Story and Photos by MB McQueen and Steve Baskin {phocagallery view=categories|categoryid=864|imagecategories=0|}

The Bikes, Babes and Bling Festival was held in Fayetteville, Arkansas on June 10 and 11. The annual event appeals to men and women alike, because where there is bling, there are babes. Where there are babes, there are boys. Where there are bikes, there are both.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definitions for the word “babe” are as follows:
a : infant, baby b: slang : a person and especially a young woman who is sexually attractive
As there weren’t many babies in attendance over the weekend, it seems apparent that event organizers were aiming for that second group. There were plenty of women in attendance—old ones, young ones and everyone in between. They came in all shapes and sizes. Some attended alone, some came with friends or significant others. All of these ladies had one thing in common—a love of motorcycles. It was apparent that Bikes, Babes and Bling appeals to everyone: burly girls, girlie girls, and the men who love them.
The babes were the focus of the weekend, and all of the activities were geared toward them. There was a fashion show, a scavenger hunt and a clothing swap meet, where women donated gently worn items in exchange for contributions to local charities. Numerous jewelry, apparel and accessory vendors offered a huge array of gear aimed at the biker babe crowd. One thing that makes the festival unique is that not only are there booths set up by local cycle dealers, but vendors offering chair massages and Mary Kay cosmetics are in close proximity.
Women competed to be named Queen of Karaoke, and, as an equal opportunity festival, there was a male hunk competition where the 2011 Bling King was crowned. There was a ride simulator, and I was happy to discover that I can let out a clutch in .05 seconds. Gorgeous bikes were on display everywhere, and many women competed for trophies in the motorcycle competition.
It was great to see so many cycle fanatics walking around having fun, and the male segment of the population was well represented. Some rode beside their women, some chauffeured, and all of them seemed to be having a great time. Bike lovers of all sorts strolled around, shopped ‘til they dropped, chowed down, drank up, talked bikes and danced the night away. Some of them even took time to ride the Ozark mountain roads and take in the gorgeous scenery. Late, they headed toward downtown Fayetteville, hit the local clubs and made their presence known on Dickson Street. By the end of it all, one thing was certain—these babes know how to have fun.
To read Part 1 of this article, click here.