The 2018 York Motorcycle Festival will take over the town of York this April, with activity planned over the whole Festival weekend!
The York Motorcycle Festival is held over two days with plenty of activities for the family
The Motorcycle Festival is the biggest event held in the town each year, attracting around 5000 people each year. Festival Director Peter Woods said the York Motorcycle Festival was popular with a range of people, not just motorbike enthusiasts, because it was a casual, free, fun family day out.
Peter said the Festival was well supported by locals, but also attracted many visitors from the Perth metro area and south west who travel to York for the day to enjoy the Festivities.
The Festival has everything, including live entertainment
Peter Woods – Festival Director
“Motorcycle Festivals are extremely popular, and this has ben proved by the growth over the York Motorcycle Festival since it first began in 2012. The event was originally designed as a charity ride from the metro area, with a little bit of fun in town at the end of the ride. Now it has grown to attract national attention, and everyone wants to get involved which is great! The 2018 Festival will be huge, with new attractions and activities, old favourites, plenty of new bikes and products on display – it’s an event not to be missed.”
There’ll also be plenty of food and drink available
Peter said this was currently the only motorcycle event of its kind held in Western Australia, and had a lot of industry support, with the major brands all signed up to display at the Festival.
The town of York will come alive over a full weekend when the York Motorcycle Festival is held on 14th and 15th April.
Saturday – April 14th
Visitors can head to town early on Saturday morning – or stay over Friday night – and enjoy a range of activity and attractions on Saturday.
Saturday will kick off with the Hill Climb on Mount Brown
As part of the new Saturday activity line up, the first time the York Motorcycle Festival will feature an exciting Hill Climb on Mount Brown.
The Vintage Hill Climb will be a spectacle of riders and their machines against the mountain, trying to crack the nominated time. A selection of vintage and classic machines from the 1920s up to the late 1970s will be participating at pace.
Riders will be given two timed passes and will need to replicate the next three timed passes as close to their nominated time as possible.
The event is run by enthusiasts from the Western Australian Vintage motorcycle community. Peter said the Hill Climb will be a major attraction and is already gaining plenty of interest from participants.
The Ulysses Club will also run a longer ride on Saturday
However if visitors would rather go for a longer ride, they can join the Ulysses Club on Saturday afternoon and discover the Avon Valley Back Roads!
Three different rides through the Avon Valley are scheduled for Saturday afternoon 14th April, so come along and join in. Meet at 1pm on Avon Terrace and choose your route – either to Beverley, Toodyay or Meckering.
These organised rides each have a designated ride leader, and will head to the different towns for a nice ride through the Avon Valley, and be back in York by around 5pm.
Harley-Davidson free family concert
Visitors to the town can then stick around on Saturday evening 14th April for the exciting Harley-Davidson free family concert to be staged in the main street of town (Avon Terrace). Local act the Chris Gibbs trio will warm up the crowds, and then be followed by the very cool tunes of The Rough Housers.
The concert will be licensed with a pop up bar area, and begins at 5.30pm on Saturday 14th April.
Thanks to the Shire of York, visitors can can camp in the grounds of the York Recreation Centre (Hockey Oval) on both Friday and Saturday night of the Festival weekend. Toilet and shower facilities are available adjacent to the Hockey field. Cost is kept low to make it easy, and is just $10 per adult per night and children free. Register on the York Motorcycle Festival website – yorkmotorcyclefestival.com.au
Camp grounds are also available, with displays also to be set up
Other attractions on the Saturday include the Show and Shine display in the York Town Hall, and Kid’s motorcycle rides in Peace Park.
Sunday – April 15th
The York Motorcycle Festival really takes over the town on the Sunday when we close the main street and fill it with all the latest and greatest new bike displays, accessories and clothing, bike clubs, jewellery and toys; and much more. Plus with a full schedule of entertainment, the Sunday activity is not to be missed!
There’ll be stalls from manufacturers too
Begin your walk through the Festival at the York Town Hall and check out the Show and Shine Display.
Die-hard enthusiasts attend the Show and Shine year after year to show off their bikes; and the display in the stunning old Town Hall is truly a sight to see. Visitors can choose their favourite and vote for it in the People’s Choice prize! The Show and Shine is proudly sponsored by Clean Ride and Motorcycle Panel and Paint.
Plus there’ll be The Show and Shine competition
Next you’ll get to the new Indian Café on Avon Terrace, just outside the new Imperial Hotel.
Take the time to chill with a coffee and a snack at the new Indian Café and check out the displays of new Indian bikes while you’re there!
