Page 70 - Laconia Rally News 2020

TNHUNDER IN THE VALLEY® JUNE 25-28, 2020!
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estled among the scenic hills and valleys of the Alleghenies, 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, lies Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where for 23 years, motorcyclists from throughout the country have gathered for Thunder in the Valley Motorcycle Rally. Over the years, relationships have been built between bikers, residents and business owners as people return time and time again to this town that’s become like a second home to many.
Feature entertainment includes a return of last year’s hit tribute band, Hairball. If you missed them last year, you’ll want to catch this year’s show which is described as a “mind-blowing and drop-dead accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world,” including Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, and Aerosmith. Hairball takes the Train Station stage Saturday evening.
New to Thunder is Colt Ford with a ground breaking hybrid of country, blues, rock, and rap rhythms. Catch Colt on the Train Station stage Friday evening. Both fea- ture concerts are free but you’re going to want to get a lit- tle closer with a Premium Viewing Area VIP experience for $10 per show, or both for only $18. Go to 2020thun- der.eventbrite.com to purchase VIP bracelets. In addition to the feature acts, Thunder offers nearly 40 other bands on four stages.
Manufacturers have static displays as well as demo rides all four days. Thursday night is the popular Hot Nights & Cool Lights lighted bike parade that begins in suburban Johnstown and ends downtown in the Train Station venues. Saturday is the Grand Thunder Parade at high noon where hundreds of bikes parade through the city to the cheers of thousands who line the street to hear the thunderous roar of the bikes. A variety of guided rides and runs are part of the fun, too, especially the popular Flight 93 Ride sponsored by the Somerset County Chapter of A.B.A.T.E. The ride follows scenic back roads to the
While you’re in Johnstown, take the time to do some sightseeing and visit some of the cool area attractions. The Johnstown Inclined Plane, visible and accessible from the downtown, is the World’s Steepest Vehicular Inclined Plane, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Spend an hour or so at the Johnstown Flood Museum, right in the mix of all the activity in the downtown. The museum features exhibits about the 1889 Johnstown Flood, in which 2,209 people died following the breach of the South Fork Dam 14 miles above Johnstown, and a film that won an Academy Award. You can find details about these attractions and other things to see and do in an official Visitors Guide to Johnstown, available at the main Welcome Tent, Visit Johnstown welcome center at 416 Main Street.
For more information about the rally, lodging go to john- stownthunder.com or call Visit Johnstown at 1-800-237- 8590. Follow the rally on Facebook, too! See you in Johnstown, June 25-28! H