“Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.” ~Author Unknown
Each April, downtown Helena hosts motorcycles, music and massive merriment during the Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally. The three-day event starts this evening, with a packed schedule of events, activities and performances.
If you’ve never attended Wild Hog, you might think it’s a festival dedicated to motorcyclists…and it’s definitely not. The three-day event is jam-packed with fun, food, music and activities, many that don’t require a motorcycle at all. Vendors selling food and merchandise will line historic Cherry Street in downtown Helena, offering festivalgoers a variety of wares to eat, drink, enjoy, wear and display.
Tonight begins with early bike registration at 5 p.m., followed by the early bird party and live music featuring Purfeck Daze at the Wild Hog Saloon, located just south of the main stage on Cherry Street.
Friday’s events begin at 2 p.m., as bike registration continues at the Wild Hog Saloon. Live music from the Cherry Street Pavilion starts at 4 p.m. with a performance by the Memphis Yahoos, followed by Geneva, 7 Bridges (the Ultimate Eagles Experience), and Grand Theft Audio. An escorted bike parade through Helena-West Helena, beginning and ending in the historic downtown, commences at 6 p.m. The music at Wild Hog Saloon begins at 8 p.m. and features Purfeck Daze.
Bike registration opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 27. The festival’s poker run begins at 10 a.m. (last bike in at 2 p.m.). Live music kicks off at the Cherry Street Pavilion at noon with a performance by Casual Flyze. Also at noon, registration for the bike show begins at the corner of Cherry and Elm streets and registration for the dyno shootout is at the corner of Cherry and Phillips streets. The rest of the afternoon includes a dyno shootout, bike games, and the festival bike show. Casual Flyze takes the stage again at 4 p.m. At 5:30, festivalgoers meet the contestants for the ever-popular Ms. Wild Hog contest and winners for the bike show, dyno shootout and bike games are announced. Immediately following, it’s The Return – A Beatles Flashback., followed by Delbert McClinton at 8. Finalists of the Ms. Wild Hog are announced at 9:30. Memphis Yahoos take the stage at 10:30. Saturday’s musical entertainment at the Wild Hog Saloon features Grand Theft Audio from 8 p.m. until midnight.
The conclusion of the festival takes places on Sunday, April 28, with morning church services and blessings of the bikes, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Whether you arrive on four wheels or two, this year’s Wild Hog offers something for everyone. General admission is $20 for the entire event. Basic registration begins at $30 for one rider and one bike. Passenger registration is $10.
To learn more about the 2013 Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally, log on to the festival’s website at www.WildHogMusic.org.