The annual Memorial Day weekend motorcycle rally known as Rolling Thunder will begin arriving in Arlington on Friday afternoon.
As in years past, residents who live along I-395 and Route 1 can expect to hear the almighty roar of motorcycle engines as thousands of bikers from across the country make their way to hotels in and around Arlington. The rally’s official headquarters hotel is the Hyatt Regency at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway in Crystal City.
According to the event’s official schedule, Rolling Thunder participants are expected to arrive at the hotel around 3:00 p.m. Friday.
Various Rolling Thunder events are planned around the D.C. area throughout the weekend, including a barbeque at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Maryland on Saturday and a speakers program at the Reflecting Pool on Saturday afternoon.
Also planned is a large rally in the Pentagon parking lot from 7:00 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Police will be shutting down part of Washington Boulevard to accommodate the rally.
From an Arlington County Police Department press release:
The Arlington County Police Department and Virginia State Police will close part of Washington Boulevard near the Pentagon on Sunday, May 25, 2014, for the Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally. From 7:00 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m., Washington Boulevard (Route 27) will be closed from I-395 to the Memorial Bridge.
In addition, Arlington National Cemetery will only be accessible from southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway or northbound Route 110.
Motorists should expect large numbers of motorcyclists in Northern Virginia and the entire Washington Metropolitan area this weekend.