Digby Wharf Rat Rally
It all started in 2004 when the Wharf Rat Rally Motorcycle Association began hosting a motorcycle rally in Digby, Nova Scotia. They planned several different events to be held over the Labour Day weekend all in line with bikers. There were concerts, demonstrations, vendors, bike tours, burn-outs and even a biker driving off the Digby wharf. This all proved very successful with 750 motorcycles coming to town and about 4,500 visitors. They knew they had started something good and plans were started for the next year's events. By their third year there were approximately 40,000 bikers and 10,000 bikes in attendance at the Wharf Rat Rally. In 2008 they had 50,000 bikers and 25,000 bikes filling the streets for this four day event. It just keeps getting bigger every year and the Digby Wharf Rat Rally is now known as the Largest Motorcycle Rally in Atlantic Canada.
So why has this rally grown so fast? Well according to the bikers it is because of several things.
Once here, Digby is centrally located for several day trips that take the riders through some really beautiful countryside with great views everywhere. No matter which way they go they are greeted with great scenery and lots of places to stop and explore.
This brings me to the main reason that has been given for the growth of the Wharf Rat Rally, the people of Digby. Digby welcomes these bikers to their town, they role out the red carpet for them. Every pole on the way into town holds signs welcoming the bikers to Digby. They close the main street during the weekend to bikes only. Every business is focused on the weekend guest to their town. No wonder they all come back; and they bring their friends with them.
During the four day event there are many special appearances, demonstrations and booths set up by some of the biggest names in the biker world.
Other guest appearances include Russell Mitchell of Exile Cycles, a renowned custom bike builder from California. The "Street Punishment" Motorcycle Stunt Team is on hand with street shows all weekend, and the World Jet Ski Champion Eric "Cyclone" Malone puts on several shows in the bay. From the very popular Canadian TV show "Biker TV" reporter Heather Ireland covered the whole four days of the rally. Also in attendance is Joshua Moonshine, spray paint artist extraordinaire showing off some of his work. The music is almost continuous during the Wharf Rat Rally and besides a lot of local talent the committee brings in some big names in the music industry also. The Road Hammers were among the 2007 lineup and put on a fantastic show. Other bands include Titanic Proportions, the Grinders, and Green River Revival.
Well that is not a problem in Digby. All day long there are out door barbecues going on at the Fundy Complex. Every morning there is a "Community Breakfast" going on plus an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Fundy restaurant. Vendors are set up all along the Admiral's Walk and at the Marina area and are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Digby also boost quit a few great restaurants featuring some of the best sea food you can get. Remember they are known world-wide for their mouth-watering scallops. The local pubs and taverns also offer special events like a pig roast or a lobster picnic to tickle your taste buds. Yes you have come to the right place for great tasting food.
Most of the events in the schedule are offered several times over the four days. Therefore I am just going to give you a list of some of the events you can expect to see going on during the rally.
More and more these days people are getting into motorcycles. It could be the economy with the high price of gas. Or it could be that we "Baby Boomers" are getting older, the kids are grown and we are looking for a new sense of adventure. I am told biking is the best mode of transportation for touring the country. I guess I will have to take their word on that, I'll take the train thank you.
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First being the location. Digby is in a good location and very easy to get to. It is only two hours from the "CAT Ferry" which lands in Yarmouth, NS daily from Bar Harbour and Portland, Maine. The ferry "Princess of Acadia" docks at Digby every day from Saint John, NB, plus it is only two hours away from the Provincial capital of Halifax.
They also like the fact that everything is so well organized at the Wharf Rat Rally. They really give credit to the organizers and volunteers that work so hard to pull this all together. With so much packed into four days it is very important that there are no big delays, or not everything is going to get done. Something this big can only be done through the cooperation of everyone in town, not only on the weekend, but in the weeks before and after. 
Harley Davidson is one of the sponsors of the Digby Wharf Rat Rally and they are always on hand both in the air and on the ground. 
So how do you feed all these people? 
There is just so much going on throughout the four days it is hard to take it all in. New events are added every year. If you have any interest in bikes and biking at all, or just like a good time with lots of good music, then you will enjoy the Digby Wharf Rat Rally.
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