Motorcycle riders and music fans from across the Gulf Coast are gearing up for the annual Angel Ride, a three-day charity festival that raises money for families facing unexpected medical costs for their children. The event runs Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 at Oak Hollow Farm on South Greeno Road in Fairhope.
The Angel Ride serves as the primary fundraiser for the Rileigh and Rayleigh Foundation, an organization built around helping local families cope with the financial strain of a child’s serious health crisis. Since the foundation was founded, it has provided assistance to more than 850 applicants, and organizers say the ride has grown substantially in size and scope each year since it began.
This year’s festival opens Thursday night with a free Kickstart Party featuring the old-school country sound of Gretsch Lyles and the Modern Eldorados, giving early arrivals a chance to settle in before the weekend’s full lineup gets underway.
Friday’s schedule spans musical eras, starting with a Big Band-style set from Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters before shifting gears into rock with a performance from Fly By Radio.
Saturday brings the festival’s biggest night of music. Departure will open with a tribute to the classic rock band Journey, followed by the Tayo Reed Band running through a mix of crowd-pleasing favorites spanning several decades. Headlining the weekend is Black Jack Billy, an up-and-coming indie country act that built a following behind its debut single, “The Booze Cruise,” and its self-described brand of “Redneck Rock.”
Beyond the music, the Angel Ride draws a strong turnout of motorcycle riders who use the event as an annual gathering point, combining a scenic ride through Baldwin County with a weekend of live entertainment for a cause. Organizers say the festival’s continued growth reflects the community’s support for the foundation’s mission of helping local children and their families.
Tickets are $25 and available at Oak Hollow Farm or through the Angel Ride website. Oak Hollow Farm is located at 14210 S. Greeno Rd. in Fairhope.