GOWANDA — The roar of motorcycles and the tunes of a variety of musicians will envelop downtown Gowanda next weekend, June 2 through June 4, for the 19th annual Hollywood Happening.
The festival, one of this region’s marquee motorcycle events, is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Historic Hollywood Theater, which has been the recipient of a handful of grants in recent months.
“That’s how it started and that’s why it continues,” said Dr. Dana Anderson, who has organized the event for 10 years.
Proceeds from this year’s event will help to provide the more than $200,000 in matching funds that are needed to complement grants the theater received since December.
Attendees at this year’s Hollywood Happening will not only enjoy all the motorcycle-themed events and music but will also get to tour the theater, which has seen significant process since the event last year.
“It’ll be nice for them to just see the theater, including the inside of it, when they come up,” said Dr. Anderson of visitors to the festival. “The lobby is completed done now and the mural is being worked on, so they can see those things going on.”
Arguably one of the highlights of this year’s festival is the return of Artemis Pyle, a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who will perform on the main stage from 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday. He last played at the Hollywood Happening in 2011.
Dr. Anderson said another highlight is the One Wheel Revolution motorcycle stunt show, which has shows on Center Street at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“Definitely the One Wheel Revolution stunt show is pretty neat,” said Dr. Anderson. “It’s neat that they do all of these things on Harley-Davidson motorcycles — that’s a big thing.”
In Jest, which is deemed “gravity-defying entertainment with oddball Nels Ross,” will also be holding three shows each on Saturday and Sunday at the theater in the Western New York natives returning to the festival.
Favorite events like the tattoo contest will also be returning. That event is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday. Registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the Hollywood Theater/J.C. Seneca Foundation Charity Run will begin at noon following a three-hour registration period at Native Pride in Irving. Participants are expected back to Gowanda around 3 p.m.
Other bands on the main stage announced for the event include Turbulence from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday; Mid Life Crisis from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday; Boogie Monsters from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday; Darkwater Duo from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday; and Wasted Whiskey from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
The hometown showcase, featuring local musicians, will be held on the main stage from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday.
Also, the Harley Davidson Factory Demo Fleet will be available at Gowanda Harley Davidson from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
With the end in sight for the restoration of the Hollywood Theater, Dr. Anderson said it’s uncertain what role future Hollywood Happenings will take; he said he’s on board to plan the event through its 20th year, which will take place next year.
“After we have the funding it may continue in some other way, but we’re not sure,” he said. “We’re planning to go through another year before I retire from it — this is my 17th year of working it and my 10th year of planning it.”
The event raises between $30,000 and $40,000 annually for the theater’s restoration, according to Dr. Anderson.
The complete schedule includes:
Friday, June 2
Saturday, June 3
Sunday, June 4
