TEXARKANA, Ark. - The Talimena Rally Cruisin' for St. Jude will bring motorcyclists to Texarkana this week to help kids fight cancer.
The three-day event starts Thursday and runs through Saturday with the Arkansas Convention Center serving as home base for the bikers. It's still possible to register to attend, either the full rally or just the Friday and/or Saturday night concerts.
The local organizers are Neil and Carol Jones. "What we do is a three-day event. Thursday we register people. We have vendors in the hall there," said Neil Jones. Registration runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
After a Friday morning breakfast at the convention center, they head to Glenwood, Arkansas, for a points run or poker run, Riding the Hills. After lunch at that destination, the rally heads back to Texarkana for evening events.
"Friday night I have Mike Mayberry and the Slow Hands from Hot Springs there," Jones said. McAlister's Deli will cater with subway sandwiches.
The next day, Saturday, the rally makes its Queen Wilhelmina Ride.
"I take them on another big ride, and we go to Mena and we eat at Papa's Mexican restaurant. Then we go up on top of the mountain, and that's where all the pictures are taken," Jones said. "Then we come back Saturday night and I feed them Big Jake's (BBQ) at the convention center and we have Dusty Rose (Band) there."
He's done a rally for two decades, with this year being the tenth for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as beneficiary.
"Before this one, we have raised over $300,000 total," Jones said.
Bikers come from all over, as far as Kansas and the other side of Dallas, he said, adding that he used to be a H.O.G. Chapter president and director here. As of early this week, they had a little more than 300 bikers pre-registered.
People can join by following in their car, no bike needed. They can also enjoy just a meal and live music on Friday and Saturday nights, starting around 6 p.m., for a smaller admission charge.
(Registration is $100, which includes two guided group rides, a points run, four meals, vendors and live music. For people who don't want to ride, attendance at the Friday or Saturday night events are $20, including a live band and a meal. More info and registration: visit yammerhammer09.wixsite.com/cruisin-for-st-jude or the Facebook Group page for Talimena Rally Cruisin for St. Jude. The Arkansas Convention Center is at 5200 Convention Plaza Drive.)