The annual Blessed Bike Rally returned to Jack Kilby Square this past weekend, with bikers from Kansas and surrounding states attending.

Cross Winds of Kansas Bikers Church, located at 1219 Main in Great Bend, was the sponsor. Church founders Victor and Yvonne Link, who go by the road names Diesel and Sleepy, said the free event is an outreach of their Christian ministry.

“It’s about Jesus and spreading the love,” Diesel said.

Bikers started arriving on Friday for a hamburger and hotdog cookout. Barton Community College’s Performing Arts faculty volunteered to handle the cooking and serving Friday night. Jon and Erin Dannebohm organized their service.

Saturday was the big day, with motorcycle games, kids games and bounce houses, music and a watermelon feed, all free thanks to donations and sponsorships, Sleepy said. In the afternoon, pastors led the annual Blessing of the Bikes, a prayer for the motorcycles and those who ride them.

More than 600 people registered at the free sign-in table for door prizes. There were also more than 33 vendors in the courthouse square.

“It was a huge event for Great Bend,” she said.

Special guests included Fred Zariczny, also known as Pastor Z, who founded the Christian ministry Bikers For Christ in California in 1990. His band Full Throttle was the headliner entertainment. Another band, Free Smiles, was also part of the entertainment.

On Sunday morning, there was an outdoor church service at Jack Kilby Square, with more music by Full Throttle and Free Smiles.