We're talking about the multitude of motorcyclists, hawg-heads, and weekend warriors that have invaded local streets with their steel steeds over the past few days during the buildup to Arizona Bike Week.
While there have been plenty of pre-parties, rallies, and rides over the past several days leading up to the annual event -- which officially began yesterday and involved thousands of riders converging on WestWorld in North Scottsdale -- things will really kick into gear this weekend as bikers celebrate all things motorcycle-related at events all across the Valley until Sunday night.
Here's a rundown of several bars and locations where you can get your motor running and live high on the hawg over the next few days.
North Scottsdale is pretty bereft of biker bars, save for this colorful joint that's frequented by hawg-lovers and hotties alike. In addition to offering Bike Week drink specials and giveaways will be offered every day, a "Happy Hour Dragon Punch Contest" will take place nightly until Friday and features bottles of Fireball cinnamon whiskey as prizes. Dirty Dogg will also present its annual "Spring Fling Party" on Saturday, which promises babes, bikes, beers, and bands like Psychobilly Rodeo and Forgotten Saints. A free shuttle will also transport patrons between the bar and WestWorld.
Brigett's Last Laugh
There always seems to be dozens of gleaming steel steeds parked outside this North Phoenix watering hole, which is popular with both bikers and neighborhood folk both for its wealth of drink specials and nightly karaoke sessions. Stop by on Thursday for $1.75 well drinks until 6 p.m., followed by $3.50 flavored vodka cocktails until closing time. Friday features $3 small domestic pitchers until 6 p.m., and Saturday offers $3.50 Bloody Marys. Meanwhile, Brigett's barkeeps will pour Jaeger, Crown Royal, and Washington Apple shots for $4 each starting at 6 p.m.
High Octane Lounge
While this Peoria establishment is a bit far removed from the rest of the Bike Week action, it's worth making the trip over to the West Valley on your steel steed on Friday night for the Riding Hard party being put on by Gweedo Productions. Five different local bands - including the rockers of Property Six, Hollow, Cactus Chainsaw, and Cartoon Lion - will perform during the evening while a variety of drink specials and giveaways will be offered. The fun starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.
Chester's Harley-Davidson
While the events out at WestWorld may seemingly hog the spotlight, this Mesa Harley-Davidson dealership puts on a pretty potent party of its own during Bike Week. From now until Sunday, Chester's will host a wide variety of vendors, a beer garden, food tents, raffles, prizes, giveaways, live performance by rock bands, and plenty of custom choppers and some seriously swank cycles on display. Gates open at 10 a.m. each day. Admission is free.
Chopper John's
Owner John McCormack is a huge fan of motorcycles (not to mention an avid rider himself), so it's fitting that his CenPho dive bar will host a number of Bike Week celebrations. Things kick off on Thursday with promos from Sailor Jerry rum, schwag from Four Aces Cycle Supply, and other giveaways, followed on Friday night with a performance by the Cadillac Angels and various biker-related prizes being awarded to patrons. The biggest shindig of the weekend will take place starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, offering live music from five different rock bands (including The Rhythm Dragons and Black Banner Dovinchenko) and other fun. Drink specials like $4 shots of American Honey Wild Turkey and 1800 Silver Tequila will be offered every day.
Steel Horse Saloon
A favorite of the North Phoenix biker crowd for years, Steel Horse gets even more popular and packed during Bike Week. Motorheads visit the bar both before and after hanging out at WestWorld, and several of the major rides will make stops at the bar. Drink specials are available each night, like $2 well cocktails, wines, and you-call-its for the ladies on Thursday from 8 p.m. until midnight. Local bands will perform each day, including Two-Bit Shotgun on Thursday, Phat Bastard on Friday and Saturday, and The Heymakers on Sunday afternoon.
Few people in the Valley are as big a hawg-head as Hideaway owner Mark Bradshaw, just like few celebrations at the Cave Creek roadhouse are as big as the humongous hootenannies taking place during Bike Week, each attracting hundred upon hundreds of patrons. Every day, some of the best cycle customizers in Arizona will show off their work while special rides will start out from the Hideaway. Daily events run from noon until 10 p.m. and including vendor booths on the property, and both promos and giveaways being handed out.
On Thursday, Brian Horstmann from Sinthium Customs will display some of his unique paint jobs while Nick Trask will on hand showing of his pimp performance systems and custom two-wheelers. A ride over to WestWorld will also depart from the bar at 6 p.m.
Friday's highlights include the "Broken Spoke Gypsy Tour" featuring Sturgis legends Mark and Jay Allen leading riders on a trip across the Valley.
A bevy of bike builders will bring their newest creations to the Hideaway on Saturday and will rub elbows with Coors Light and Jack Daniels promo girls. A ginormous tequila ice luge will be available and Cruz Tequila will hold its "Cactus Massacre Party." Finally, Sunday is the bar's "Giveaways & Customer Appreciation Day" with a free crawfish boil, live music, and more.
Buffalo Chip Saloon
Things are likely to be just as crowded at the Buffalo Chip across the street from the Hideaway, as the renowned saloon also pulls out all the stops for Bike Week. Drink specials are offered throughout the daytime hours and a variety of live entertainment takes place at night. Line-dancing lessons start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, followed by country music from The Pat James Band. Tom Wagner and his band Eloy Done perform at 8 p.m. on Friday night while professional bull riding happens outside in the corral. And Saturday and Sunday promises more music and fun with night gigs by Pat James until midnight.
Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson
Wanna get up close and personal with such rare two-wheelers as a Norton Manx 500 Roadracer (circa 1953) or maybe even a Triumph Tigress from 1959? Buddy Stubbs, the namesake owner of this Cave Creek Harley dealership, has both of 'em inside of his onsite museum, as well as more than 120 other vintage and rare motorcycles, memorabilia, and other trinkets guaranteed to make your jaw drop. Special hour-long daily tours of the collection will be offered starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.
The absolute epicenter for Bike Week is the Cyclefest, which is jam-packed with anything and everything related to motorcycles. A nonstop five-day party takes place as thousands will gather withing the grounds of WestWorld to drink, dance, pick up accessories for their rides, ogle premium custom bikes, and just raise some hell.
Dozens and dozens of vendors will hawk everything from memorabilia to leather duds, beer gardens will pour any number of brews, and live music will be in abundance. Organized and themed rides throughout the Valley will start and end at the event, including Thursday's T-Bar Trail Ride (which will stop at a number of strip clubs around town).
One of the hotspots each year is the Handlebar Saloon inside a gigantic tent, which will host concerts by both local bands (such as Return to Custody on Friday and Hardride on Saturday) and big-name rock and metal acts. The lineup of heavy-hitting headliners at the saloon includes Puddle of Mudd on Thursday, REO Speedwagon on Friday, and Tesla on Saturday.
And Sons of Anarchy fans will want to pay a visit on Sunday afternoon for a chance to hang out with some of the members of SAMCRO, as stars Ryan Hurst and Winter Ave Zolie will appear at the RideNow booth starting at 1 p.m.
Arizona Bike Week's Cyclefest takes place at WestWorld in Scottsdale daily through Sunday. Gate times vary. Admission is $20$25. Click here for tickets and more info.
