VINTON COUNTY WILD TURKEY FESTIVAL & BIKE SHOW
MAY 5-8 This year we are kicking off the Thunder Roads Bike Show Series and really our riding season with the Wild Turkey Festival in Vinton County. For over 35 years, the Festival has been held at the intersection of US Route 50 and State Route 93 in downtown McCarthur. Inspired by our experiences in Geneva-on-the-Lake over the last 10 years, our thought was that this would be a great way to kick off the season in another small town – but instead of the shores of Lake Erie, this Bike Show and Festival would be set against the rolling hills of Southern Ohio. These hills include Wayne National Forest, Lake Hope State Park and Zaleski State Forest, and of course Hocking Hills – all within a nice ride of the Wild Turkey Festival. While the Wild Turkey Festival isn’t a “Bike Rally” – certainly Bikers and riders of all types have been welcome for years. There’s free nightly entertainment, vendors, and all sorts of festival activities going on. There are vendors (and we are bringing some motorcycle ones as well to our Thunder Zone – email us for information) and cool local shops, restaurants, and taverns to enjoy as well. We’ve also heard rumors of “Moonshiners” coming out of the hills as well – and setting up in town as well… So you just never know what you’re going to find!
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THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE
And of course there is the riding! Vinton County might be considered Ohio’s last frontier as both the least populated and most forested – with over 80% of the county covered with trees. Thankfully, though, the county is crisscrossed with scenic roads snaking through the rolling hills – making for some of the state’s best riding. And throughout the area are cool stops for riders to discover. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM
OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE
