Gearing up for Bike Night

Elms Club hosts its ninth annual Bike Night Friday in uptown Creston.

Elm Street will be blocked off from West Adams Street to West Montgomery Street for the event, which begins at 4:30 p.m. and lasts into the morning hours.

In its ninth year of existence, Elms Club Bike Night is still going strong.

“I think we were just trying to find something different to do,” Donna King, Elms Club co-owner, said about starting the event. “Obviously, it’s a good way to kick off the Fourth. That’s why we chose that weekend.”

According to King, the Elms Club will stop serving food from its grill at 2:30 p.m. Friday in order to start setting up for Bike Night.

At 4:30 p.m., Burnt Reynolds barbecue team will begin serving food outside on North Elm Street.

“They’re going to do barbecue pork and potato salad,” King said. “They’ve been in a bunch of area contests and done pretty well. We’ll also have pop and lemonade, water.”

Motorcycles will park up and down North Elm Street and, with permission from Creston City Council, the Elms Club was able to close the parking lot to the south of the restaurant for motorcycles to park there, as well.

About 150 motorcycles participated in last year’s event. King said a good year sees about 200 to 250 motorcycles.

King said it’s not uncommon for bikers to come from the Clarinda, Indianola and Osceola areas for the event.

“We always have a good turnout, especially if the weather is nice,” she said.

As of press time, the forecast calls for a high of 79 degrees Friday with sunshine.

Kamikaze will be playing background music during the food hours from 4:30 until about 8 or 8:30 p.m., when St. Joseph, Missouri, band Swift Kik takes the stage. Swift Kik, an Eagles tribute band, will play from 8:30 p.m. until 11.

The second featured band is local product Roulette, which plays classic rock including Black Sabbath and ZZ Top. Roulette will be on stage until 1 a.m.

Families and children are encouraged to attend during the evening food hours, but an age limit will be enforced once music begins at 8:30, King said.

Beer, water and soda will be sold outside on North Elm Street, while additional drinks will be available at the full bar inside Elms Club.

Bike Night once again includes a bikini contest that will take place at midnight. Contestants can sign up Friday night at Elms Club and the winner, selected by a crowd vote, receives $100.

Elms Club Bike Night T-shirts are available for $10 while supplies last.

King said Elms Club Bike Night is a good way to start what will be a five-day weekend for many people with the Fourth of July falling on Tuesday.

“It’s a good mix of people and people you don’t always see every day of the week,” she said. “It’s cool to see the bikes. I don’t know much about motorcycles, but they’re fun to look at. And the music – I love music – so the street dance is always fun.”