Your guide to this year's Steel Horse Rally in Fort Smith
The roar of motorcycle engines will echo off the walls of downtown as the wheels of the Steel Horse Rally rubber with riders from across the country hits the historic streets for two days in early May.
With a $5 cup in hand, beverages can be taken around the downtown district during the Steel Horse Rally, and the money for the cup goes to local charities.
This year, the entertainment headquarters for the Steel Horse Rally will be at the corner of N 6th Street and Garrison Avenues in the parking lot across from the historic First National Bank building.
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Here are some event highlights:
The Handle Bar, and fundraising rally cups
The bar is called the Handle Bar, where the cups will be sold before noon Friday on opening day. T-shirts and gear, vendors and others will be at the tents. A motorcycle parade winds through downtown and the music will then crank up Saturday night.
Bikini contest
Don't forget the Miss Steel Horse Rally bikini contest to heat up Saturday night. The winner will walk away with $500.
Helping local charities
Charities benefitting from sale of 2022 $5 official cups at the Handle Bar and other businesses goes to local charities Antioch for Youth & Family, Children's Service League, and Fort Smith Boy's Shelter. Anyone 21 and over with the the blue cup can walk throughout the downtown entertainment district with an adult beverage during the charity event on May 6th & 7th. Business owners who would like to become an official location where cups are sold can email info@TheSteelHorseRally.com or call 479-414-3775.
Vendor Village
Don’t miss all of the vendors located in Vendor Village in the 800 block of Garrison Ave. Stop by the official Steel Horse Rally booth for info and the newest 2022 Steel Horse Rally gear including hats, patches, flags and shirts, with proceeds benefiting the Steel Horse Rally Inc. charity. The tents are located against the wall with the brightly colored mural on the end closest to Garrison Ave. Plus, see more vendors in Cisterna Park (1000 block of Garrison Ave.). At the Arkansas Department of Health booth at Cisterna Park, you can get a free Covid-19 Vaccination while attending the rally. Those 18 and older receiving a 1st dose will have their choice of a $20 Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Scratch-Off or an Arkansas Game and Fish Gift Certificate.
And they're off!
The Steel Horse Rally will once again feature pro and amateur motorcycle racing at the Steel Horse Shootout on Friday night May 6th at Tri-State Speedway in Pocola, Oklahoma. The race includes micro-wrestling at the racetrack.
Cops and Cones
Law officers will show off their motorcycle skills in the Cops & Cones Motorcycle Exhibition Saturday, May 7th at 12th & Garrison as cops on their bikes take on the challenge of winding through a course of cones.
Good day for a motorcycle parade
The Thunder through the Valley Motorcycle Parade stages at 3 p.m. Saturday at Riverfront Park and starts at 4 p.m., where motorcycle riders will ride beneath the huge American flag on Garrison Ave.
Rock and roar
The motors will roar and the music will rock on the main stage during the rally. The Saturday night headliner is the Dallas-based Messer. The Steel Horse Rally All-Star Band will rev up the crowd.
VIBs
A limited number of 2022 Steel Horse Rally Very Important Biker, or VIBs, packages are available and can be reserved.
Schedule
Here is a timeline for the schedule of rally events.
Friday, May 6th
10:30 a.m. Friday
The Steel Horse Rally begins when the Handle Bar opens in the biker area near the main stage at N. 6th Street and Garrison Avenue in the Fort Smith Downtown Historic district:
The Public Guardians Poker Run starts 10:30 a.m.: Friday, May 6th: The poker run raises money for local charities,
Registration opens at Hooters, 6401 Rogers Ave. Riders will leave at 1 pm. and the last bike will return at 4 p.m.
Riders pick up their first poker chips at Hooters 6323 Rogers Avenue.
Stop one will be Workman's Ozark Travel Center in Ozark, then the second stop will be at, the Turner Bend Store on Scenic Byway State Highway 23 north of Ozark. Stop 3 will be at The Vault at 624 Main Street in Van Buren. Final stop is back at Hooters.
Cost is $20 per bike, $5 for extra hand. Extra chips may be bought at the final stop.
12 p.m. Friday
VIBs check-in. That stands for the Very Important Bikers. VIBs, can check in at the tent in the vendor village in the 800 block of Garrison Avenue in the northeast corner of the parking lot.
There will be official Steel Horse Rally T-shirts and merchandise in one of the tents.
