Back after a 6 year hiatus, the much loved Community Appreciation Parade has returned! Once an iconic event for several decades, the Bike Week Parade was sidelined in 2005 when the Daytona 200 was moved from aSunday to a Saturday event. Local officials at the time weren’t convinced transportation officials could effectively move the 7,000 participants from the Ocean Center to the Speedway, along International Speedway Boulevard without bottlenecks and issues for emergency personnel to contend with.
Since that time, local police and other officials have demonstrated time and time again that Daytona Beach is a town capable of handling any size event, on any day, without incident. The tens of thousands of fans that lined the route in years past have asked every year to bring the parade back. Earlier this year, the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, City Officials, and Speedway Officials met to go over all aspects of the Parade and are excited to announce its triumphant return.
All interested participants ridingmotorcycles should congregate at the Ocean Center on Saturday, March 17, 6-7 AM, where they will be directed to hold. At 9 AM the Parade will leave the Ocean Center with an escort of Daytona Beach Police Department Motorcycle Unit.
The parade procession will reach the destination of the Daytona International Speedway before the last motorcycle has even left the Ocean Center – a parade nearly 5.25 miles long! Along the route, community residents will show their pride and appreciation for hosting the World’s Largest
Motorcycle Event®.
Participation is free but should they choose, riders may enter the Budweiser Party Porch at the Parade Conclusion, and for just $20, enjoy ice cold beer all afternoon as they watch the Daytona 200 unfold.
For additional information on
any aspect of Bike Week 2012, contact the Daytona
Regional Chamber of Commerce at 386-255-0981.
by Terry Roorda
