Photos by Brian Duggan/Nevada Appeal Fred Swain, 64, rides his 1964 Harley-Davidson on Thursday at Carson City Harley-Davidson for a five-day celebration.
Long beards, Johnny Cash music and plenty of motorcycles filled Carson City Harley-Davidson's parking lot Thursday, the second of a five-day celebration.
"We're celebrating just having a lot of fun being on motorcycles," said Richard Tapia, the owner of Carson City Harley-Davidson.
The celebration, which coincides with Reno's Street Vibrations, will include live music, 60 vendors and professional motorcycle stunts by Liv Fast, which start at noon, 3 and 5 p.m. today and Saturday.
On Thursday afternoon, riders filled the Harley dealership. Tapia said he expected the event to draw a large crowd over the weekend.
Fred Swain, 64, of Reno, rode his 1965 Harley to Carson City on Thursday with a group of friends.
"It's just a good event, a lot of good people," said Swain, who has been riding since he was 17.
Don Dahl, 70, from Olympia, Wash., rode down for Street Vibrations and was checking out the party in Carson City. He said he's been riding motorcycles since 1956.
"I like it because it's got good beds to sleep on, reasonable priced food and not overcrowded, over-heated porta-potties," Dahl said, adding he's not a fan of the motorcycle festival in Sturgis, S.D.
Events at the Carson City Harley Davidson start at 11 a.m. today and Saturday, with a fireworks display at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The dealership will be open Sunday for full service.
Bob Milne, 62, rode to Carson City from Reno on Thursday and plans to hit Lake Tahoe and Virginia City this weekend.
"Freedom," he said of why he rides. "You're out in the open air and you're on your own."