Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest 2013

The rumble of rolling thunder in mid-September can mean only one thing at the Lake of the Ozarks - Bikefest. Now in its seventh year, Bikefest 2013, Sept. 12-15, is expected to bring more bikers, more vendors and more events and concerts to the Lake. 

Bikefest's official website - www.LakeBikefest.com - offers participants printable maps of three recommended rides. An 84-mile ride showcases the beauty of Bennett Spring and Ha Ha Tonka state parks and takes less than two hours. Roads that are part of historic Route 66 are included in the three-hour, 115-mile ride that includes a stop at Devil's Elbow. A 96-mile ride around the Lake of the Ozarks takes a bit over two hours and shows riders a number of beautiful vistas around the Lake.

"Motorcycling is about the joy of riding," Jack Fleming of Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson said, noting the hills and curves of the roads around the Lake are enjoyable for riders. Fleming and other organizers of Bikefest know riders who come to the Lake of the Ozarks are certain to spread the word that the Lake is, in Fleming's words, "a great destination for motorcycle riding year-round."

   

However, there are plenty of other reasons approximately 10,000 people travel to the Lake for Bikefest each year. "The Lake is tailor-made for bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts," Jacobsen said. "With more than 200 bars and restaurants, plus vendors, events and activities brought in just for Bikefest, the Lake gives attendees just what they are looking for." 

This year's Bikefest will feature five vendor villages - at Dog Days Bar & Grill, Camden on the Lake, Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson, Dam Bait Shop, and on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip - as well as two bike giveaways, a bike auction, more than 50 live concerts, extreme motocross events and more.  More details and a complete schedule can be found at www.lakebikefest.com

The vendor villages feature all types of vendors, though Fleming notes most everything is motorcycle-related. Visitors can expect to see leathers, custom painting, lights and even bike-builders.  The vendor village at Camden on the Lake will play host to well-known bike builders Strip Club Choppers, Silver Wraiths Choppers, Billy the Kid Custom Cycles and Schaaf's Cycle Garage, plus Curry's Hot Rods.

Along with the vendor villages, Rhonda Martin from Camden on the Lake credits the weekend's music for drawing people to Bikefest.  "They (attendees) are here to have fun," she said, "and the music is a part of that."  Evening concerts around the Lake will feature tribute bands including: "Dead or Alive," a Bon Jovi tribute; "Silver Bullet," a Bob Seger tribute; "Paradise City," a tribute to Guns and Roses; AC/DC tribute band "Hells Bells"; and "Special Forces," a tribute to 38 Special. Though she expects the lots around her property will be filled with motorcycles, Martin says there will be overflow parking and shuttle service. "Everybody, and I mean everybody, should feel free to come down for Bikefest," she said.

Find lodging, dining and other area attractions to enhance your 2013 Lake Bikefest experience at www.funlake.com.

The 25th Anniversary Lake of the Ozarks SHOOTOUT

Ten days of activities await attendees at the 25th anniversary of the Lake of the Ozarks SHOOTOUT powerboat races. Week long events beginning Friday, August 16, and continuing through Sunday, August 25, this year's Shootout will feature racing by watercraft ranging from remote-controlled boats to personal watercraft to offshore racing boats flying down the Lake at speeds of 200 mph.  (The main racing event will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, August 25).

  

Captain Ron's Bar and Grill in Sunrise Beach is hosting the event for the sixth year. According to event sponsor and Captain Ron's owner Ron Duggan, the event continues to grow each year, with more events and bigger crowds.  He estimates participation of approximately 120 racers and 100,000 spectators during the 10-day event.  "Most importantly, however, the donations to local charities benefitting from the event continue to grow. That's what it's really all about," Duggan said, noting that last year's Shootout raised $100,000 for 22 area charities, including six local fire protection districts.

The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is the largest unsanctioned boat race in the country, featuring some of the top racers and offshore racing powerboats in the U.S. and Canada. "Powerboat Magazine" lists it as one of eight "must-see" boating events, and the magazine readers have voted it the Number 1 race in the country.

From Thursday through Sunday, attendees can enjoy vendor booths featuring everything from sunglasses to boat motors. Duggan estimates as many as 20,000 people will walk through "vendor village" and "racer village" during the Shootout. While there are entry fees to a number of the week's activities, Duggan emphasized the opportunity to watch the race and meet the racers is free and accessible to all attendees. "Everything is free but the parking," he said. "You don't have to have a whole lot of money to do this."  All the particulars of Shootout participation, like lodging and parking, can be found on the race's website at www.lakeoftheozarksshootout.org.
  
