BIKETOBERFEST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — This year’s annual Biketoberfest rally in Daytona Beach ended Sunday. It was the first motorcycle rally in the area with no COVID-19 restrictions in place since the pandemic began. READ: Florida honors Colin Powell by lowering flags to half-staffDaytona Beach businesses say that may be why 2021 was such a big year for Biketoberfest. “It was a really great turnout, very successful,” Ocean Floor Bar and Grill Manager Kelly Bishop said. “It was fantastic...one of the biggest and best Biketoberfests we’ve ever had,” Davis said.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A vendor at Biketoberfest is facing some backlash after briefly selling hats embellished with Nazi symbols. Biketoberfest is an annual festival that draws thousands of bikers to Daytona Beach in October. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<The woman said she considered them a tribute to World War II veterans who helped defeat the Germans. Lucy blasts off on a 12 year mission across the universeThe hats were emblazoned with swastikas and a skull-and-bones logo used by the Nazi SS. Read: Newly released documents shed light on Miya Marcano disappearanceThe vendor stated that she sold the same merchandise at other bike rallies around the county without complaint.

A vendor at a major motorcycle rally in Florida briefly sold hats emblazoned with Nazi symbols, saying she considered them a tribute to World War II veterans who helped defeat the Germans.

A vendor at a major motorcycle rally in Florida briefly sold hats emblazoned with Nazi symbols, saying she considered them a tribute to World War II veterans who helped defeat the Germans. The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that the vendor was selling the hats embroidered with swastikas and a skull-and-bones logo used by the Nazi SS at a stand during Biketoberfest, an ongoing festival that draws thousands of bikers to the Daytona Beach area this month. The vendor said she had sold the hats at other biker rallies around the country without complaint.

Main Street in Daytona Beach was back again, filled with the sound of engines rumbling, music blasting and motorcyclists from around the world during this year's Biketoberfest kickoff.

Bikertoberfest is back in Volusia County after a year off because of the pandemic.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Business owners, tourists, and vendors are expecting a major bounce-back for the 2021 Biketoberfest rally starting in Daytona Beach this week. Today, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young provided an update on their plans for managing traffic during the event. “We will maintain a pretty heavy presence down on Main Street.,” Young said. Ed “Heavy” Kastrul owns Midwest Motorcycle on Beach Street. For more information on what to expect at this year’s BIketoberfest, click here.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The 29th Annual Biketoberfest fall motorcycle rally begins Thursday in Daytona Beach. be implemented for beachside access this year on any of the city’s high-rise bridges or the Main Street drawbridge. Instead, motorcycles are advised to try turning left (west) onto International Speedway Blvd. then right on Peninsula Dr. North Beach Street : Motorcycle-only parking will be in effect on selected areas of North Beach Street, marked by signs. Expect heavy traffic around the Indian Motorcycle Company at 290 North Beach St. Daytona International Speedway : No major traffic concerns expected in the area.

Daytona Beach police are gearing up for the city’s 29th annual Biketoberfest.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Officials in Volusia County are expected to hold a news conference Thursday to discuss Biketoberfest and COVID-19 updates. Cases of coronavirus continue to climb throughout the state as well as in Volusia County. As of Thursday morning, the Florida Department reported 90 new cases of COVID-19 in Volusia County. However, Volusia County voted to allow permits for areas not governed by another local city within the county. [RELATED: Bikers descend on Daytona Beach for Biketoberfest | Biketoberfest to go on as planned in Volusia County]

