The Complete Sturgis Rally Guide: Everything You Need To Know About The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Love There’s nothing in the world like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Our rides, concerts, and events are as notorious as they are famous. You’ve heard stories of horned men, buffalo hide bikes, and bartenders on stilts pouring drinks down people’s throats. You’ve seen iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally celebrations on T.V.: Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and every news channel known to man. Maybe you’ve been to the Sturgis Rally and ridden past Mount Rushmore, through the Needle’s Eye, or scraped pegs on the 360-degree Pigtail Bridge turns. You want to experience the Sturgis Rally, and you should. It’s easy to imagine yourself riding down Main Street, hitting the 84 curves on Iron Mountain Rd through the Black Hills, or drinking a cold one, center stage, at the best concert of your life. But what else should you know about the Sturgis Rally? Anyone who comes to the Sturgis Rally knows there is no shortage of things to do. In fact, it’s impossible to do All The Things, even if you tried. To ensure you don’t waste your time at the wrong events during this year’s Rally, you need the inside scoop, a trusted Sturgis Rally Guide of must-dos, and you need it now to plan for the Sturgis Rally. Do all the things you truly want to do. What Is The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally? If you made it this far in your search, you likely know the Sturgis Rally is an 84-year old gathering of like-minded individuals who share a love for motorcycling and the freedom of the road. The Sturgis Rally started as a race between a few friends. Since then, it has become a ten-day bike rally with rides, bike shows, and concerts unlike anywhere else in the world. The Sturgis Rally is known for some of the best motorcycle riding in the world, unique concert settings, and crazy events that create smiles from ear to ear. But Sturgis is more than just a series of events. It’s the feeling of outrunning a storm through the Black Hills, enjoying a “we’re not gonna take it” moment at a Buffalo Chip Twisted Sister concert, and gawking at eye-catching hand-built bikes. The Rally is a state of being. It’s the wind and sun on your face as you ride past Mount Rushmore. It is a laugh with lifelong friends. It is a memory you’ll cherish forever. When Is The 2024 Sturgis Rally? The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally starts on the first Friday of August every year. The 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is August 1 through 11, 2024. The Sturgis Rally Pre-Party starts on August 1, 2024, at the Buffalo Chip. Where Is The Sturgis Bike Rally? The Sturgis Rally takes place in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Multiple promoters organize and promote the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Lamphere Ranch, Full Throttle Saloon, Glencoe Campresort, Black Hills Harley-Davidson, and the City of Sturgis, to name a few. Who Owns The Sturgis Rally? NOBODY OWNS THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY. Since day 1, the Sturgis Rally has been by bikers for bikers. Not by the city government, for bikers. In 2018, the Eighth Circuit Court made that fact clear when they ruled that 100s of private entities have organized the Sturgis Rally over the years. “We agree and hold that the jury could not infer from the onerous planning that the City undertakes to provide infrastructure for the Rally that the City was the organizer or sponsor of the Rally. To allow such an inference would be tantamount to saying that it would be reasonable to infer that the City of New York organizes the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly because of everything it does to assist their occurrence.” The court went on to say that an organization cannot establish ownership “simply by getting its officials and agents to say that it is.” Corporate sponsors paid millions of dollars to the City of Sturgis for the right to use false trademarks over the years. Will sponsors who paid for licensing to use those false trademarks want their money back? Read the articles explaining the historic ruling here: https://dev.sturgis.com/sturgismotorcyclerally/news/will-the-sturgis-motorcycle-rally-be-canceled-sturgis-rally-is-on-say-businesses-even-if-city-opts-out https://dev.sturgis.com/blog/sturgis-rally-trademark-officially-struck-down When Did The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Start? A local racing club called the Jackpine Gypsies started the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 1938. The Jackpine Gypsies Club was founded in 1936 by local Indian dealer Clarence “Pappy” Hoel, who later started the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as a series of races and stunts. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally originally began as a two-day event called the “Black Hills Motor Classic.” The Jackpine Gypsies continue to host races annually outside of the Sturgis City Limits in Meade County. In 2020, the City of Sturgis attempted an unsuccessful hostile annexation of the Jackpine Gypsies’ property. The Jackpine Gypsies successfully petitioned to bring the forced annexation attempt to vote and won. Should I Register For The Sturgis Rally Or Just Show Up? Have you ever shown up to a destination wishing someone was there to tell you about all the best things to see and do? Sure you have! Discovering the best that the Sturgis Rally has to offer can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can begin your Sturgis Rally adventure by connecting with a friendly face, picking up a Welcome Packet, and free Sturgis Rally Ride Pin and Patch at the Sturgis Rally Information Center™! Sometimes all you need to help make your trip frustration-free is the opportunity to ask someone for a recommendation on what to do and see. Check out the Sturgis.com Official Sturgis Rally Registration. You’ll be glad you did. Where To Stay In Sturgis During The Motorcycle Rally? Where you should stay during the Sturgis Rally depends on you. If you want the traditional authentic Sturgis Rally experience, the best place to stay during the Sturgis Rally would be at a campground like the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. The Buffalo Chip is the original “by bikers for bikers” campground. It opened when the City of Sturgis kicked bikers out of town and is the original
