How Many People Attended the 85th 2025 Sturgis Rally?
LoveThe 2025 85th Anniversary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Attendance Was Up over 14%. Now that the books have officially closed on another incredible rally, everyone is asking the same question – How big was the 85th Sturgis Rally in 2025? This year’s attendance was up significantly from 2024. In fact, 2025 drew in the largest number of visitors in the last 5 years! Read on to see how the numbers break down. What was the Sturgis Rally Attendance in 2025? SD Department of Transportation reported traffic counts of 537,459. The DOT reported the 2024 Sturgis Rally attendance of 537,459 was up 14% from 2024. According to the official traffic numbers released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the 85th Rally in 2025 was significantly bigger than the 84th in 2024, with 470,987 vehicles. The South Dakota Department Of Transportation gathers these numbers from road tube counters placed at nine locations around the Sturgis region. One vehicle is counted for every two axles that hit the counter on their way into town. The full DOT report on the Sturgis Rally can be found on the DOT Website. The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety reports that DUI arrests, misdemeanor drug arrests, felony drug arrests, and non-injury accidents were all down. Citations, warnings, injury crashes, and fatalities were all slightly up from 2024. See more rally statistics from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally taxes were up 13% According to the South Dakota Department of Revenue, tax collections at the 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are currently at $1,581,736, up 13% from 2024’s $1.3 million. 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Dates When is the 86th Sturgis Rally? The 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for Aug. 7-16, 2026. Get a jumpstart on 2026 by registering for the rally and receiving your free welcome packet at Sturgis.com/registration. Love
Bad Ideas Gone Good (AKA Terrible Ideas That “Worked Out”)
LoveEveryone has a story about a “good idea” that didn’t turn out so “good.” One that, against your will, stole back the word from any future story you’ll tell and replaced it with “The Worst” idea ever. You know the ones… A lower back tatt of Nancy Reagan that looks more like Mick Jagger. A one-buck fixer-upper you picked up and never fixed up. Your third marriage. (Why stop there?) Unfortunately, bad ideas are the stories we hear and tell most often. For one, they’re easy to remember. And they’re easy to tell because… who doesn’t love a long hug from a friend while you cry on their shoulder, a “You poor thing” whispered in your ear, or a giggle about how big they made Nancy’s mouth. It’s how we bond. In adult language, we call these bad ideas “learning lessons.” If you get to poking around and asking questions about learning lessons at the Sturgis Rally, Carol Woodruff of the Legendary Buffalo Chip will put it to you bluntly, “We’ve had a lot of them.” But what about the decisions we think will be bad that surprisingly turn out to be good? Those are talked about less often. But you know what? They make fun stories, too. So, I did a little asking. What I found worth revealing is… 5 Bad Ideas Someone at the Buffalo Chip Did Anyway. Bad Idea #5 – Pee-wee Herman Leading the Legends Ride® and Ziplining onto the Main Stage to do the Tequila Dance with a Couple Dozen Bikini Models. There was no question about it: Pee-wee Herman doing Sturgis was an unpopular idea. “Weird” is more like it, thought Carol Woodruff, wife to the man, Rod Woodruff, who thought otherwise. “Pee Wee didn’t seem like the kind of person the biker crowd would appreciate.” Everyone had an opinion. The populist opinion was…Rod Woodruff had cotton between his ears. But what came of it? A magical experience you can watch by Googling Funny or Die Pee-Wee Goes to Sturgis. In that video, Pee-wee leads (and gets passed by) a pack of motorcycles on his classic pedal bike, screams “Ouch” as he gets loving bear hugs from bikers, tells a war story about a paper cut with lemon juice in it, ziplines onto the main stage to Tequila Dance with a couple dozen Bikini Models before ZZ Top, and rides two up on the back of actor Lorenzo Lamas’ motorcycle. The experience also appeared on every major national news network, many magazines, and even entertainment TV, including The Tonight Show. “It worked out,” concludes Carol. Bad Idea #4 – Robbie Knievel’s Jump Through the Main Stage This conversation starts with, “There wasn’t enough room to land.” According to Toni Woodruff, “That seemed like a really bad idea.” Especially as she was asked to help stack hay bales at the end of his run to help stop him from running into the Front of House