Atlantic Beach's offerings widen rally appeal

More families and more visitors than last year were wandering up and down 33rd Avenue in Atlantic Beach Saturday afternoon during the second full day of the annual Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Overall attendance seemed up on Saturday, according to town officials, partly because of a more diverse offering in vendors, including national entertainment companies setting up a venue at the horseshoe off Ocean Boulevard at the end of 30th Avenue South.

A storm warning for the coastal Carolinas and a new set of ordinances inside Atlantic Beach didn't prevent the increase in attendance, and town officials said there had been a minimal number of incidents or violations.

"I'm seeing a lot of families, parents bringing out their kids and walking around and just enjoying the weather, which definitely held out for us," said Atlantic Beach Town Manager William Booker. "We have a lot more going on in terms of vendors this year, including more people who are selling parts and upgrades for bikes, which is something we're really working to get more of. People are literally getting their bikes worked on today, which hasn't happened a lot in the past."

The attendance for the Memorial Day weekend Bikefest took a hit because of the noise, mandatory helmet and other ordinances enacted in Myrtle Beach in 2008. Many of the riders at the Atlantic Beach Bikefest said they're avoiding Myrtle Beach, and concentrating their riding and festivities on the north end of U.S. 17.

"There's just a lot of camaraderie. That's what I like best about the weekend," said Cali Brandyburg, who was attending the festival for the first time and drove from Virginia Beach, Va.

One of her riding partners, Chaz Pappy, also from Virginia Beach, said that the ordinances inside Myrtle Beach had taken their toll on the event, toning it down. Pappy, who has come to Atlantic Beach for the Bikefest for the past eight years, said his favorite part of the Bikefest is riding with friends on U.S. 17.

"We still ride up Kings Highway, we just don't go all the way into Myrtle Beach," he said.

Businesses and vendors inside Atlantic Beach were enjoying the business Saturday, selling everything from commemorative T-shirts and mix CDs, to turkey legs and wheelie rides on custom-painted motorcycles. While looking toward the future of the rally, the town also honored its past Saturday by presenting a plaque and honoring the Knight Riders, the group of motorcyclists who founded the rally almost 30 years ago.

One of the areas that was noticeably different in Atlantic Beach was the amount of police at the festival. State troopers and State Law Enforcement Division officers roamed the event and were stationed at strategic points along 30th Avenue South. Troopers also directed traffic on U.S. 17 and through Barefoot Landing, and along Ocean Boulevard inside of Atlantic Beach.

Booker said that most people obeyed the new ordinances inside of Atlantic Beach city limits, but said they weren't much of a change from previous rules. Public safety officials prevented coolers full of alcohol from making their way into the event and restricted the sale of alcohol to registered and permitted vendors.

"We just made them ordinances this year, but most of those rules had existed during the festival in the past. We just are using the proper vehicle for them by making them ordinances," he said.

Resident and former candidates for the Atlantic Beach Town Council, Paul Curry, brought a lawsuit against the town in 2008 claiming it had not enforced the laws during previous Bikefests. Curry said Saturday that he has seen officials breaking at least one rule during the celebration. The new ordinances allow public safety officials to police the event on golf carts that have to be properly registered and identified. Curry said that portion of the rules has been followed, but said state law prohibits the carts from driving on certain roadways at night.

"I've spoken to my attorney and the best we could do is get an injunction, but we won't be able to do that until Tuesday," he said. "They're driving those carts at night in the crowds. My concern is for safety and for the laws to be followed."