There are many ways to see all the action of the race.  Captain Ron's provides fans with viewing options on land with a "jumbotron" and dozens of televisions on the beach, docks and inside the bar and restaurant.  Attendees who want to see the races from the water are welcome to tie up along the course to watch.  Last year's flotilla included approximately 9,000 boats along the length of the course.  The cruise boat Celebration also offers the opportunity to watch the race from its decks, with shuttle service from Captain Ron's. For those who cannot attend in person, the Shootout will be streaming online.

Duggan stresses that the activities, as well as the donations to the charities, would not be possible without the participation of Lake-area businesses and volunteers. Last year, 569 volunteers donated 6,425 hours to ensuring the event's success. Their participation helps keep costs down so more of the money generated by the event can go to charities.

The Shootout combines sports with community activism. Tim Jacobsen, executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau, sums it up this way: "The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout has grown over the years to be the premier boating event in the Midwest. The Shootout is a great example of all aspects of our community coming together to benefit the Lake as a whole."

Visit www.lakeoftheozarksshootout.org/schedule.html for the full schedule of SHOOTOUT events and activities.

Lake Event Photos: July 2013

Summer is now almost halfway over, and we have been out shooting photos at a couple of Lake of the Ozarks' favorite events, The 6th Annual Support Our Troops Poker Run and the increasingly popular, Aquapalooza 2013.

The Support Our Troops Poker Run, now in its sixth year has grown to include over 120 boats with over 500 people from all over the United States. As a poker run for charity, the Support Our Troops Poker Run has raised over $70,000 for charities that directly benefit soldiers and their families. Numbers for the 2013 event aren't in quite yet, but judging from the photos, this year was very successful. View the set of 50 photos taken from on the water at http://bit.ly/1c3j9Hn

Aquapalooza, the Lake's biggest family boating and live music event, came back to Dog Days bigger and better than ever before. 2013 featured the young up and coming musician Nic Cowan, The Brian Collins Band, The Devonshires and from Kansas City, Rock Paper Scissors. Great live music and family fun on the water is what Aquapalooza is all about, and 2013 did not disappoint. We shot hundreds of photos of the musicians, fans, families and scenery over the 5 hour event, and have narrowed it down to the best 160 of them. Enjoy the images here: http://bit.ly/143lOQE

We maintain an ever-expanding photo library of nearly all of the Lake's big events as well as Lake of the Ozarks seasonal scenic beauty, attractions and activities. To view the broad catalog of our event photos, simply visit http://funlake.zenfolio.com/lotoevents - If you happen to find a photo that you would love to have your own copy of, we will be happy to supply you with a password to download the original, high resolution file. Just send us an email at photos@funlake.com with the specific image information (Event, Date and Photo Number) and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Aquapalooza 2013

Get ready for Aquapalooza, the single largest one-day family boating event and on-the-water concert at Lake of the Ozarks on Saturday, July 20, 2013 from Noon to 5 pm. Best of all... it's FREE!

Presented by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, the Lake of the Ozarks CVB, Budweiser, and the Benne Media Group, Aquapalooza is hosted by Dog Days Bar and Grill on Jeffries Road in Osage Beach at the 19 Mile Marker. Aquapalooza is an afternoon of family-friendly fun and music on the water. This year's event will feature up-and-coming musicians Nic Cowan and the Brian Collins Band, the classic rock of The Devonshires and, from Kansas City, the acoustic vocal trio Rock Paper Scissors. For information, photos and links to performing artists' websites, visit www.funlake.com/aquapalooza

Independence Day Fireworks at The Lake

Visitors to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri can experience traditional 4th of July fireworks from a different perspective - on the water. Those who want to spend Independence Day at the Lake should plan a getaway now at one of more than 200 local lodging properties. Communities and resorts around the Lake will offer spectacular displays of pyrotechnics on July 4 and throughout the holiday weekend. Visitors can enjoy fireworks on land at festivals featuring food, fun and games. Those with boats can take to the water on their own. Don't have a boat? No problem - The Lake offers numerous watercraft rental companies that are waiting to get you out on the water.  Others can make reservations to view the fireworks on tour boats like the Tropic Island or the Celebration, which offer special fireworks cruises. For exact times, dates and locations for fireworks displays, visit www.funlakeevents.com. (The accompanying image above also outlines locations and contact information). If you haven't planned your visit to Lake of the Ozarks for the 4th of July yet, www.funlake.com will help you gather information on lodging, attractions, dining, golf, shopping and more.

Lake Event Photos: June, 2013

Summer has just begun and we've already been out shooting tons of photos at several big Lake of the Ozarks area events. 