building. What made it worse was that there couldn’t be a landing ramp, and the stage lighting for Styx had already been hung. This meant he would have to clear the stage, not clip his head on the lighting trusses, and land to FLAT GROUND. Rod said it “would work out”. Robbie said, “I’ve landed in difficult situations before.” But that was before his logistics team had gotten there and said, “This won’t work.” Robbie did it anyway. He cleared the stage, hit the ground, didn’t have enough room to stop, crashed into the hay bales, and broke three of his ribs. The Travel Channel was there to capture it for an episode about the Chip that became the most-watched documentary in the Travel Channel’s history. This lousy idea also “worked out.” Bad Idea #3 – Crashing Head-On into a Wall of Beer Cans at 33 MPH on a Motorcycle This pain was self-inflicted. When I first thought about smashing head-on through a Beer Wall at Camp Zero, I knew it had the propensity to turn out bad. (Don’t tell my mom.) For one, it had never been done, which meant there were several unknowns: Can we stack 1,200 cans? How much will it hurt? Should I build a ramming plate? I soon discovered my answers. Answer #1. If people helped hold up the wall until just before impact and we taped the six-packs together, we could stack roughly 200 six-packs of beer together. Answer #2. The impact force was enough to bend the frame and shove the front wheel back into the fork. That is enough force to break your head and neck if you’re not properly tucked. So, it hurts a little. Answer #3. Only a Class A Dummy would forgo a ramming plate. With the help of threaded pipe, hose clamps, plywood, and a few dozen screws to puncture the cans as I screamed through, “Unsung Zero” was born. The wall smash became popular enough that ESPN 8 – The Ocho asked us to do it again for an article about weird sports. Later, Monster Energy sponsored the wall. It worked out. Bad Idea #2 – The Air Sex World Championships and Mankini Contests “Some people thought the Air Sex Championships was a dumb idea,” Showcase Stage Director Mary Panerio answered without pause. Following up with the reminder that I had “hated the idea of the Mankini Contest so much that we didn’t even put it on the schedule the first year.” “That first year, we held Air Sex at the free public access area called the Crossroads and couldn’t get anyone to participate.” The comedians who hosted the event begged people every day and then just ended up doing their own Air Sex performance instead, humping the air like it was with their invisible partner. “It was mildly uncomfortable.” Especially during the charity ride receptions. ☺ Down at the Bikini Beach Stage, it finally became a hit. “That and the Mankini Contests are now our most popular events down there,” Mary continues. The
2024 Sturgis Rally Attendance – How Big Was The 2024 Sturgis Rally?
LoveNow that the books have officially closed on another incredible Sturgis Rally, everyone is asking the same question – How big was the 84th Sturgis Rally in 2024? This year’s 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendance was up slightly from 2023. Read on to see how the numbers break down. What was the Sturgis Rally Attendance in 2024? SD Department of Transportation reported traffic counts of 470,987. The DOT Reported the 2024 Sturgis Rally Attendance of 470,987. According to the official traffic numbers released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the 84th Rally in 2024 was slightly bigger than the 458,161 vehicles during the 2023 Sturgis Rally. The 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Attendance Was Up 2.7%. The South Dakota Department Of Transportation gathers these numbers from road tube counters placed at nine locations around the Sturgis region. One vehicle is counted for every two axles that hit the counter on their way into town. The full DOT report on the Sturgis Rally can be found on the DOT Website. The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety reports that DUI arrests, citations, warnings, non-injury crashes, and injury crashes, were all down regionally. Misdemeanor drug arrests, felony drug arrests, and fatalities were all up regionally. See more rally statistics from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally taxes were down 3%. According to the South Dakota Department of Revenue, tax collections at the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are currently at $1,399,501, down 3% from 2023. 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Dates When is the much anticipated 85th Sturgis Rally? The 2025 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for Aug. 1-10, 2025. Get a jumpstart on 2025 by registering for the rally and receiving your free welcome packet at Sturgis.com/registration. Love
