By Kyle Coppola
Leesburg Annual Bikefest Roars Into Town
Leesburg Bikefest 2025 is set to rumble through downtown Leesburg from April 25 to 27, bringing with it a full-throttle celebration of motorcycles, music and nonstop entertainment. Now in its 26th year, the beloved event will span 30 city blocks and is expected to draw more than 200,000 attendees over the three-day weekend. With free admission and something for everyone, this year’s festival is shaping up to be the biggest yet. Leesburg Mayor Alan Reisman was on hand Thursday, touring the pre-event set-up by golf cart and local vendors were setting up to prepare for the masses.
Alisha Blake, owner of the Sipping Garden and Bistro, is offering street tacos and live music all weekend courtesy of The Dude’s Rug spinning vinyl house music. “We are thrilled to be a part of BikeFest again this year,” says Alisha. “It brings so many new and returning faces to our downtown community.”
One of those new faces is Brian LoDestro, who is turning the building space on the corner of West Main across from McCracken’s into a cigar lounge and bar which will be called Oasis bar and Grille in the coming months. For this weekend, he will offer live entertainment, beer and cigars.
“I have no expectations for this weekend except to have a great time,” Brian says. “It is a very soft open and thanks to my amazing crew we put this together in three weeks just for this event,” he adds. “I am thrilled to be here in Leesburg.”
(Brian LoDestro stands next to bartender Cici Pacifico. For Brian this is a very soft opening of the new Oasis Bar & Grille. Work will resume on renovating the building further before a grand opening later this year.)
Music remains the main draw with over 60 live performances on multiple stages. The Budweiser Main Stage will host headline acts like Dirty Honey, Fuel, Lit and The Marshall Tucker Band, each known for packing energy and crowd-pleasing hits. Other crowd favorites such as Jasmine Cain, Side Quest, Fat Timmy and the Ray Nichols Band round out a schedule that runs all day and into the night. Festival hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with a more relaxed Sunday lineup from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Beyond the amps and anthems, the festival offers a slate of high-impact attractions. The Full Throttle Bike Show returns April 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Magnolia and 5th Street, showcasing custom rides and craftsmanship. For thrill-seekers, the iconic Wall of Death motorcycle stunt show runs daily at 115 E. Main Street. Biker games hosted by the Lake County U.S. Military Vets take over the USB parking lot on Saturday at 3 p.m. and again Sunday at 1 p.m., promising plenty of action and friendly competition.
(Not only is music planned but a M.W.O Women’s Championship title match will be on the line!)
New this year is a spotlight on pro wrestling, with matches taking place Friday and Saturday on Canal Street. Friday’s feature event is the “Job on the Line – Last Ride Match” pitting Amber Nova, representing McCracken’s Irish Pub, against Holly Hood Haley J. representing Wolf Branch. The drama unfolds from 1 to 3 p.m., with Nova fighting to retain her MWO title and radio spot on “Monsters in the Morning.” Additional bouts on Saturday will keep the intensity high and offer fans a different kind of ringside roar.
Special guest appearances include Tim Smith of “Moonshiners” fame and Paul Teutul Sr. from “Orange County Choppers,” both on deck April 25 and 26 to meet fans and soak in the scene. With over 200 vendors on site, there’s no shortage of food, gear and biker swag for attendees to browse between events.
Weather conditions are expected to be ideal, with plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. For added convenience, LakeXpress is running shuttle service throughout the weekend with stops at Main and Canal Streets. Fares are affordable, with one-way rides priced at $1 or unlimited daily travel for just $3. Students ride free, with additional discounts for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Those looking to elevate their festival experience can purchase VIP packages through Sonny’s BBQ, which include private restrooms, a dedicated cash bar, a complimentary beverage and a prime view of the main stage, along with a smoked dinner worthy of the occasion.
For more information, visit www.leesburgbikefest.com.
For more information, visit LeesburgBikefest.com.
MUSIC LINE-UP***
***Acts subject to change.
Friday, April 25:
Ray Nichols Band: 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Andrew Williams Band: 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Steven Cardwell & Neon Drifters: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Jasmine Cain: 8:00–9:15 p.m.
Dirty Honey: 9:45–11:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 26:
Fat Timmy: 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Side Quest: 4:30–7:30 p.m.
LIT: 8:30–9:45 p.m.
Fuel: 10:00–11:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 27:
Chris McNiel Band: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Whey Jennings: 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Gator Harley Stage on Market Street:
Friday, April 25:
Savannah Savino: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
September Dogs: 12:30–3:30 p.m.
Nova Scotia: 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Soundforge: 7:30–10:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26:
Layla Brisboi: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Running Reckless: 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Kobalt 27: 7:30–10:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 27:
Jon Jacey: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
For more information, visit the official website at www.leesburgbikefest.com.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
