Story By Katie Hightower
This weekend, the city of Bridgeport will welcome the 32nd annual Trail of Tears memorial bike riders. Since 1993, each year on the third Saturday of September, thousands of bikers roared across northern Alabama to pay tribute to the millions of Native Americans who were forced from homes due to the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Thousands of Native Americans died on the long journey towards the West. In addition to the thousands of lives lost, a great portion of Native American culture was lost as well for those who chose to stay and hid their heritage. The memorial bike ride will not only honor the Native Americans who died, it will celebrate those who survived and tirelessly worked to preserve the history of the Native American people.
On Sept. 18 at 7:30 a.m., the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce will host an early bird breakfast at the amphitheater across from 411 Alabama Ave. in Bridgeport. The public was welcomed to attend the breakfast which will kick off the annual Trail of Tears events. The breakfast will be sponsored by Bridgeport Utilities.
On Sept. 19, Bridgeport will host its annual Trail of Tears weekend events. At 2:00 p.m., food, arts & crafts vendors and kids bounce houses will be opened for the public. At 3:00 p.m., the motorcycles will arrive. The opening ceremonies will begin at 5:00 p.m. with live music afterwards from 117 South and John Stone. At 8:30 p.m. there will be a fireworks show followed by more live music from John Stone.
On Sept. 20, the motorcycles will make their grand departure from Bridgeport towards Waterloo at 8:00 a.m. At 9 a.m., vendors will open again and registration will begin for the Bridgeport’s first Jeep’n the ‘Port Show. The Jeep’n the Port Show will begin at 11:00 a.m. There will be live music at 3 p.m. and the winners of the Jeep’n the Port Show will be announced at 8:00 p.m. There will be a parade of Jeeps downtown at 8:30 p.m. as the Jeeps depart from Bridgeport.
Len Colvin and Steve Gill were working hard to make the event special for those who wish to spectate.
“We’re working to expand the event and bring in more Native American educational opportunities to the local community. We hope to also include local schools in the event next year,” Colvin said. “The city has been great to work with. Mayor Hughes has provided everything we need — above and beyond. We have 26 vendors and seven food trucks planned for the event. There will be an area for children with a bouncy house. We want this to be a family-oriented weekend.”
Through the years, the annual Trail of Tears events grew exponentially with large crowds of bikers and large crowds of spectators who were eager to witness the motorcycles roar down the road. Bridgeport community leaders tirelessly worked to make this weekend’s events special, educational and welcoming for both the bikers and the spectators. Everyone was welcomed to visit Bridgeport this weekend to never forget our country’s history and to celebrate Native American culture.
