From racing to Rockville: A look at top events in Daytona Beach in 2022
As anyone will tell you, Daytona Beach has long been an event-driven destination.
And looking ahead to 2022, there will be no shortage of big occasions to draw visitors to the World's Most Famous Beach. From racing to Rockville, here's a look at what's on tap:
The Rolex 24 At Daytona
The 2022 motorsports season is set to go green with the 60th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, which unfolds Saturday, Jan. 29, on the 3.56-mile road course at Daytona International Speedway.
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This year’s edition features a super-sized field of 61 entries — the most since 2014. That includes a whopping 35 cars between GT Daytona and the newly formed GT Daytona Pro class, which this year replaces GT Le Mans.
For fans, the event also features the popular "Taste of the 24," also on Jan. 29, showcasing the culinary offerings of 19 different restaurants. The list includes area favorites such as 4 Rivers Smokehouse, 31 Supper Club, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Crabby's Oceanside & New Smyrna Beach, Daytona’s Original First Turn Steakhouse, Donnie's Donuts, Kale Café, Rock Bottom, Sessions Restaurant Hard Rock Hotel, Sloppy Joe's Daytona Beach, SoNapa Grille, among others.
Visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com for details.
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The Daytona 500
When it comes to signature events hereabouts, they don’t come much bigger than the annual running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. This year’s 64th annual edition of the legendary NASCAR race unfolds on Feb. 20 on the famed Speedway track.
Although NASCAR has relocated the Busch Clash to Los Angeles this year, eliminating the pre-season exhibition race that has opened Daytona Speedweeks since 1979, the 500 still maintains its allure as one of the sport’s crown jewels.
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Visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com for details.
Bike Week
Although NASCAR often rules in Daytona Beach, the rumble of Harley-Davidsons is a spring ritual at Bike Week, which unfolds March 4-13 at the World’s Most Famous Beach and surrounding areas in Volusia County.
From Destination Daytona at I-95 and U.S. Highway 1 in Ormond Beach to the traditional hub of bike- and people-watching on Main Street in Daytona Beach, the event continues to rumble along even amid a global pandemic.
The influx of visitors to last year’s event bolstered tourism bed-tax collections by 70% over the pandemic-plagued 2020 edition and by 9% over pre-COVID 2019. That March figure represents the largest increase for that month for at least the past 10 years, according to Michael Jones, operations manager for the Volusia County’s Treasury and Billing department.
So, even amid the omicron variant, expect big crowds again this year to embrace rituals from coleslaw wrestling to scenic rides on the Ormond Loop. Bikers don’t mess with tradition.
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Visit officialbikeweek.com for details.
Spring Turkey Run
From the classics to custom street rods, this annual classic-car showcase puts the spotlight on acres of gleaming chrome and high-performance gear and accessories on the infield of Daytona International Speedway.
Previous coverage: Classic cars on the menu at Daytona Spring Turkey Run
Expect to see thousands of classic and custom cars for show and sale at the three-day event that runs March 25-27. In addition, event highlights include a massive swap meet, the traditional Artisan Alley and refreshments from an array of vendors.
The 32nd annual event also features the closing-day Classic Car Parade Lap around the Speedway track on Sunday, March 27. Car fans also can check out the Hops & Hoods beer festival from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, March 26.
Hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 25 and 26; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 27. Admission: $10 daily on March 25 and 26; $5 on March 27. Free for ages 11 and under.
Visit turkeyrun.com for details.
Welcome to Rockville
After an auspicious debut in its new Daytona Beach home in November, the Welcome to Rockville music festival returns to Daytona International Speedway in May with a killer lineup aimed at heavy-metal fans.
Coming soon: Welcome to Rockville 2022 lineup additions include The Smashing Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction
In addition to headliners Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, KISS and Korn, the roster includes more than five dozen solid acts including The Smashing Pumpkins, Megadeth, Jane’s Addiction and Five Finger Death Punch. The outdoor festival is slated to unfold May 19-22 on the Speedway infield.
Welcome to Rockville’s debut at the Speedway in November attracted a record-setting crowd of 161,000 over a four-day run that featured heavy-metal headliners Metallica, Slipknot and Disturbed among a lineup of nearly 70 acts on multiple stages on the Speedway infield.
At the same time, it also garnered some unwelcome international attention when Brass Against singer Sophia Urista urinated on a willing fan onstage during the band’s festival performance. The incident didn’t result in any criminal charges. Brass Against is not among the acts on the schedule for the 2022 festival.
Single-day and weekend passes for the 2022 edition of Welcome To Rockville are on sale at WelcomeToRockville.com starting at $99.99 for single day and $279.99 for four-day passes, not including fees. Passes can be purchased as general admission or VIP.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach event schedule for NASCAR races, concerts, Bike Week