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
2023 Sturgis Rally Attendance – How Big Was The 2023 Sturgis Rally?
LoveThe 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Attendance Was Down 8.1%. Now that the books have officially closed on another incredible Sturgis Rally, everyone is asking the same question – How big was the 83rd Sturgis Rally in 2023? This year’s 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendance was down from 2022. Read on to see how the numbers break down. What was the Sturgis Rally Attendance in 2023? SD Department of Transportation reported traffic counts of 458,161. The DOT Reported the 2023 Sturgis Rally Attendance of 458,161 Was Down 8.1% from 2022 According to the official traffic numbers released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the 83rd Rally in 2023 was not nearly as big as 82nd in 2022, with 497,835 vehicles. The South Dakota Department Of Transportation gathers these numbers from road tube counters placed at nine locations around the Sturgis region. One vehicle is counted for every two axles that hit the counter on their way into town. The full DOT report on the Sturgis Rally can be found on the DOT Website. The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety reports that DUI arrests, citations, warnings, non-injury crashes, and injury crashest, were all down. Misdemeanor drug arrests, felony drug arrests, and fatalities were all up. See more rally statistics from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally taxes were down 6%. According to the South Dakota Department of Revenue, tax collections at the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are currently at $1,446526, down 6% from 2022. 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Dates When is the 84th Sturgis Rally? The 2024 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for Aug. 2-11, 2024. Get a jumpstart on 2024 by registering for the rally and receiving your free welcome packet at Sturgis.com/registration. Love
A Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party That Speaks Only the Language of “Hell Yeah,” Screams, “Give it to Me, Baby,” and Inspires Your Legs to Move of Their Own Accord – Officially.
LoveEighty-three years ago, a man named Pappy knew that to throw a proper party you had to set the right mood. If he were advising on first dates, that might include a flower on the seat, a bottle of wine on moonlit haystacks and her arms wrapped around you when you…ride home. But Pappy wasn’t there to stare deep into your eyes and make babies. Instead, he was about to launch the world’s largest motorcycle rally – a party he knew would require high energy, entertainment, and, let’s not forget, smiling faces. There’s more to the formula you don’t know. First, let’s be honest. When someone invites you to an event, you ask yourself, “Is that worth submitting a vacation request, packing gear, and pushing myself up off this couch?” “Does it make my spirit say, ‘Hell yeahs,’ my heart scream, ‘Give it to me, baby,’ and my legs move in that direction by themselves?” The reality is that to commit to spicing up your life, it needs to satisfy a deep curiosity, be part of something authentic, and make you feel more alive. Getting out the door shouldn’t be that hard, but sometimes it is. That’s why, on the very first kickoff of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, WHAT DID PAPPY HOEL DO? He smashed through a wall of fire! (SURPRISE!) He threw a picnic. (FREE FOOD, GUYS!!!) He had friends lock handlebars while going fast around corners on motorcycles. (WHO KNEW IT’D BE SO MUCH FUN?) Saying it without saying it, Pappy said, WE AREN’T HERE ONLY TO RACE. WE’RE HERE TO LET LOOSE, ENTERTAIN EACH OTHER, SLAP BACKS, AND SMILE. At that original festivity, you bet that more than one person experienced their first “Holy S***!” moment and talked about it with their friends after. Although we find comfort in the known, predictable and commonplace, it’s the unusual, random, and surprising that cements a place in our memories, flavors our stories and impacts our lives, sometimes even changing them. The Legendary Buffalo Chip understands this when planning its Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party. They know you don’t come to read “The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” in your tent; you do that at home between monotonous, on-repeat workdays. Repeat doesn’t belong at a good party. Each smile should feel fresher than the last. Otherwise, you’re not at the Best Party Anywhere. Ironically, one thing people will repeat is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Not because of an addiction to Jager Bombs, deepening connections with friends, and smiles that grow into laughs that hurt. Well yeah, that. But also, because even the 10th time you visit, there is a new takeaway, friend, and smile to find. You can fall in love, lust, and get married at the rally. You can come for decades, make more friends than