The city of Johnstown is bracing for a deluge of 200,000 people next week when Thunder in the Valley, an annual motorcycle rally, comes to town.

The event will run from Thursday through Sunday, and will feature live music, food, an official bike parade and a plethora of motorcycle related events, including a "biker baby" contest for parents eager to deck their little tykes in leather.

The state police will work with the Johnstown police on crowd control.

"This is the 11th year for it, so we're ready," said Johnstown Police Chief Craig Foust.

He said the police will maintain an active presence to deter disorderly behavior, as well as keep an eye out for public intoxication.

"It's a noisy event, it's a crowded event," said Chief Foust. "There's a lot of beer consumed, but it's pretty much under control."

City officials said Thunder in the Valley has been safe and family-friendly in past years.

"We've been very fortunate," said Assistant City Manager Bruce Haselrig. "We've had nothing significant happen."

"When you have that many people together, you always have a couple of minor incidents," said Chief Foust, citing the tendency of motorcyclists to try "burnouts" -- revving the wheels of a stationary vehicle to create smoke -- on the street. "We keep an eye on that."

Thunder in the Valley, which brought 190,000 motorcyclists and visitors to Johnstown last year and is expected to continue to grow, is a major economic engine for the area.

"Obviously it means a lot for the city in terms of finances," said Mr. Haselrig.

"Bikers are known to spend more money than the average leisure traveler," said Lisa Rager, executive director of the Johnstown Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Ms. Rager added that many people at Thunder in the Valley are not bikers, and the city encourages others to attend the festival as well.

"People come to just watch the bikes," said Mr. Haselrig.

The massive influx of bodies means that area accommodations will be overflowing. Visitors to the rally check into hotels and motels across the region, said Ms. Rager, while others stay with family friends or camp in back yards.

The visitors bureau, with a staff of just five people, will begin preparing for next year's Thunder in the Valley almost as soon as this year's ends.