Contributed by Info Guru Lisa Pratto

To the uninitiated, a biker show, bike week or bike rally may seem like a scary, Hell’s Angels convention at best.

At worst, a town overrun by bikers. The truth is that it’s really just a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts from all walks of life – doctors, lawyers, receptionists, stay at home moms, construction workers – choosing to spend their vacation time on the back of a motorcycle with a bunch of friends they only get the chance to see once a year.

Call it what you want: a rally, bike fest, biker convention. Everyone has their own personal favorite, but here is a list of the top ten biker shows in the U.S.

10. Thunder in the Valley

This annual event in Johnstown, PA has been held every year since 1998 and keeps getting better and bigger. Held the last weekend in June, it topped over 200,000 bikers last year.

9. Love Ride

This one-day event in California brings out all the stars, from Jay Leno and Peter Fonda to the Tuttle family, to raise a lot of money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

8. Ohio Bike Week

The Love Ride may raise the most money for charity, but Ohio Bike Week wins for one of the longest of our top ten biker shows. It is billed as ten days of “Ridin’, Rockin’ and Racin’ along the shores of Lake Erie.”

7. Fantasy Fest

What can you expect from a motorcycle rally held in Key West right before Halloween? One. Big. Party. If you think big biker dudes in black leather are scary, you should see what a feather boa does for their look. It is Mardi Gras meets the Florida Keys meets motorcycle momma.

6. Ogemaw Hills Bike Week

My personal favorite. Each year, in July, thousands of bikers descend on the sleepy little town of West Branch, Michigan for three days of concerts, fireworks and races. Originally, a HOGS (Harley Owners Group) event, it is now open to any and all.

5. Laughlin River Run

This annual biker rally in Laughlin Nevada includes concerts, bike shows, a group ride and, of course, poker.

4. Bikes, Blues & BBQ

This new kid on the block from Arkansas is quickly gaining in popularity. Over 350,000 people have attended since its beginnings in 2000 and, like the name suggests, those people have enjoyed a lot of Blues music and some tasty BBQ.

3. Americade

Billed as six days of fun and the world’s longest touring motorcycle rally, this event takes riders through the Adirondack Mountains by day and entertains them with concerts and fireworks at night.

2. Daytona

Another ten-day event, Daytona Bike Week draws crowds to rival any spring break trip. The town is overrun with street festivals, custom bike shows, motorcycle races, classic bike shows, a clambake and a rally. Who needs sleep?

1. Sturgis

The epitome of a motorcycle rally, the Sturgis Rally has been calling bikers out to the plains of South Dakota since 1938. Believe it or not, over 500,000 people attend each year, including families with children.