LEONGATHA’S Bair Street was packed on Saturday, October 11, as the town once again hosted Biketoberfest Leongatha 2025, a celebration for motorbike lovers and petrolheads alike that continues to grow every year.
More than 2000 people turned out to enjoy the free, family-friendly event, which transformed Bair Street into a chrome and leather sea. Motorbikes of every shape and size lined the street, while live music, community stalls, and the scent of food from local cafés and food vans filled the air.
One of the highlights was the trials riding demonstrations, where professional riders thrilled the crowd with their daring stunts, leaping over cars, balancing on obstacles, and manoeuvring their bikes in ways that seemed to defy physics.
Committee member Cherie Pritchett said the event, which coincides with Motorcyclist Awareness Month, had reached new heights this year.
“This has been our best year ever,” she said.
“We’ve had 430 motorbikes come through, and we actually had to close Bair Street parking because we were at capacity. We’ve been close to that before, but this is the first time it’s ever happened.”
Ms Pritchett said Biketoberfest was about more than just the bikes.
“The purpose of the event is to raise awareness for motorbike safety and to raise money for mental health,” she said.
“We work alongside Black Dog Ride, who do wonderful things for the community around mental health, and we try to raise money for them during the day.”
Black Dog Ride is an Australia-wide initiative that promotes awareness of depression and suicide prevention, a cause that has resonated deeply within the riding community.
According to Ms Pritchett, community support has been a major part of Biketoberfest’s success.
“The community support has been fantastic,” she said.
“Everyone has been on board, and the event just keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
The idea for the festival first came about during the COVID lockdowns, when organisers were looking for a way to reignite community life in Leongatha.
“They had just completed the refurbishment of Bair Street, so we thought why not hold an event here,” Ms Pritchett said.
“Our aim was to fill up Bair Street with motorbikes, and we’d done that by 11am.”
Among the many visitors who made the trip to Leongatha was Ross Millar, who rode down from Park Orchards in Melbourne’s east on his 2021 Indian Roadmaster Jack Daniels Edition: one of only 107 ever made.
“It was social media that drew us here,” he said.
“We read about Biketoberfest and all the different types of bikes, from Harleys to sports bikes. The highlight for me has been looking at all the bikes and talking to some great people.”
As engines roared and music played through the afternoon, Biketoberfest once again cemented itself on Leongatha’s community calendar.