The Steel Horse Rally main stage will be at the corner of N. 6th Street and Garrison Avenue and at Cisterna Park by the statue of Gen. William Darby on a motorcycle, in the 1000 block of Garrison Ave.
2 p.m.
At the Majestic Fort Smith on Garrison Avenue music starts at 2 p.m. Friday with Hillbilly Vegas, Dixie Misfits, Rockey Don Jones, Pearson Brothers.
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Live Music & Entertainment on the Steel Horse Rally Main Stage & The Steel Horse Rally Handle Bar
5 p.m. Friday
Time to be wild. The music begins on the main stage.
Beverages for those 21 years old and older sold at the Handle Bar near the stage can be carried around downtown in the entertainment district in an official cup.
The official Steel Horse Rally Charity Cup is $5 and those 21 (and older) can walk through the rally and downtown entertainment district with an adult beverage. 100% of the donation for cups goes to three local charities: Antioch for Youth & Family, The Fort Smith Boys Shelter, & the Children's Service League.
Majestic music
Plenty of bands will play The Majestic, 817 N. Garrison Ave. during the rally.
Here is the lineup of bands for Friday at the Majestic, 817 N. Garrison.
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. house music.
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pearson Brothers.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Rockey Don Jones.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hillbilly Vegas
9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dixie Misfits
11 p.m. to 1 p.m. DJ
In addition to live music there will be BBQ being served by Wright's BBQ, door prizes, & drink specials all weekend.
Other highlights at rally
6:30 p.m. Friday
Park your bike in the middle of the road.
Garrison Ave. is open to motorcycles only until 2 a.m.. Park with the front tire on the yellow Line. Look for signs and traffic cones marking where parking is allowed.
Saturday, May 7
9 a.m. Saturday
The Steel Horse Rally Vendor Village Opens, 800 block of Garrison Ave., Vendors open near the Steel Horse Rally Entertainment Stage in 600 block of Garrison Ave, Across from First National Bank of Fort Smith, and Vendors at Cisterna Park open in the 1000 block of Garrison Ave. in downtown Fort Smith. Official Steel Horse Rally Charity Cups, T-shirts & merchandise available at the Steel Horse Rally tent in the northeast corner of Vendor Village with proceeds benefiting the Steel Horse Rally Inc. charity.
10 a.m. Saturday
The Cops & Cones Motorcycle the 1100 block of Garrison Avenue/Cisterna Park; Watch law enforcement officers ride through this precision course of orange cones set up right in the middle of Garrison Avenue. After the event, kids can have their photos made with the officers and their motorcycles.
1 p.m.
Fort Smith's band Judge Parker will play at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park.
3 p.m.
Riders will meet at Riverfront/River Park Parking Lot (121 Riverfront Drive).
A group photo will be taken at 3:45 p.m.
4 p.m.
The Steel Horse Rally "Thunder Through the Valley" motorcycle parade goes through downtown Fort Smith, underneath the huge American flag and ending on Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith. The parade will be led by law enforcement motorcycle units.
Live Music & Entertainment on the Steel Horse Rally Main Stage
4:30 p.m.
Following the parade, there will be more live entertainment on the Steel Horse Rally Main Stage that will be located in the Parking Lot at 601 Garrison Avenue (across from 1st National Bank). VIBs get into the area located near the stage with private VIB bar service and more. The Steel Horse All-Star band will play.
More music inside The Majestic.
The Saturday Majestic lineup follows:
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sons of Turner
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. BRC Bike Works Bikini Contest
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mama Tryde Band
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Brooke White Band
9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Judge Parker
11 p.m. to 1 p.m.1 DJ
Other rally highlights
8 p.m.
Miss Steel Horse Rally Bikini Contest begins. Voters will pick a winner in a two-piece. on the main stage in the 600 block of Garrison Avenue across from First National Bank of Fort Smith. The favorite contestant who will take home the Steel Horse Rally People's Choice Award.
9 p.m.
Messer of Dallas is the headliner for the night with rock music from Dallas. Their songs like “Whiskey” and “Hope in this World” continue to climb the rock charts. They will rock the rally well into the night.
The official Steel Horse Rally Guide at: https://www.thesteelhorserally.com/rally-guide for all Steel Horse Rally Charity Cup locations, events going on at businesses on Garrison Avenue and all of the rally event info. Visit TheSteelHorseRally.com for more information.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Steel Horse Rally 2022: Event highlights, schedule and more
