UPDATE JUNE 8th: Organizer Vince Zandbelt says the June 9th Bike Nights event has been cancelled. The next event is July 14th.
After a two-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a popular motorcycle show is coming back with some new attractions.
Winchester Bike Nights, a series of motorcycle showcases held throughout the summer, are returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic later this week.
Just like in 2019, the shows will feature live music, restaurants from around the region serving food, and craft beer and wine from local breweries.
Two new features are also debuting at this week’s show – “Manufacturers on Main,” spotlighting motorcycle dealerships in our area and their newest models, and “Bike of the Month,” giving people a chance to see unique or rare vehicles.
For the first event, Freedom Harley-Davidson of Ottawa will be the featured dealership, and a restored vintage bike from the 1950s will be the Bike of the Month for June. Vince Zandbelt, the event’s organizer, says the bike belongs to his father.
“My dad bought this bike brand new in 1956, and when he immigrated to Canada [from Holland] in 1960, he left it behind,” Zandbelt says.
“Lo and behold, it had only had two other owners after that, and the last owner was the fella that restored the bike to showroom condition. It’s pristine.”
If that sounds familiar, Zandbelt says it’s because the story went viral when he purchased the bike and gave it back to his father in 2020.
“Just with TikTok alone,” he says, “it was over 25 million views, and then it was on another site down in the States, and that hit almost 20 million views as well.”
The shows will all be free to attend, and they’re happening at the corner of St. Lawrence Street and Main Street in downtown Winchester.
If you’re arriving in your car, Zandbelt says you can park at the Sam Ault Arena, and a free shuttle service will be able to take you to the event from there.
The first show is on Thursday, June 9th, starting shortly after 5:00 PM. Three more are scheduled, for the second Thursday of July, August, and September.