Badlands Street Party to celebrate bikers this weekend

Like the fabled Phoenix rising from its own ashes, the Badlands Street Party has the makings of success after its earlier demise, organizers say.

“We’re pretty pleased,” said Brent Capshaw, an event organizer. “For something that was belly-up and canceled about six months ago, it’s coming along well, thanks to the effort of local dealers here and the chamber of commerce. We’re all excited — we’re all pumped.”

Sarah Kuhns of High Plains Harley-Davidson, the presenting sponsor for the event, said more than 200 people have registered for the event as of Tuesday night.

“We have a large number of people pre-registered, not counting the people from the Clovis area, who will probably register the day of the event,” she said. “About 80 percent of those registered so far are coming from Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, Carlsbad, Artesia, Hobbs and some from Oklahoma and Colorado as well. We’re excited about this event being so far-reaching.”

Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce executive director Ernie Kos said the city is booked up for the weekend.

“There are no rooms at the inns,” she said. “There are no more rooms available in Clovis for this weekend. We’re also having a state Little League tournament here this weekend.”

The Badlands Street Party officially begins with registration at 8 a.m. Saturday, followed by a poker run, demo rides and a raffle at 9 a.m.

Contingency prize drawings will be conducted at 10 a.m. and each hour on the hour until 7 p.m., Kuhns said.

“We have over 100 contingency prizes to give away,” she said. “The first 300 people to register will have a chance to win a new Harley-Davidson. Everyone who registers will be eligible for all the other prizes.”

“It’s a hoe-down for the whole town,” Capshaw said. “If Sarah hadn’t offered her staff to help with this event, it wouldn’t have come together like it has.”

Team Lewisport Trials Demo will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grand and Main, Kuhns said.

“They ride their motorcycles over everything — boulders, salvaged cars, all kinds of obstacles,” she said. “High Desert Honda is bringing them in and setting up all the obstacles. It’ll be a lot of fun. There’s stuff for everybody — a fashion show, food vendors, jewelry and leather vendors. Those who don’t have a bike can come and have fun with us. We’ll have several bands — including Johnny Mulhair and the Fun Brothers as well as Jackie Haney and Friends — playing throughout the day.”

Sunday’s activities will feature a breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by the Blessing of the Bikes by the Christian Motorcycle Association at 8:30 a.m. and the 85-mile round-trip Badlands Ride at 10 a.m.