Staff Reports
The Jefferson Tourism Board approved funding to assist Don and Francene Rainey’s newest event, the Historic Jefferson Piney Woods Dual Sport Adventure Ride, set for November 1-3.
Dual Sport riders are motorcyclists who have bikes outfitted for both off-road and street-legal riding.
“Dual sport is a hybrid bike you can ride on some paved roads and some dirt roads,” Rainey said. “The people we’re partnering with will ride our back roads and develop a short ride of 50-60 miles, and a long ride of 10-150 miles. We’ve put together a 3-day program for this so people can spend Friday and Saturday nights in town.”
Rainey said the event will include meet and greets, fireworks show, bike show in downtown, as well as two-days of rides.
Rainey is working with dual sport groups across Texas to bring riders to Jefferson.
The Board approvde providing $1,000 of new event funds, as well as working to do a motorcycle events themed ad in Ride Texas magazine for this fall. They also approved looking at adding regular advertising in Ride Texas for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
In other business, Board president Colleen Taylor said the City has received 60% of it’s budgeted income and spent 62% of the budget so far this year.
Taylor also indicated one airbnb, Ga La Chateaux, is closing this month.
The Board is also working on updating their ads with North East Texas Tourism Council and is looking for photos of Jefferson for use. They are also planning to update the television commercial currently airing on KTAL channel 6.
Taylor also reminded local businesses to be planning on Christmas decorations with the goal of having the city decorated by November 12 for the Christmas Show filming.