In the early Saturday morning chill, the first annual Live Wire City Fest kicked off with the rumble of motorcycles parading down Lincoln Highway.

Live Wire, organized by Main Street DeKalb, is a festival to “celebrate the spark in downtown DeKalb.” The festival is part “kid fest, motorcycle show and art fest,” said Tom Goyke, a committee member of the motorcycle club Let-It-Ride.

Despite the 35-degree temperature, 30 to 40 bikers came to show off their chromed metal. Everything from stock Honda cruisers to ground-scraping choppers rode into town.

Little kids, taking a break from arts and crafts and moonwalking, ran between the motorcycles while biking aficionados judged each bike to decide Best in Show honors.

Sycamore resident Jack White won Best in Show, Best Write-in Entry, Best Oldest and took second place in the custom class. White’s bike celebrated the Chicago Cubs in color and with logos emblazoned across the bike.

“There has been a warm response from the community. We definitely will build from here,” said Jennifer Groce, executive director of Main Street DeKalb.

Artists brought their pottery, paintings, sketches, glass and photography for Artz Fest and sold their work at roadside displays.

“We wanted to show what DeKalb is made of. There is a lot of talent in this town,” said Dan Grick, owner of the DeKalb Gallery, 161 E. Lincoln Highway.

Unlike the more regional Corn Fest, only local residents were permitted to display their art. Groce said that Live Wire is the first “truly DeKalb-dedicated fest.”

A motorcycle show was held as a tribute to the van Buren sisters’ transcontinental ride, Groce said. During their 1916 journey, they traveled Lincoln Highway, which ran through DeKalb on its coast-to-coast route.

Goyke said there should be more bikers as the years go on and awareness grows.

Groce said she was excited that Let-It-Ride and the artists were offering suggestions for next year – an indication that people were looking forward just as she was.

DeKalb High School will incorporate a project that is Live Wire-themed into their art curriculum and Grick said he hopes to have an antique-car show next year.

Goyke said he hopes to bring in more motorcyclist chapters to have a stronger showing from all the major manufacturers.

Live Wire is DeKalb’s first block party-style festival and replaces Baron DeKalb Day, a day that celebrated the city’s namesake.