Oroville’s Rally at the Border Blues Fest takes place Saturday, May 16 at Deep Bay Park on the shore of Osoyoos Lake. (Sweet T Photography)
Blues music lovers from Osoyoos are once again invited to cross the border and listen to some great music as part of Oroville’s Rally at the Border Blues Fest, which takes place this coming Saturday, May 16 at Deep Bay Park on the shores of beautiful Osoyoos Lake.
Now in its second year, the festival is timed to coincide with the Columbia River Harley Owners’ Group’s (HOG) annual Armed Forces Day Run to the Border motorcycle rally that originates in Wenatchee and ends in Oroville.
Many attendees from Canada are also expected to participate as the Canadian Victoria Day holiday weekend takes place this weekend.
Visitors may also enjoy the kick-off barbecue on Friday night at Veranda Beach Resort as well as Spring Barrel Tasting at local wineries on Saturday, a car show and more, said event co-ordinator Rhonda Hinkley.
“This is our second year and we’re really looking forward to it,” said Hinkley. “We had iffy weather last year and if affected the number of people we got out to the rally, but everyone who was there had an awesome time. We’re expecting great weather and a fantastic turnout this year.”
The festival is popular as a destination for motorcycle rally participants, American and Canadian. Last year, over 150 riders attended the festival as part of the organized Run to the Border rally, and over 50 motorcycle riders made the trip from Canada.
The Oroville Chamber of Commerce has helped organize the event and proceeds from the bike rally and blues festival will go towards the Shriners Children’s Hospital, she said.
The musical lineup includes six of the Northwest’s premier blues bands playing all day Saturday, starting at noon and continuing until 10 p.m. After the park closes, music will continue in town at the Pastime Restaurant and Bar on Main Street with an All-Star Jam.
All riders are welcome to participate in the annual bike rally poker run on Sunday morning from 9 a.m. until noon, she said.
Bands scheduled to play are The Randy Oxford Band Featuring Lady A, Steve Bailey & the Blue Flames, The CD Woodbury Band, Jesse Weston Band, VooDoo Church of Blues and Royce-Govedare High Rollers.
The blues festival was organized as hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts used to make the long trek from Wenatchee to Oroville, spend a couple of hours in town and then return home, said Hinkley.
“The whole idea was to give them something, give them an event that would make them want to stay overnight and get to enjoy the beauty of our area,” she said. “It just so happens that a lot of bike owners love blues music and the Pacific Northwest is filled with great blues bands, so it made sense to organize a blues festival.”
Numerous Canadians from across the South Okanagan attended last year’s event and she’s hoping even more will turn out this weekend.
“We’ve had local members putting up posters across the area as far south as Kelowna and we’re hoping for a great turnout of Canadians at this year’s event,” she said. “We’ve got a beautiful spot and some really great blues bands coming in, so you can’t go wrong.”
Tickets for the blues festival are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Tent camping at Deep Bay Park is available for $10 by reservation, online at the festival website.
For more information about the festival and the region, go to www.rallyattheborderbluesfest.com.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
