But the event is about more than motorcycle riding, good food and blues music.

It will directly benefit veterans in need in our community.

Jeff Frailey said that this year’s event marks the 5th Rally in the Valley.

The idea for the event grew out of the Thank A Vet Dam Run that Shawn Castro had designed to take riders over the top of the Kinzua Dam.

Photos provided to the Times Observer The Rally in the Valley - including the Thank A Vet Dam Run over the top of the Kinzua Dam, shown here - is set for Aug. 27. The event is slated to include the ride, blue and food. All proceeds will be donated to the Veteran’s Emergency Fund.

That charity ride is now part of Rally in the Valley.

Registration will start at 8 a.m. at Betts Park with kickstands up at 10:45 a.m.

“We charge $25 a motorcycle,” Frailey said, “whether one or two people. 100 percent of the $25 goes to the Veteran’s Emergency Fund.”

The event has taken a couple forms throughout its five years.

Otis James said it started as a three-day event, which was centered in downtown Warren.

This year’s event is a single day with the Thank A Vet Dam Run to be followed by a 117-mile charity ride.

It will end at the Youngsville American Legion where a party will start at 4 p.m. including blues music and food and drinks.

Frailey stressed that the support of community veterans remains the focus. He said Castro, who passed away in 2020, asked that it stay the focus.

“That’s what we continue to do,” he said.

He credited social club’s donations from around the county with helping to cover the cost for the bands “so that we don’t have to tap into the dam ride money to cover expenses.”

“We’re probably going to have about 300 bikes for the dam run,” James said. “250 of those will make the charity ride. A good portion will show up at the Legion.”

The opportunity to ride across the dam, and the event more generally, has drawn riders in recent years from Rochester in New York State to Ohio and Tennessee.

Frailey said bike groups will come “from a long ways, especially once they hear (about the) veteran’s benefit. It’s a big draw for a lot of people.”

He said there are also two people who will be riding e-bikes for part of the route just to be able to ride over the top of the dam.

“The Legion is open to the public,” James added. “Anyone can come for the music. It’s free. It’s family friendly.”