OLEAN, N.Y. — The 13th annual Rally in the Valley began on Wednesday, bringing motorcycling enthusiasts together for a five-day celebration.
Many of the rumbling festivities — rain or shine — will take place in the revamped Bradner Stadium. But other venues and locations in and around Olean will play host to bikers, their families and friends as they honor the call to ride.
It’s the biggest function of the year for the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC), with help from Gowanda Harley-Davidson and the Greater Olean Motorcycle Enthusiasts.
“The rally was created by guys whose hobby was riding motorcycles,” said Chamber of Commerce chief operating officer Meme Yanetsko. “They took their passion and have shared with all these past 12 years. Yes, it’s a motorcycle event, but you don’t have to have a motorcycle to have a great time.”
Rally in the Valley, on average, sees about 8,500 in attendance and yields approximately $20,000 in net profit, Yanetsko said. Proceeds go to several participating area charities, which this year include HomeCare & Hospice, Cattaraugus County Airport Group, Salvation Army, Mercy Flight, Portville Little League, South Olean Cheerleaders and Cattaraugus County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
“This is our longest and most time-consuming event in terms of prep work,” Yanetsko added. “From folding 1,200 shirts, creating 1,300 dice run cards, stamping the playing cards to getting start-up cash and checks, the Chamber staff is ‘all systems go’ for the Rally. Yes, my name is tied to the event, but the other five Chamber staff members do a yeoman’s job on presenting a first-class event.”
Today will be Community Bank’s Banking on a Good Time Street Dance on Laurens Street from 7 to 10 p.m. Activities will include line dancing, games, the Rally Harley-Davidson giveaway, and music by The Hootz. Just for Kicks Dancers will also perform. Food will be provided by Sparky’s Pizza with Certo Brothers beverages.
Meanwhile, Kickstart to the Rally and Tough Enough to Wear Pink Friday will start with a motorcycle parade from the Olean Area Federal Credit Union to Bradner Stadium at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are urged to wear pink in honor of those with breast cancer.
Four parachutists from Free Fall Oz will drop into the stadium about 7 p.m., with related contests, Yanetsko said. A fireworks show also will be presented by Mike’s Hard Lemonade at dusk. The Barry Brothers will play a free concert.
Also, the Olean Times Herald is sponsoring a Rally Jump Zone both Friday and Saturday, containing a bounce house, slider, a joust game and more.
On Saturday, Certo Brothers’ Saturday Fun and Games will be at the stadium from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., featuring biker games and a judged bike contest. The 40th and final Street Masters Car Show will take place at War Veterans Park.
WPIG-FM and Country Showdown will have their local Final Five appear Saturday at the Rally. The Big Pig winner will be announced immediately following the performances and will appear at the New York state finals at the Dutchess County Fair the next weekend.
The musical entertainment on Saturday will include Freddie & The Jets from noon to 3 p.m., Fat Brat from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Steel Reign from 7 to 10 p.m.
Swizzy’s Cause, to benefit The Jessica Sweitzer Fund, will host non-motorcycle games, including human Hungry Hungry Hippos, cornhole, adult Jenga and more from noon to 6 p.m. Also, water pong will be back, as well as the Adult Big Wheel Race. Caricatures by Eric Jones will be available from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Rally will wrap up on Sunday with the Olean General Hospital Dice Run Day, with motorcycles running through Western New York for $2,000 in cash prizes after leaving Bradner at 11 a.m. The second Rick Bokman Poker Run for $500 in cash prizes will also take off at 11 a.m. Registration fees apply for the dice and poker runs, Yanetsko said.
Screamin’ Lou will play music from 2 to 6 p.m.
Food will be plentiful, Yanetsko said. She noted food vendors will serve pizza, fried dough, Texas hots, tacos, milkshakes, nachos, biker burgers, roasted corn and more. Retail vendors will have motorcycle accessories, clothing, sunglasses, leatherwear, motorcycles, and a truck/trailer to haul a motorcycle.
The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce and the Olean Area Motorcycle Enthusiasts will give away a Harley-Davidson 2014 Breakout Hard Candy Custom Chrome Flake. A ticket offers a first prize of the Breakout and second prize of a 2015 Carmate V-Nose 7-by-12-foot enclosed trailer, among many other prizes, Yanetsko said.
Tickets for $20 each or three for $50 are available to purchase before the event at the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, Poor Cow Leather, various Rally committee members and during the Rally event.
Registration forms can be found online at www.oleanny.com. For more information on the Rally in the Valley, call GOACC at 372-4433, visit Facebook.com/RallyInTheValleyOleanNY or email tourism@oleanny.com.
