October 12, 2004
Daytona, FL - Motorcyclists craving that one last ride before storing their bikes away for winter won't want to miss Biketoberfest�, an award-winning autumn motorcycle rally that offers riders a weekend brimming with plenty of sun, beaches, bikes and fun. This year's event is slated to take place October 21-24, 2004 at locations throughout the Daytona Beach resort area.
Florida businesses are gearing up for Biketoberfest. Some events are even being scheduled between Oct. 15 and 20, a few days before the festival's official Oct. 21 start, to help businesses hurt by the drop-off in visitors due to the recent hurricanes. The event is a moneymaker for businesses in the area. A 2001 study by a University of Central Florida professor indicated that Bike Week in the spring and Biketoberfest had a $744 million economic impact on Daytona Beach, by far the largest of the city's special events. That's significantly more than the $561 million generated by the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400 at the Daytona International Speedway and the $196 million from spring break
Scheduled activities include motorcycle shows and rallies that showcase vintage and custom bikes such as the Main Street Rally, the Boardwalk Classic Ride-In Bike Show and the Daytona Beach News- Journal Motorcycle Expo. Throughout Biketoberfest� 2004, visitors will have the chance to take demonstration rides on the newest machines from top manufacturers, including Honda and Harley-Davidson, at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway. This speedway event will also feature live entertainment as well as food and apparel vendors.
Visitors can look forward to enjoying delicious food and live rock, blues and reggae music at the area's three popular street festivals which are scheduled to take place on Beach Street, Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., and the legendary Main Street. Admission to all three festivals is free.
