Ohio Bike Week to make full return

SANDUSKY — A roaringly popular festival will return to the region. A social media post on Tuesday announced the return of Ohio Bike Week with a full 10-day schedule. Also coming back is the downtown block party. Ohio Bike Week is a motorcycle rally featuring live entertainment, festival food, vendors, motorcycle rides and the block party, which features big concerts. This year's event brings back a sense of normalcy considering Ohio Bike Week: • In 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic • In 2021 was curtailed to a five-day event due to myriad COVID-19-related factors, which included state-imposed restrictions on public gatherings Steve Ernst, the event's main organizer, expressed enthusiasm about this year's event. "It's going to be awesome," said Ernst, who serves as the president of Advantage Entertainment, the company organizing the event. The event will run from May 27-June 5. The downtown Sandusky block party will take place during bike week's second-half portion, June 2-4. Ernst announced the block party will be reconfigured to include Jackson Street Pier. "We are ready to welcome the event back after two years," Sandusky city manager Eric Wobser said. "We look forward to having all the attendees enjoy the event along our new revitalized waterfront." Ohio Bike Week provides a huge boon to the Sandusky economy. The local tourism bureau, Lake Erie Shores and Islands, estimated the event brings up to 200,000 people to the area, according to a May 2019 Sandusky Register article. The economic impact exceeds $10 million. With 200,000 attendees, Ohio Bike Week is one of the most popular motorcycle festivals in the country.