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What is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

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The Sturgis Motorcycle rally is one of the biggest and well known motorcycle rallies in the world.

It draws crowds from all over with attendance averaging around 500,000 people each year.

The rally features concerts, events, rides, races, stunts, manufacture events/shows, and more.

You can learn more about Sturgis at the rally website.

When is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held every year from the Friday before the first full week of August and ending the next Sunday.

Where is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

The rally takes place in Sturgis, South Dakota.

The rally makes up 95% of the cities annual revenue and brings about $800 million to the state of South Dakota each year.

The normal population of Sturgis, SD is about 7,000.

Where to Stay for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

There are a variety of places to stay for the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

The most popular and official place to stay for the rally is the Pappy Hoel Campground.

Other popular destinations nearby the city of Sturgis include Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, and Spearfish Canyon.

Brief History of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

The Sturgis Motorcycle rally was founded by Clarence “Pappy” Hoel and his motorcycle club, the Jackpine Gypsies in 1938.

The first rallies featured Indian Motorcycle riders, and have since expanded to include all sorts of bikes and styles of riding. Cruisers are definitely one of the most popular bikes at the rally.

The rally has been held every year aside from 1939 to 1941 during WWII gasoline rationing.

The rally had a record year during its 75th anniversary in 2015 with over 700,000 attendees.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally & COVID-19

The Sturgis Rally was still held during 2020 amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

About 250,000 people attended the 2020 Sturgis Rally, many of whom did not wear masks or practice social distancing as recommended by the CDC.

Following the rally, COVID-19 infections had spread to at least 8 states throughout the country as attendees returned home.