Thunder Valley Rally returns to Cottonwood’s Riverfront Park on Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19, hosted by the city of Cottonwood’s Parks & Recreation Department and local sponsors.
Festivities include a bike show, local vendors, the Miss TVR contest at Main Stage bar and live music at Riverfront Park starting at 2 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The event has helped raise more than $116,000 for local charities over the past five years. In addition to rides through the region and attractions in Old Town Cottonwood, Cottonwood and Thunder Valley Rally prohibit camping at Riverfront Park, tailgating in parking lots, tents, weapons, coolers, outside food, outside alcohol and pets, though service animals are allowed. Only clear water bottles and camping chairs are permitted in the park. Large umbrellas, tents and pop-ups are prohibited in the concert area.
Thunder Valley Rally
■ Dates: Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19.
■ Hours: Music begins at 2 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday; rally starts at 4 p.m. both days.
■ Location: Riverfront Park, 1284 E. Sycamore St., Cottonwood.
■ Admission: Free admission Friday, $25 Saturday.
■ Contact: Visit thundervalleyrallyaz.com or call 639-3200.
Music Schedule at Riverfront Park
- Friday, Sept. 18 ■ Wade Buzzard: 2 to 3:15 p.m. ■ Dope Coyote: 3:45 to 6:15 p.m. ■ Well Dressed Wolves: 6:45 to 8 p.m. ■ Christopher Shayne: 8:30 to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 19 ■ Dope Coyote: 2 to 3:15 p.m. ■ Buffalo Star: 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. ■ Well Dressed Wolves: 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. ■ Trapt: 6:45 to 8 p.m. ■ Lit: 8:30 to 10 p.m.
Musical Acts
■ Wade Buzzard: A Cottonwood singer and songwriter.
■ Dope Coyote: A genre-bending metal band.
■ Well Dressed Wolves: Originally formed in 2004 as the Mods, Well Dressed Wolves is an alternative rock and neo-classic rock power trio featuring guitarist and vocalist Travis Eaton, bassist and vocalist Louis Occhiline and drummer and vocalist Gabriel Rhodes.
■ Christopher Shayne: Brings rock ’n’ roll with a Southern rock twist into the modern era, drawing on blues, country and classic rock. The lineup includes Shayne on vocals and guitar, lead guitarist Matt Wright, rhythm guitarist Tim Stetka, bassist Mark Blades and drummer Eric Bongiorno.
■ Buffalo Star: An original indie rock and Americana band based in Prescott, combining alt-country storytelling with wide-open guitars. The band features lead vocalist and guitarist Chad Calhoun, guitarist Chris Bennett, bassist Cole Lysons and drummer Harlan Mark Vale.
■ Trapt: Formed in Los Gatos, California. Since 2021, the lineup has consisted of vocalist and guitarist Chris Taylor Brown, bassist Pete Charell, guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein and drummer Mitch Moore. The group has released nine studio albums starting with self-titled “Trapt” in 2002 and most recently “Resurrection” this year.
■ Lit: Formed in the 1990s in Orange County, California. The band has released seven studio albums and is best known for its platinum-certified 1999 album “A Place in the Sun,” which featured the hit singles “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Zip-Lock” and “Miserable.” The band features bassist Kevin Baldes, lead vocalist A. Jay Popoff, guitarist Jeremy Popoff and drummer Taylor Carroll.
Miss TVR at Main Stage
The Miss TVR contest will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, at Main Stage, 1 S. Main St. in Cottonwood. Contestants must be at least 18 years old and arrive checked in by 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. competition. Contestants must also report to the Riverfront Park main stage by 8:30 p.m. for the title announcement, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. before the headlining act. An after-party will follow at 10:30 p.m. at Main Stage, which is restricted to ages 21 and older.
Contestants will be judged on a 1-to-10 scale across three categories: Hair, makeup and overall look; personality during an on-stage question; and a 30-to-60-second pose-off with a motorcycle or prop.
Prizes include a tiara, a sash and a trophy and $600 split among the top three winners.
Lodging is available at local hotels and area campgrounds, including Kickstand Campground, Dead Horse Ranch State Park and the Verde Ranch RV Resort.
Riverfront Park had a soft closure starting Monday, Sept. 14, to prepare the festival grounds. The softball fields will remain open and usable, but access to the parking lot and green space by the ramadas will be limited. The public can use the skate park, disc golf, skate rink, Cottonwood Kid’s Park and Garrison Park, which remain open. Riverfront Park will reopen on Sunday, Sept. 20, by noon.
For more details and tickets, visit thundervalleyrallyaz.com or call 928-639-3200.