From the Indian Café, walk along Avon Terrace and check out some of the latest new bikes from major brands, clothing, jewellery, helmets and accessories, and much more. Plus there’s live music, food stalls and bar area on Avon Terrace; as well as local businesses being open for the day providing a range of food and drink options.
Plus an array of awesome stunting performances
But if it’s motorbike action you’re after, Peter said the stunt track on South Street is the place to be!
In 2018 we welcome back everyone’s favourite stunt rider, Yamaha’s Dave McKenna on Sunday 15th April!
Dave McKenna is one of Australia’s best professional street bike stunt riders. He’s performed at many events across the country and internationally, and always knows how to entertain the crowds!
Dave McKenna, plus the ASPXtreme FMX stunt riders, as well as mini stunt bikes will all be present
Plus, thanks to the team from ASPXtreme, you can see some of Western Australia’s craziest FMX stunt riders. Hold your breath as these riders fly their bikes through the air, flip them over and land gain – safely of course! It’s mind blowing, and the stunt shows are held three times during the day.
Visitors can also watch mini bike stunts, and Super Moto demos throughout the day.
Experience the excitement of motorcycle racing close up with Super Moto WA. The team will do race demonstrations on Sunday 15th April along South Street. It’s loud, it’s fast, it’s not to be missed!
York Motorcycle Festival
And of course we haven’t forgotten the kids. Thanks to Motorcycle WA, kid’s can test their own skills on two wheels. Come try riding on the specially designed track in Peace Park. The Vintage Collective Markets will also be set up in Peace Park on the Sunday for those who need that little extra shopping fix!
The Vintage Collective Markets will feature a range of displays that focus on vintage, up-cycled, remade, reclaimed, recycled and vintage-style wares or services. Attractions as part of the Markets will include lids activities, food trucks and live music.
York Motorcycle Festival
The Vintage Collective Markets have a huge following of loyal customers and patrons, and are well known for being more than just markets, but a celebration of all things retro! The inclusion of the Vintage Collective Markets means visitors to the Festival can enjoy browsing the stalls, enjoying the entertainment, and finding that unique purchase.
The York Motorcycle Festival is a free family festival that was originally set up as a charity event. In 2018, the Festival is again pleased to support beyondblue in its fundraising.
York Motorcycle Festival will also be fundraising for beyondblue
To raise money, a Charity Ride for beyondblue will be held on Sunday 15th April from Midland to York.
Participants should meet at Midland Gate Shopping Centre carpark, Great Eastern Highway, Midland from 8.30am Sunday 15th April. There will be two start times – the first ride will leave at 9am for the early birds, and the second at 10am for those who’d rather a sleep in! Cost is $10 per rider, $5 per pillion, and all money collected will go to beyondblue
Also don’t forget to check out the trade show
Trade Show
The list of exhibitors at the 2018 York Motorcycle Festival just keeps growing! Visitors to the Festival can check out new bikes from major brands such as Harley-Davidson, Indian and Victory, Yamaha, BMW, Ducati and more. Check out the displays of clothing, jewellery, accessories and more from Exhibitors such as Overlander Adventure Equipment, Coast to Coast Mounts, Mo’s Elegance, Motorrad Garage, Dark Rage, Retro Moto Co, Perth Hydrographics, Bogan and Proud, Zebedee Springs and Phone Rings; as well as display from not-for-profit groups such a MRAWA, Ulysses Club, and Biker’s Against Child Abuse.
The York Motorcycle Festival welcomes exhibitors from within the motorcycle and scooter industries. The Prospectus is available now from our website, and exhibitor bookings are currently being taken. Interested exhibitors can contact (08) 9386 9666 to find out more information.
The York Motorcycle Festival takes place April 14-15
Festival Facts
The 2018 York Motorcycle Festival runs over the weekend of 14th and 15th April, and is held on Avon Terrace, the York Town Hall, Peace Park, Mount Brown and York Recreation Centre.
The Saturday night concert runs from 5pm-10.30pm; and the main Festival runs from 10am-4pm on Sunday. Entry to the Festival is free; and there is plenty of motorcycle parking available on Avon Terrace and within the Town. The York Motorcycle Festival proudly supports beyondblue charity.
York Motorcycle Festival
The York Motorcycle Festival is supported by Department of Tourism Western Australia, Department of Regional Development, Royalties for Regions and the Shire of York, Wheatbelt Development Commission and proudly sponsored by Shannons Insurance, Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles.