First up, Liquid Force's BROstock came back to Lake of the Ozarks for the second year in a row. If you've never witnessed a professional wakeboard competition, these athletes will astound you with their abilities on the water. And then there's the party that goes hand-in-hand with BROstock. Put simply, these guys and their fans know how to have a good time. To view a large selection of photos from this year's event, go to http://bit.ly/17HvPDx

Over on the other side of the Lake at Dog Days Bar & Grill, The Canine Cannonball went on for its 7th consecutive year. Presented by Dock Dogs, this event has become a popular start to summer for dog owners, lovers and spectators. People from all over the Midwest as well as local canine athletics enthusiasts bring their furry friends to Dog Days to see how far and high they can jump. The photos speak for themselves - this event is just plain fun. View the images at http://bit.ly/16iIwl3

The Offshore Super Series has finally made it's long anticipated return to Lake of the Ozarks with Lake Race 2013, an event that we hope will be the first annual in a long future tradition at Bagnell Dam. The inaugural Lake Race was a huge success with 20 of the fastest boats in the nation competing for cash prizes and bragging rights. To view photos from this exciting event, visit http://bit.ly/144HY00



Last but not least - Hot Summer Nights, a classic car, truck and motorcycle show combined with entertainment and family fun had it's second run of the season on the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip. This event gets bigger each year, and June's event was no exception. Hot Summer Nights happens on the second Friday of each month throughout the summer season, which means that we have 3 of them left to go in 2013. To view Hot Summer Nights photos, visit http://bit.ly/15h29a2

We maintain an ever-expanding photo library of nearly all of the Lake's big events as well as Lake of the Ozarks seasonal scenic beauty, attractions and activities. To view the broad catalog of our event photos, simply visit http://funlake.zenfolio.com/lotoevents - If you happen to find a photo that you would love to have your own copy of, we will be happy to supply you with a password to download the original, high resolution file. Just send us an email at photos@funlake.com with the specific image information (Event, Date and Photo Number) and we'll respond as soon as possible.

Summer's 1st HUGE Events Weekend at The Lake

Summer's first truly big event weekend, June 7 - 9, is finally upon us. There's no doubt that you will find something fun and exciting that suits your tastes. The best part - all of the following Lake of the Ozarks events are free to attend!

The Canine Cannonball (June 7 - 9), presented by Dock Dogs and hosted by Dog Days Bar and Grill in Osage Beach begs the question: How far can your dog jump? The annual jumping contest features canine athletes competing in Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve. There's still time to enter your own pooch in the big contest! For information on entering your dog contact Dog Days at 573-348-9797. For a complete schedule, contact info and directions, visit Dock Dogs' event page here: http://bit.ly/10gLBvZ

For the young, young at heart and those who enjoy extreme watersports, Liquid Force's world famous BROstock is back for the 2nd year on June 7th and 8th, hosted by Captain Ron's Bar and Grill at the 34.5 Mile Marker. You don't want to miss Lake of the Ozarks' transformation into Lake of the "BROzarks" as the world's top professional wakeboard riders compete for over $30,000. Fueled by Monster Energy, BROstock will feature twenty six of the world's best riders including Harley Clifford, Shane Bonifay, and Bob Soven. Come for the contest, stay for the party! Find more info and the official schedule at www.brostock.com. If you can't make it to BROstock, you can watch it via the following outlets: Locally on Lake TV Channel 24; Digital TV on station 108.17 or watch the live webcast on BROstock.com.

Finally, Lake of the Ozarks is proud to bring you the much anticipated Lake Race 2013, presented by Mt. Dew and Formula Boats of Missouri and hosted by Beavers at The Dam Bar & Grill at the 1 MM, Bagnell Dam on Bagnell Dam Blvd. Watch some of the world's fastest Offshore Super Series boats compete for huge cash purses as you enjoy Lake scenery by boat or several land viewing locations including Bagnell Dam and Willmore Lodge. Activities kick off with the Lake Race Street Party on Friday, June 7th. All classes of boats will compete through out Saturday, June 8th and the race finals will be held throughout the day on Sunday, June 9th. Please make plans to join us on one or all days of this action packed event. You don't want to miss the power and excitement of these magnificent boats. For more information, an event map that includes parking and viewing locations and a complete schedule at www.lakerace.com. If you can't make it to the Races, KRMS will be streaming the event live at www.krmsradio.com/lakeracestream beginning Saturday, June 8th.

That's a whole lot of fun stuffed into one weekend! You can choose your favorite event to attend - but believe it or not, it will be possible to enjoy all of them if you choose to do so. Visit the sites listed above for specific schedules as well as the Lake Events calendar at www.funlakeevents.com. For lodging, dining and additional attractions and activities, www.funlake.com has everything you need in one, easy to navigate location. Be safe and have a great weekend at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri!