Walcha Council has confirmed that the inaugural Walcha Motorcycle Weekend will go ahead - despite rumours to the contrary buzzing around social media.
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Yesterday Harley-Davidson announced they would not be attending with their display truck due to the current fires surrounding the town.
In a statement issued to media the company said.
The bushfire situation across New South Wales and the progressive dangers across the state has meant that Harley-Davidson Australia has made the difficult decision not to attend the Walcha Motorcycle Weekend this coming weekend, 15-17th November.
Harley-Davisdon Australia have been monitoring the bushfire situation and have been in ongoing contact with the Walcha Council and NSW Rural Fire Service to understand if it is safe for Harley-Davidson and our H.O.G. members to attend.
Since Tuesday November 12, the NSW Premier has declared a State of Emergency with dangerous conditions across New South Wales, advising motorists to delay all non-essential travel with many highways and motorways closed.
All H.O.G. members planning to attend the event have been contacted.
From everyone at Harley-Davidson Australia, we ask all riders to remain safe and alert.
However the company is still funding the shuttle buses between Tamworth/Armidale and Walcha for the Harley Owners Group(HOGs) who are attending.
At the Walcha Showground the massive HOGs Lounge chill out zone is currently being erected by a Coffs Harbour contractor employed by Harley-Davidson.
"It is huge and very comfortable," said Walcha Tourism Officer Lisa Kirton.
"I would say it could accommodate 300 people at a time easily and it will be open from tomorrow and all through the weekend. The glamping tents and regular tents are also all set up out there."
Mrs Kirton confirmed that everything else would go ahead as planned including the Streetbike Freestyle Stunt Riding Demo by DK Freestyle Show, the Horns, Hooves and Harleys rough ride rodeo on Saturday, live music, a show and shine, the farmers market and the billy cart derby.
The Oxley Riders will run a motorcycle gymkhana on Saturday, and on Sunday there will be more live music and an outdoor cinema featuring a film previously scheduled for the Freak Show - TT3D Closer to the Edge.
The Antipodean Tynker gallery of Mark Walker's bespoke motorcycles will also be open all weekend - this eclectic steampunk local treasure is now usually only open by appointment.
The Walcha Tourism Office is advising people of the alternate routes to Walcha they can take - no matter where they are coming from.
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