Tourism Talk | Bike rally in Florence gearing up

You’ve heard a lot about bike rallies in Myrtle Beach lately, but another, first-time rally capitalizing on the popularity of Myrtle Beach is ready to rev up in Florence next month.

About 30 vendors have signed up to participate in the first Myrtle Beach Bike Week West motorcycle expo at the Florence Civic Center, set for March 2-3. The event, which also will include concerts and giveaways, is expected to draw between 2,000 and 3,000 bikers and was timed to grab bikers headed down Interstate 95 to Daytona Beach’s bike rally, which is set for March 9-18.

“The response we are getting is extremely positive,” said Sonny Copeland, owner of Myrtle Beach Bike Week LLC who is organizing the Florence rally. “Everything is coming together.”

The new bike event in Florence has been lining up concerts and promotions as debate over Myrtle Beach’s rallies have swirled. The Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson dealership last month announced different dates for its events – May 18-28 – breaking from the traditional dates in early May, though bars, stores and others say they are sticking with the original dates. That means the area will have three consecutive weeks of Harley-related events in May and the dealership’s events will overlap Atlantic Beach Bike Fest during Memorial Day weekend.

The controversy has sparked confusion and led to talk of not allowing vendors in Horry County in May. The County Council is set to talk about vendors Tuesday.

Rally-related rules and restrictions that have surfaced in recent years along the Grand Strand prompted the event in Florence, according to MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com.

“With all the restrictions put in place by the different cities on the Grand Strand, and elected officials of Horry County the time has come to expand beyond these borders,” the website says.

Amid debate over the Myrtle Beach rallies, Copeland, who also promotes the Harley rally in Myrtle Beach, has lined up vendors, concerts and events for the Florence rally.

A concert by headliner Nantucket, with bands All My Rowdy Friends and Geneva, is set for 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. There also will be a blessing of the bikes and a used motorcycle corral, where owners can sell their bikes or used bike parts. Attendees can enter drawings and raffles for a bike lift the Orange County Choppers used while in Florence and free enrollment in motorcycle ride education school.

Tickets for the bike expo will be available at the door and cost $15. Concert tickets, which went on sale Thursday, range in price from $25 to $40.

Snowbird reception set for next week

Snowbirds can get some extra love on Valentine’s Day with a reception in North Myrtle Beach.

The “We Love Our Snowbirds” reception will be from 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday in the cinema court at Myrtle Beach Mall, 10177 N. Kings Highway near the junction with S.C. 22. The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce has the annual reception, which will include prizes, food, entertainment and mall discounts, as a thank-you for the area’s winter visitors who help the beach’s off-season economy.

Those attending the free reception can bring a jar of peanut butter or jelly for the North Strand Helping Hand, which is kicking off its Third Annual Great Peanut Butter & Jelly Challenge to help needy residents.