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17th annual Leesburg Bike Fest kicks off

LEESBURG, Fla. — Visitors flooded into Leesburg Friday for the 17th annual bike fest.

A quarter-of-a-million visitors are expected over the next few days, which town officials said is 10 times the city's population.

Bikers rode into the main event areas, which are along Main Street in the core of downtown.

The Leesburg Bike Fest is the largest event in Lake County, and has a big financial impact. Local hotels are full, and restaurants are expected to make large profits.

The festival is considered a more family-friendly event than Daytona's Bike Week, which it is often compared to.

Concerts are part of the main draw. Organizers said there is every type of music, and something for everyone.

Security is a top priority, said organizers. The entire Leesburg police force is on duty through Sunday, and the Lake County Sheriff's Office has kicked in 15 deputies, primarily on DUI patrol.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Transportation issued a traffic alert because of major construction on US-441, just north of the city.