Rally in the Valley brings motorcycles, ministry

Motorcycles from across Tennessee are headed to Lynchburg for a four-day CMA gathering Sept. 17-20 at Wiseman Park

4:13 p.m. Sept. 10, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

The sound around Wiseman Park will be a little different next weekend as motorcycles from across Tennessee roll into Lynchburg Sept. 17-20 for the Christian Motorcyclists Association’s Rally in the Valley, a four-day gathering built around riding and Christian fellowship.

Wiseman Park will serve as rally headquarters, but the weekend will spill beyond the park. Riders will gather on the Square and head out for group rides. First Baptist Church will host part of the schedule, too. Non-CMA members can attend for free.

First stop: Prince’s Parlor

The rally gets moving Thursday afternoon with a 1 p.m. ride departing from Prince’s Parlor on the Square. By 5 p.m., the motorcycles will be back for Bike Night at the ice cream shop. There are worse ways to start a Tennessee motorcycle rally than with a ride through Moore County and an ice cream cone on the Square.

Friday gives riders most of the day to put some Middle Tennessee pavement behind them. Led rides and all-day rides will leave First Baptist Church around 9 a.m. The CMA goodies area opens at the church at 1 p.m., while registration runs from 3 to 6:45 p.m. at Moorehead Pavilion at Wiseman Park. An evening gathering begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday belongs to the park

Saturday gets an early start with a Run for the Son fundraiser breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by bike games at 8:30 a.m. in Wiseman Park.

Registration is open from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and the morning gathering begins at 10:30 a.m. The goodies area at First Baptist Church will also be open from 8 to 10:30 a.m., then reopen from 1 to 3 p.m.

Minibike races begin at 4 p.m., followed by another registration window from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The Run for the Son celebration begins at 6 p.m.

Saturday is also the easiest day for folks around Lynchburg to see what the rally is about, motorcycle or not. The bikes and games will be centered at Wiseman Park, where nonmembers are welcome.

A Sunday morning sendoff

The weekend winds down with morning worship at 8:30 a.m. Sunday before riders begin packing up and pointing their handlebars toward home.

Camping is available at Wiseman Park for $10 per night, including a 20-amp electrical hookup and water. Rally events will be spread between Wiseman Park, First Baptist Church, and Prince’s Parlor on the Square.

By Sunday morning, there ought to be plenty of road dust on the bikes and a few stories left to finish before everybody heads home. Lynchburg will be quieter again soon enough. For one September weekend, though, there will be a lot more chrome parked around town.