you have back home, and request that your friends spread your ashes there. I received an email the other day that read, “My husband recently passed away. He rode to Sturgis starting in 1961 and rode there for his last ride in 2022. He attended 61 years consecutively. Everyone thought he must have been a badass. No, he was just a biker obsessed with Sturgis.” The rally touches you in unusual, random and unexpected ways. Every year is different, exciting, and new, which is why we celebrate life at Sturgis. You might not be surprised to find there’s still a strong tradition of smashing through walls to kick off the party. This time, however, the smashing comes with a twist. In the spirit of Pappy, the founder of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Joe Mielke and I will smash through a wall of 1,440 cans of beer, not fire, with homemade battering rams mounted to the front of our bikes to welcome in the Buffalo Chip’s Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party. Why beer? Because a wall of fire seems so, you know, 1938. And we’d like to open some refreshments for you. To add spice to the excitement, Jason Lightner and his entourage will follow through the spurting wreckage in a motorized couch, two-wheeled Sea-Doo, boat, mini bikes, other mechanical creations, and a street roller to finish the job. But the Beer Wall Smash is only a tiny part of the fun that will get you off the couch and kickstart the rally with a bash. This year, join a parade of motorcyclists into The Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling’s amphitheater for the “grandest first day in Sturgis Rally history.” The party begins at the Big Engine Bar with the Support Bikers Moto Meetup. Then, line up and parade into the amphitheater. The Buffalo Chip Bikini Models will take the stage with their “Everything But Clothes!” Homemade Bikini Contest. Next, the Hot Hunks will face off against the gals, show off their homemade mankinis, and keep the smiles coming. We’ll also get serious and recognize that all this fun is a freedom we don’t take for granted with the Star-Spangled Banner and, with the help of your throttle hand, a thunderous roar at the front of the stage to power up The Best Party Anywhere and welcome in ZZ TOP at the no. 1 Sturgis Rally destination—the Sturgis Buffalo Chip!! If this all seems a bit unusual, the kickoff is meant to remind us why we left the confines of our boring jobs, help us escape the scrutiny and stresses of everyday life, and set the tone for the next nine days of music, motorcycles, freedom and friends. It might even set the tone for your future. If that rings true to you, here’s what you should do. Get out the door. Leave your work and routine behind. Add unusual, random, surprising excitement to your life, and join the Not So Unusual – Officially Part of a Long Tradition – Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party at the Legendary Buffalo Chip. That’s the rest of the formula for an unprecedented-level good time. Now, stop reading and go have a blast! Your spirit, heart, and legs are already taking you there. Love
3 Reasons You Must Attend the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
LoveA good adventure is one that doesn’t leave you feeling the same-ole-same-ole, adds excitement to your life, and truly gives you a new story to tell. You may have had one or two that changed your life. And you’ve talked about them non-stop since – the pleasant surprise you had when you discovered that sign at the top of the pass that said “Curves Next 80 Miles,” the sudden hail storm that forced you into a stranger’s driveway who invited you in for coffee and a chat, and later, the tequila, the Aerosmith concert where the singer fell off the stage, and waking up in the wrong tent. Whoops. The truth is that good adventures are few and far between. That’s why when an opportunity threatens to hit you in the face like a flying brick, you should take a moment to see where it’s coming from. In this instance, that proverbial brick heading your way is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, specifically the Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip. If you have yet to pay attention, you may have missed their promise to womp you good, pump you up with some excitement and get your adventure fix in 2023 with a triple dose of never-to-be-repeated experiences. From death-defying stunts to legendary rock performances and an unforgettable kickoff party, you’ll genuinely do once-in-a-lifetime so many times in one visit that you’ll need a bandage and extra padding to protect your chin from all the times your jaw drops clear to the ground. If all goes according to plan, you should leave the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a perma smile stretched across your face and a jaw ready to rattle off a slew of stories that can’t be one-upped. This blog will tell you straight up why you must attend the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular Unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed, Thursday, Aug. 10, will be an adrenaline-pumping spectacle when Blake Wallenda, a fearless highwire artist, will attempt “The Death Wire Walk” over the Sturgis Buffalo Chip amphitheater. As he braves the treacherous heights, daredevil Kyle Ives will attempt a motorcycle jump over Blake. This act will test their limits and leave you holding your breath. It’s easy to imagine what it will be like if they fail. But imagine how thrilling the excitement will be should they succeed. The significance of this death-defying feat cannot be overstated. Even iconic daredevils Evel Knievel and Karl Wallenda never dared to attempt it. The Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular will also feature ramp-to-ramp jumps by Shawn Ives, Sherco Trials Stunts, and other captivating activities that will leave you in awe. Def Leppard at The Best Party Anywhere® On Thursday, Aug. 10, legendary multi-platinum band Def Leppard hits the Sturgis Music and Motorcycle Festival stage for only the second time in history. Motorcycle enthusiasts and music lovers who’ve had the chance to experience it can agree that the Buffalo Chip’s reputation as The Best Party Anywhere® is well-deserved. The energy and excitement of the happy, smiling faces create a pulsating atmosphere and unforgettable memories. The Buffalo Chip Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party The festivities kick off with a bang at the Sturgis Rally’s Official Kickoff Party and Parade. The first official activity starts at the Buffalo Chip’s Big Engine Bar with the Support Bikers Moto Meetup at 4 pm. The parade lineup begins at 5 pm. At 6:00 pm, hundreds of riders will ride the mile to the amphitheater, where ZZ Top will perform later that night. Once inside the Buffalo Chip amphitheater, the party continues with a Beer Wall Smash, an exhilarating Star-Spangled Banner performance, and live entertainment from the winner of the Sturgis Battle of the Bands. The climax of the evening will come with the iconic rock band ZZ Top. And if that wasn’t enough, the International Bikini Team will add a touch of glamour parading around the stage. The Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party sets the tone for an unforgettable Sturgis Motorcycle Rally experience. It brings together the essence of camaraderie, patriotism, and high-octane entertainment that defines the rally. The down and dirty of it is that when you feel the music, revelry, and electric atmosphere, you’ll understand why the Sturgis Rally is renowned worldwide as the ultimate gathering for motorcycle enthusiasts. There’s no other way to slice it. The 2023 Sturgis Rally will be an extraordinary adventure at the Buffalo Chip. The original destination that brought music and motorcycles together has become synonymous with the excitement, freedom, and true spirit of the Sturgis Rally. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a music enthusiast, or simply seeking an experience that will leave an indelible mark on your life, 2023 presents the answer to each. August 4, 2023, marks a spot on the calendar for an incredible journey to the heart of motorcycle culture. There, courageous daredevils will push the limits of possibility and make history. Timeless melodies and electrifying energy of rock legends will thread people together in a way that only music and authentic human connection can. A celebration with fellow bikers united in a passion for freedom, friends, and the open road awaits for you to step out your front door, lay a leg over your ride, and lean into the adventure. 2023 offers an unforgettable chapter in the rally’s storied history. From the death-defying Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular, featuring Blake Wallenda and Kyle Ives, to the iconic rock performance by Def Leppard, and the unforgettable Buffalo Chip Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party, three once-in-a-lifetime experiences threaten you with a good time you cannot miss. If you want to join the adventure of a lifetime, go to sturgis.com for more information! Love
Boy’s Rally Lemonade Stand Raises Over $32,000 for Charity
Love In 2019, Wyatt Dennis sat on the porch of a house his parents were thinking about purchasing when an idea was born. It happened to be in the middle of the Sturgis Rally, and Wyatt told his parents that if they purchased the house, he’d want to do a lemonade stand the following Rally. When 2020 rolled around, the house was theirs, Wyatt was ready, and the lemonade stand idea was put into action. Wyatt wanted to purchase a Lego set. His parents told him he would be serving free lemonade to anyone who wanted some and in return for his hard work, they would take him to buy the Lego set with the money he earned at the end of Rally. On day one, donations started rolling in. It was apparent that the Lego set would be easily obtainable, so a new plan was set up for the money coming in. Fifty