operators.
“We’re just trying to cater to people who can’t afford to set up at [OC] Bikefest, but want do this,” he said. “The booth rentals in Ocean City start at $750.”
In contrast to the high-end retailers who dominate the OC Bikefest, Day said the swap meet provides a different stratum of shopping options.
“We’re opening it up to anybody that wants to bring anything to sell to bikers,” he said. “It should be small stuff, because they don’t have a car.”
Day said the initial swap meet brought out vendors with a wide sampling of items of interest to motorcycle lovers.
“We had a lot of neat, older stuff,” he said. “Last year we had pins from bike shows from all over the country [and] we had older t shirts.”
In time, Day hopes to grow the burgeoning event into a major calling card for Snow Hill.
“I would like to see it develop now and in the future to having more vintage bike parts – not your commercial bike booth where you’ve got all the new stuff,” he said.
Snow Hill’s Ride to Sturgis gathering is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. For more in formation or to register as a vendor, call 443-735-0957 or email day@snowhillmd.com.
Michael Day, Snow Hill economic development consultant, said the nominal fee would be waived for those who sign up prior to the event.
“If they sign up now it’s free,” he said. “Day of registration is $25.”
The Ride to Sturgis event is timed to coincide with OC Bikefest and Delmarva Bike Week, both of which draw large throngs of motorcycle enthusiasts to the area.
The idea came to life during a conversation between Day and Pocomoke River Canoe Company owner Barry Laws, as they tried to conceive of a means to siphon off a small percentage of the more than 100,000 bikers who descend on the Lower Shore during mid-September.
“He said, ‘well we’ve got Sturgis Park,’ and I just connected the dots and said, ‘oh we’re going to do that,’” he said. “We’re playing on the name and the emotional heartstrings of the bikers.”
The 77th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is taking place from Aug. 4-13 in South Dakota. Founded in 1938, the event was attended by a record crowd of more than 739,000 people in 2015.
Day said the swap meet in Snow Hill is targeting smaller operators.
“We’re just trying to cater to people who can’t afford to set up at [OC] Bikefest, but want do this,” he said. “The booth rentals in Ocean City start at $750.”
In contrast to the high-end retailers who dominate the OC Bikefest, Day said the swap meet provides a different stratum of shopping options.
“We’re opening it up to anybody that wants to bring anything to sell to bikers,” he said. “It should be small stuff, because they don’t have a car.”
Day said the initial swap meet brought out vendors with a wide sampling of items of interest to motorcycle lovers.
“We had a lot of neat, older stuff,” he said. “Last year we had pins from bike shows from all over the country [and] we had older t shirts.”
In time, Day hopes to grow the burgeoning event into a major calling card for Snow Hill.
“I would like to see it develop now and in the future to having more vintage bike parts – not your commercial bike booth where you’ve got all the new stuff,” he said.
Snow Hill’s Ride to Sturgis gathering is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. For more in formation or to register as a vendor, call 443-735-0957 or email day@snowhillmd.com.