Westside Vineyard in Duluth hosted their annual bike and board blessing. Every year for the last 15 years, they have been doing motorcycle blessings, and then recently started incorporating our skateboarders.

They host these events to raise awareness and for the safety of motorcyclists and skateboarders in Duluth’s short summer. On top of that, they host these events to try and break some stigmas held against bikers and skaters according to one of Westside Vineyard’s pastors.

In the past few years, 100 to 200 people have shown up for the bike blessing. Every year on Memorial Weekend Sunday, the community gathers by the church. Aubrey Amborn, a pastor at the church, spoke on the importance of bringing the community together.

“A lot of times I would say bikers, skaters, they’re- I would say, a group of people that many times other people in society would kind of shun or think of as a nuisance,” she said. “And here’s the thing, bikers and skaters deserve just as much blessings and just as much love and acceptance as anyone else.”

This year, they were given donation support from RJ Sport and Cycle, Harley-Davidson Sports Center, Damage Skate Shop, and Duluth Tattoo. As Famous Daves offered to cater the event.