BIKETOBERFEST

Tens of thousands of bikers are rolling into Volusia County as Bike Week officially gets underway.

Big changes could be coming to Bike Week and Biketoberfest. Daytona Beach city leaders are looking to change what businesses can be in town during the events and where the events are held.

As the smell of leather and exhaust fades away, the 30th annual Biketoberfest closes out in Volusia County on Sunday after a beautiful weather weekend.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come out for Pride and Biketoberfest this weekend, which could have a big impact on people’s commutes.

The sound of rumbling engines is once again filling the streets of Daytona Beach with Thursday officially kicking off the 30th Annual Biketoberfest.

Biketoberfest, the annual motorcycle event in Daytona Beach, is gearing up for this year’s event after recovery progress in the county following Hurricane Ian.

Central Florida's coast was rocked by Hurricane Ian, and ocean-front businesses are now left with major damage to clean up just a week before the 30th Annual Biketoberfest is slated to come to town.

Daytona Beach is set to celebrate its 30th annual Biketoberfest motorcycle rally in October, according to city officials.

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.

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 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.