The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Darren White, from Wright City, MO, won the 2017 Harley-Davidson FXDL 103 Dyna Low Rider in the Bikefest Passport Program. Riders purchased a $20 passport and then rode to 24 separate locations where they received a stamp and then turned the completed passport in at the Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson Shop for the drawing held on Sunday, September 16. (Photos provided by Tim Jacobsen)

Published October 3, 2018

Jacobsen: 70,000 bikers attended this year’s bikefest

LAKE OF THE OZARKS - The 2018 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest was held on September 12–16 and over 75,000 motorcycles and 115,000 people were in attendance, according to Tim Jacobsen, Bikefest Committee Member and Executive Director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“The 12th year of the event saw growth with more bikes, more people and long lengths of overnight stays,” Jacobsen said. “The Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest was advertised throughout the Midwest via biker publications, events, mailings, flyers, postcards, radio, billboard, internet, email and biker word of mouth.”

Full Throttle Magazine hosted the Passport Program where riders purchased a $20 passport and then rode to 24 separate locations where they received a stamp and then turned the completed passport in at the Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson Shop for a drawing that was held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 16.

The winner, Darren White, from Wright City, MO, won the 2017 Harley-Davidson FXDL 103 Dyna Low Rider.

Proceeds from the Passport Program are used to promote the event and a portion is allocated to benefit the efforts of the local chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association, Fishers of Men, for their participation in executing the Passport Program.

The event hosted four vendor village areas at Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson, Camden on the Lake and throughout Bagnell Dam Blvd.

“The Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest continues to attract more bikers each year because of the quality of the vendors, the amount of larger entertainment facilities that cater to bikers and the wonderful experience provided by riding through the rolling hills surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks,” said Jacobsen. “The communities of the Lake Area welcome and prepare each year to host this event and the local businesses continue to exceed the biker’s expectations.”

The Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest major sponsors are Aaron Sachs & Associates, P.C., The Leatherman, The City of Osage Beach & Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson.

Many other sponsors helped contribute to the success of the event, Jacobsen said.

The 2019 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest will be held on Wednesday, September 11 – Sunday, September 15, 2019.

For pictures and video from the 2018 event and to keep informed of upcoming activities and details of the 13th Anniversary of the Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest go online to www.lakebikefest.com