By T. J.

We always look forward to one of our favorite annual Florida rallies, and this year, after skipping 2020 because of Covid concerns, Cotee River Bike Fest came back to life and did not disappoint. It was a jam-packed weekend of fun, riding, music and bike shows. I had a little set back, however, that cut my weekend a bit short. My truck had an overheating problem during the Fire & Iron poker run and I had to drive back to Daytona in the middle of the night Saturday/Sunday morning. The 2 days I did get to spend kept me running from the main stage at Sims Park to the downtown stage on Grand Blvd. to my favorite watering hole, Little Corona’s Cigar Lounge. Around and round I went taking it all in.

The Fire and Iron poker run is always a highlight with a celebrity Grand Marshall. This year it was Matt Bradley from the popular TV show The Deadliest Catch. He was a real down to earth guy that was happy to mingle and share a few laughs with the riders. The registration is always at New Port Richey Harley-Davidson and stops were at Starkey Market, Drunken Mullet (where my van blew up), and Get Hooked Grill, finishing up at Sims. The music lineup for the weekend was awesome. Tons of great music by tribute bands Kiss America, Diary of an Ozzman, Kid Kentucky and a number of local Florida bands. Molly Hatchet was the headliner on Saturday night, and it was packed SRO.

This weekend event is hosted by Team Farrell with a portion of the money raised going to charity. This year’s recipients were Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida and Pasco County Safety Town. Put the 2022 Festival on your calendar, it’s a must-see event!