The festival comes as more cases of COVID-19 have been reported throughout the Sunshine State. CasesThe department of health reported 3,356 new cases on Thursday, bringing the state’s overall total to 744,988. DeathsThe Florida Department of Health on Thursday reported 144 people have recently died from COVID-19. HospitalizationsThe state reported 211 new hospitalizations on Thursday, meaning the state has seen a total of 46,693 patients admitted into a hospital since March in relation to COVID-19. Currently, there are 2,130 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Biketoberfest began Thursday, with bikers revving down Main Street in Daytona Beach as early as the night before. Last month, the city of Daytona Beach voted to not allow event permits for Biketoberfest out of concerns it could cause COVID-19 to spread. However, Volusia County voted to allow permits for areas not governed by another local city within the county. Ormond Beach also voted to allow event permits if the business submitted a safety plan regarding COVID-19. Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri also said he will be on Main Street on Friday to monitor the crowds.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Biketoberfest will go on as planned in Volusia County. County leaders will recommend safety guidelines, but will not enforce or fine establishments after Gov. I think it would be maybe more important given that you may have higher capacities,” Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald said. Sopotnick’s Cabbage Patch Bar is known for live music and entertainment during Biketoberfest and Bike Week. The bar’s owner said off-camera he’s relieved to have live music and will be taking all CDC guidelines seriously.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Leea Murphy can’t wait to see thousands of bikers roll into town next month for Biketoberfest, now that Florida is in phase three of the reopening plan. She said her concern is crowd control this year, especially without special use permits for food vendors so folks could have other options. [TRENDING: Florida moves to phase 3 of coronavirus reopening | New Jurassic World coaster announced | What authority do local leaders have in Phase 3 of coronavirus reopening?] “I don’t know what Daytona is planning on doing to make sure we’re OK, traffic is OK, bikers are going to be OK,” she said. “As it relates to the permits to Biketoberfest, this does not change any of that,” Henry said.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Don’t expect blaring music or vendors filling up Main Street in Daytona Beach for this year’s Biketoberfest after city commissioners ruled against issuing permits, hoping to avoid crowded corridors during a pandemic. “People are going to come into town, you know they’re going to come to town. Will it be better to shut the doors for Biketoberfest and come back on Monday?”But, drive up the road to U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach and it’s a different story. Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington said the city issued permits because it has acres of land along U.S. 1 and big spaces like Destination Daytona for bikers to roam, if establishments submit a COVID-19 safety plan. “Ormond Beach is situated differently than Daytona and we have more room to spread out.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. The City of Daytona Beach Commission voted not to support a safety plan created by the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for Biketoberfest. The commission voted 6-1 not to approve the measure. The city said the decision means there wont be outdoor entertainment, vendors or music allowed. Mayor Derrick Henry said during the meeting that even if bikers show up regardless, he thinks approving the safety plan would come off as the commission endorsing the event. The city said this years event might not look like typical years but hopes anyone traveling stays safe during their visit.

DAYTONA BEACH Biketoberfest drove off on a positive note this year after local hospitals reported no fatalities during the four-day event. On Monday night, Halifax Health Medical Center released its preliminary Biketoberfest 2019 trauma statistics, which cover Oct. 17 through Oct. 20. AdventHealth Daytona Beach also reported no fatalities. Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri credited the statistics to increased police presence and education on safe driving. As of Oct. 21, when the preliminary report statistics for Halifax Health ended, 12 patients were still in the hospital following Biketoberfest, seven of whom were in the ICU.

The National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm and storm surge warnings as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has a 90% chance of forming in the next few days, toward the end of Biketoberfest. Though a tropical storm could be forming in the Gulf of Mexico, Biketoberfest looks safe for now, if not a little damp. Dubbed "possible Cyclone 16," as of the 11 a.m. updated Friday advisory, the disturbance was over the northern Gulf of Mexico. The weather isn't expected to be bad enough to put a damper on Biketoberfest, the annual motorcycle event which started Thursday and ends Sunday in and around Daytona Beach. A tropical storm warning means there are tropical storm conditions expected somewhere within the area within 36 hours, while a watch means there are conditions expected within 48 hours.

The National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm and storm surge warnings as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has a 90% chance of forming in the next few days, toward the end of Biketoberfest. Though Tropical Storm Nestor has formed in the Gulf of Mexico, Biketoberfest looks safe for now, if not a little damp. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Navarre to Yankteetown, and a storm surge warning has been issued from Indian Pass to Clearwater. A tropical storm warning means there are tropical storm conditions expected somewhere within the area within 36 hours. A storm surge warning means there is a possibility of "life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline" within the next 36 hours.

The National Hurricane Center issued tropical storm warnings, watches and storm surges, as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico has a 90% chance of forming in the next few days, toward the end of Biketoberfest. Well, it's still storm season here in Florida, but it looks like Biketoberfest is safe. A tropical storm warning was issued Thursday from the Mississippi and Alabama border to the Aucilla River, a tropical storm watch from east of the Aucilla River to Yankeetown and a storm surge warning from Indian Pass to Clearwater, along with a tropical storm warning in Louisiana. ////////////////////////"Tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the coast within the warning area by Friday afternoon, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous," the 5 p.m. update said. A tropical storm warning means there are tropical storm conditions expected somewhere within the area within 36 hours, while a watch means there are conditions expected within 48 hours.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Thousands of visitors are expected to roll into Daytona Beach this weekend for the 27th Biketoberfest. Main Street will be "motorcycles only," and other vehicles will be directed elsewhere or must receive special permission to access the street. The Daytona Beach Police Department encourages visitors who enter or leave the beach to use the Seabreeze/Oakridge Boulevard or International Speedway Boulevard bridges. If not, continue south and turn right (west) on International Speedway Boulevard, then turn right (north) on Peninsula Drive. Peninsula DriveNORTHBOUND: Remain on Peninsula Drive until you get to Main Street, then turn right (east).