Ken Cardwell takes a photo of one of the many custom bikes on display at a previous Big Bike Weekend.

Seattle Cossacks Stunt and Drill Team members performs part of their routine on Misletoe Lane on Saturday during a previous Big Bike Weekend.

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Big Bike Weekend, which rumbles into town on Friday at the Redding Convention Center, is a rollicking tribute to all things two-wheeled.

But people more associated with four wheels - or two feet- are just as welcome to join in on the fun.

"Even if they don't like motorcycles or own one, they might find something entertaining," said Doug Carney, a Redding police detective (and former motor officer) who has been involved with the weekend since its inception in 2000.

General admission to the event is $5 for Friday or Saturday, or $8 for both days. For details and a complete schedule of events, call 245-7185 or visit www.bigbikeweekend.com.

Make no mistake, though, the weekend is about bikes. Big ones like Harley-Davidsons, little ones like scooters and everything in between. It's also about family-friendly fun, showing off the north state's scenic attractions and filling a few hotel rooms.

The family aspect is especially important to organizers, according to Connie Grinols, chair of the nonprofit Big Bike Weekend board of directors. "In the early days, it was geared for motorcycles, but now we've added a lot of youth activities. Parents with kids 12 and under can go to the jump house, there are bicycle contests, a best-decorated cruiser contest and a scavenger hunt."

"It isn't one of those events where you wouldn't want your children to attend," said Dan Baizer, a Big Bike Weekend regular who has been riding motorcycles for 50 years. "There are no wet T-shirt contests, no loud pipes, no burnouts. It makes it a lot more fun for people not to deal with the wilder side of some motorcycle events."

As a motorcycle event, Baizer said Big Bike Weekend offers a lot of bang for the buck. "If you go to any rally, you pay the same but you get about a fourth of much to do." Plus, the weekend is a great chance for local riders to show off their home turf. "We're blessed with so many natural beauties and the poker runs take you through many of the local attractions. It's all within the speed limit, very low-key and enjoyable-especially for people from out of town."

There is still time to register, at a cost of $30 that includes a T-shirt, official event ride pin, entry to all events, including motorcycle classroom instruction, and secure parking in the Convention Center lot. Call 222-8025 or visit www.bigbikeweekend.com for details.

Registered participants also are eligible for a $5 discount on tickets to Saturday night's concert by Eddie ("Two Tickets to Paradise") Money and The Fabulous ("Tuff Enuf") Thunderbirds at Big League Dreams' Fenway Park field. Gates open at 6 and the music starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are priced from $29 to $49 and are available at the Redding Convention Center box office, by calling 225-4130 or visiting reddingconventioncenter.com.

Live music is also featured at Big Bike Weekend, with the Southern California-based Oozie Blues performing at Friday's VIP party and again Saturday afternoon on the outdoor stage at the Redding Convention Center.

Motorcycle fans can expect plenty of thrills as daredevil rider Jason Pullen performs wheelies and other extraordinary stunts on a full-sized Harley and Redding-based HiRiSe FMX will put on a freestyle motocross show that features 80-foot jumps and acrobatics 35 feet in the air, including the "kiss of death" and the show-stopping backflip.

Of special note, the Oakland Police Drill Team will make its final public performances on Friday and Saturday. Returning to Big Bike Weekend after a two-year absence, the now-disbanded drill team has selected Redding for its final performances. The 20-member team will perform on Harley-Davidson Police Road Kings, the same bikes they ride during regular duty.

"It's a good event, and you don't even have to have a motorcycle to enjoy it," said Steve Mix, head of the Redding chapter of the Harley Owners Group. "It's not huge, it's very friendly and it's very spectator friendly. The Jason Pullen stunts are unbelievable, and he's doing those stunts on a 600-pound Harley. It's quite a feat."

Big Bike Weekend was established by Redding residents Howard Stubblefield and Dick Mattioli, a pair of motorcycle enthusiasts who also are heavily involved with the hugely successful Kool April Nites car show.

After visiting huge motorcycle shows like Street Vibrations in Reno, Nev., Stubblefield said the pair figured Redding could also benefit from a well-organized event that brings well-heeled visitors to town and steers away from the outlaw element associated with other biker rallies.

Now registered as a non-profit organization, Big Bike Weekend has distributed more than $9,000 in grants to local groups and has established the Big Bike Weekend Community Fund that's administered by the Shasta Regional Community Foundation.

Proceeds from Sunday's chili cook-off, sponsored by the Redding H.O.G. chapter, also benefit the Shasta County Special Olympics and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Jon Lewis is a freelance writer who lives in Redding.