Editorial: Expansion of Muskegon Bike Time to second location will take festival to new level

MUSKEGON, MI – Muskegon County has built its burgeoning tourism economy the past two decades on the strength of some powerful events.

First, there was the Muskegon Air Fair that eventually gave way to Muskegon Summer Celebration as the big event on the local summer calendar.

Ever since Summer Celebration went by the wayside like the Air Fair, Muskegon has been looking for the next “big thing.” No doubt that Muskegon’s premiere event of the summer has become Muskegon Bike Time.

And that will become even more apparent July 16-19 this summer with a festival that showcases the industrial grittiness that is Muskegon.

Bike Time officials have announced the expansion of the event to a 90-acre portion of the old Great Lakes Downs property on Harvey Street in Fruitport Township. The high-visibility former horse racetrack property at U.S. 31 and I-96 owned by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians will become the second venue for the popular regional motorcycle gathering that had more than 120,000 people and 75,000 motorcycles in Muskegon last July.

Downtown Muskegon critics can stop right there: Muskegon Bike Time is not moving to the racetrack property in Fruitport. It is not abandoning its original venue along West Western Avenue, which is turned into 10 blocks of Steel Horse Alley – a ribbon of thousands of motorcycles and more thousands of biker fans.

The ambience and attitude of Steel Horse Alley in the heart of the Muskegon central business district is what has created Muskegon Bike Time. It will continue.

Actually, the ongoing redevelopment of downtown Muskegon has forced the growing motorcycle festival to look for another location for expansion. The expected development of downtown vacant lots will limit the entertainment and vendor spaces for the festival.

The old racetrack property – waiting for a potential Indian casino – is a perfect location to stage a large entertainment tent, expanded vendor layouts and new activities such as motocross races. None of those Bike Time features fits in downtown Muskegon, now or in the future, organizers said.

Right now, Muskegon Bike Time is a major economic driver of the summer tourism economy. With the move to a second venue in Fruitport Township, it will truly become Muskegon County’s signature summer event if not one of the prime annual gatherings for all of the West Michigan Lakeshore.

The MLive Muskegon Chronicle Editorial Board members are Peg West, editor; Clayton Hardiman, columnist; and Dave Alexander, community engagement specialist.

Editorial: Expansion of Muskegon Bike Time to second location will take festival to new level