Motorcycle enthusiasts are gearing up to strap on their riding boots and helmets for this weekend’s annual Platte City End of the Trail Festival, held in conjunction with the Harley Davidson Plant’s open house.
According to Platte City Police Chief Joe McHale, the city is hoping the streets will be lined with approximately 10,000 people on Sept. 9 and 10 for what will be the third annual event.
Sponsored by the City of Platte City, the weekend festival will begin at noon on Friday with vendors opening their booths on Main Street.
City Collector Amy Hubbard said the festival will feature 28 vendors offering a variety of food and beverages, as well as clothing and crafts.
Musical entertainment will begin a 1 p.m. Friday with music by Phil Craven. Sound Express will then take over the stage at 5:30 p.m. and turn over the microphone at 7 p.m. to the Bob Harvey Band for live music until 11 p.m.
On Saturday, the festival will kick-off with a citywide garage sale from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. People wishing to attend the citywide garage sale can obtain a map from the Chamber of Commerce.
On Saturday, vendors will be open for business from 7 a.m.-midnight. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Phil Craven will take the stage for a musical performance, with the dice run beginning at the Harley-Davidson plant at 11 a.m.
From noon until 5 p.m., parents and their children will be able to experience some family fun with Wacky Games by Celebration Xpress.
Entertainment will also be provided in the afternoon from noon-1 p.m. with a performance from the Northland Stars Dance and Tumble Team. At 1 p.m., there will be a demonstration by the Karate For Kids, followed by a demonstration at 2 p.m. on Woman’s Self Defense.
Music by Jimmy Eaton will entertain the crowd from 2-6 p.m., offered courtesy of the Steve Martin family. At 4 p.m., Mary McKenna with KFKF will broadcast from the event with a live radio remote until 6 p.m.
In conjunction with Worth Harley Davidson North, Evil Kneivel will lead a motorcycle ride from the Worth store on North Oak Trafficway in Kansas City to Platte City beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday to raise money which will be donated toward the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
All of the proceeds raised from the ride with Evil Kneivel will be directed to the relief fund. Individuals who are interested in participating in the ride will be charged a registration fee of $15 if they are pre-registered by Friday. Anyone who chooses to ride on Saturday will be charged a fee of $20.
Worth Harley Davidson also stated that Evil Kneivel’s motorcycle and skyrocket will be on display at their store on Friday from 8 a.m-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. He will be available to sign autographs on Friday from 5-7 p.m. and on Saturday from noon-2 p.m. at the Worth Harley store.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday, a motorcycle parade will leave from the Platte County R-3 campus and travel down Main Street of Platte City.
Some of the motorcycle groups which will participate in this year’s parade include: The Shriners, The Blue Knights and The Chrome Cowgirls, an all-women’s motorcycle group.
Live music from the Bob Harvey Band will round out the weekend’s activities at 7 p.m.
McHale reported that the city will be blocking off Main Street at 10 a.m. on Friday from the top of Main Street to the 100 block of Main Street. Third Street will also be blocked off from the Juvenile Justice Office to Ferrel Street but still allowing patrons access to Wells Bank.