LEESBURG, Fla. — Leesburg Bikefest is back for its 28th edition and this year it is planning on being bigger than ever.

The annual three-day event will feature a myriad of bands, food and retail vendors to cater to bikers from all over the Sunshine State.

Mayor Alan Reisman is also expecting visitors from nearby states and from overseas.

He says it’s no surprise that businesses in the downtown Leesburg area will highly benefit from Bikefest, considering this year’s event will draw an estimated quarter of a million attendees.

“Bikefest kind of cushions a lot of the businesses in Leesburg for the year. It’s just a huge economic driver for not only Leesburg but the entire county,” says Reisman.

Businesses like Ellen’s Café on Main Street are among those that will highly benefit from this three-day event.

The popular café has been a staple in the Leesburg community for the past six years.

Owner of Ellen’s Café, Ellen Bruce, has had to relocate twice in the past year.

According to the President of the Downtown Leesburg Business Association, Elliott Ward, the city really came together to help save Ellen’s Café and ensure the doors would remain open just in time for the big event.

“She is a staple down here; the city employees eat lunch here and everybody just pulled together to save Ellen’s to keep her down here. So, we all jumped in to get her open and ready for Bike Fest,” says Ward.

Ward says he is working in conjunction with the city to ensure that balance between keeping the “traditional feel” that Leesburg is known for, while also, adjusting to the growth that is taking place.

“Some businesses it does help tremendously, and others it just enhances; these events downtown, I’m pro events down here so getting them down here and continuing this, I’d like to see a big event every quarter,” adds Ward.

Bruce says even though she’s not reliant on Bikefest to stay afloat, it still gives her family-owned business a big boost.

“Oh, it’s big. We make a lot of money on the three days that we’re here for bike fest. It helps a lot during the year to buy materials and whatever we need. It’s a big help,” says the owner of Ellen’s Café.

Ward is also the owner of Blue Island Sportswear, and he says this year he decided to partner with Ellen’s Café to help bring more foot traffic to businesses like hers by setting up a gift shop outside her store front.

Ward says at the end of the day, his goal as president of the Downtown Leesburg Business Association is to bring life back into downtown Leesburg, since it took a hard hit during the pandemic.

He says he’s proud to see that work come to fruition.

As far as safety goes, Reisman says the Leesburg Police Department is bringing in various law enforcement agencies from neighboring counties to assist with the event.

The city budgeted roughly $450,000 for Bikefest and Reisman adds they will also benefit from sponsors to recoup the costs involved.

The event will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (April 25 and 26).

On Sunday, April 27, bike enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the festivities from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the last day of the event.