About 1,500 Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders are expected to descend on Surry County for three days of riding, games and family fun in August for the 2009 North Carolina State Harley Owners Group Rally (H.O.G.), and organizers are encouraging residents to sign up to participate before the registration deadline next week.

Sunday, Goobers at 458 N. Andy Griffith Pkwy. is hosting a preregistration party from 1 to 5 p.m. for people to register for the event and obtain membership into the organization. The registration deadline is July 2.

The event will feature live music by “Carolina Nights” from 1:30 to 5 p.m. behind Goobers at its backyard pavilion. There will also be beverage sales, and patrons are allowed to bring chairs, but no coolers are allowed.

Mount Airy was selected to host the 2009 North Carolina Harley Owners Group Rally (HOG) last year and Surry County’s other municipalities, Pilot Mountain, Elkin and Dobson, will be hosting additional events and festivities through the three-day stay Aug. 19-22.

HOG is a motorcycle group that was formed 25 years ago as a way for the Harley-Davidson Company to keep in touch with its customers. Each year, there are statewide rallies held typically from Thursday to Saturday.

So far, almost 1,000 people from about 20 states including Canada and England have registered for the event, said Jean Collins, who is a Harley rider and the local coordinator for the event.

“I am excited because the community is offering a lot of support, and I know they will make money off (the HOG Rally),” she said. “We want to make sure everyone in Mount Airy and Surry County has the opportunity to preregister to get the full benefit of the rally.”

Those who sign up for H.O.G. membership and register at the event will receive a $5 gift card from Goobers.

Registration assures the H.O.G. member will receive the custom printed T-shirt and Rally Pin when he or she picks up the rally package at the official 2009 N.C. State H.O.G. Rally at the Veterans Memorial Park. Registration is $30, which can be paid by cash or check.

Each national H.O.G. member may register one guest who is not a H.O.G. member for an additional registration fee of $30. Guests of H.O.G. members will not receive a T-shirt or pin.

“We’re getting real close to the 1,000 mark. Some surrounding states have seen attendance drop as low as two-thirds, other than Virginia which is up. I am proud of reaching almost a 1,000 and we still have a week to go,” Collins said. “I am really excited about it and pleased about the number.”

For more information, visit www.ncstatehogrally.com or call (704) 902-0307.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.