percent would go into savings for college, 30 percent would go toward a charity of Wyatt’s choice, and 20 percent would go toward the Lego set. Instead of only being able to teach Wyatt how hard work can get you what you want, the lemonade stand had become a lesson about saving, giving, and spending. Wyatt chose St. Jude Children’s Hospital for his charity because he wanted to help kids. In 2020, the lemonade stand brought in approximately $700 in donations, and Wyatt was able to donate $200 to St. Jude. When the 2021 Rally rolled around, Wyatt headed back down to Sturgis Road to set up his stand again. No one expected this year to be different than 2020, but everything changed in the first weekend the lemonade stand was set up. A wonderful lady named Tracy from Louisiana stopped a couple times and asked if she could post about the stand on Facebook. Her post was then picked up by Derek Swain, a Combat Vet Rider, who added to and reposted Tracy’s original post. It went viral in a couple days’ time. Not only were people from all over visiting the stand while in town for Sturgis, they were also donating virtual glasses of lemonade. Wyatt’s story was picked up by local news stations, newspapers, Fox and Friends, and a Fox station out of Minnesota. This allowed word of the stand to reach from coast to coast. After everything was said and done in 2021, Wyatt chose to donate 50 percent of what came in and was able to give just over $32,000 to St. Jude. Wyatt plans to continue to do his lemonade stand every year, as long as people continue to come. In 2022, he hopes everyone who comes to town for Rally will come stop by and say hello and that he can raise $50,000 for St. Jude! **Update as of 1-4-2022 **I wanted to let you know (if you haven’t seen it on his FB page) that we are going to have a raffle for a $1000 tattoo session. There is an artist from Spearfish who has committed to this and we will be selling tickets starting in February for $20.00 each. We will draw for the winner on July 4th so they have time to schedule the session when they are out for the Rally. All proceeds will go directly to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. In the meantime, you can learn more about Wyatt’s Lemonade Stand on his Facebook page (Wyatt’s Lemonade), Instagram (@wyattslemonade), and website (www.wyattslemonade.com). Love
The Doggfather: Part 2. Snoop Dogg Returns to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip for 2022 Rally
Love Legendary rapper, actor and showman Snoop Dogg returns to the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling® on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022 Sturgis, S.D. (October 12, 2021): Never one to fit the mold, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is breaking barriers once again with the return of Super Bowl-Level entertainer Snoop Dogg on the first Saturday of the 82nd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Based on the massive success of Snoop Dogg’s first visit to the Best Party Anywhere® in 2019, the venue is bringing back the Doggfather for an evening of Sturgis Rally Concerts. See the official concert announcement video at BuffaloChip.com/BANDS. Since 1993, Snoop Dogg has proved time and time again that his music appeals to just about any crowd. From Super Bowl LVI to a motorcycle rally at the Chip, crowds everywhere groove along with mega-hits like “Gin & Juice,” “Nuthin’ But A G Thang,” “Next Episode,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Young, Wild & Free,” and so many more. Snoop Dogg in 2019 at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip When we announced Snoop Dogg in 2019, no one knew what to expect. He wasn’t the traditional performer that the Buffalo Chip crowd was accustomed to. But when he took the stage, we were blown away! He had a huge fanbase at the Chip, singing and dancing along to his long list of hit songs. It was an incredible performance. With talent like that, it’s no surprise to me that Snoop Dogg is headlining the Super Bowl this year, and we are darn happy to bring folks here some Super-Bowl-quality entertainment! – Rod Woodruff, CEO of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip The unrivaled Snoop Dogg is the first artist announced for the 2022 Sturgis Buffalo Chip Music and Motorcycle Festival. More announcements coming soon. Performances from the world’s top entertainers are just a part of what the Sturgis Buffalo Chip has in store for 2022. Guests will have the opportunity to experience countless events, including legendary rides, powerful freedom celebrations, top-tier bike shows, heart-pounding stunts, white-knuckle racing events and so much more. The Buffalo Chip is home to the Sturgis Rally Information Center™ and is the official sponsor of the free Sturgis.com Official Sturgis Rally Registration Program. Love
Sturgis Rally Numbers – How Big Was the 2021 Sturgis Rally?
Love The dust has settled on an incredible rally, and now everyone is asking the same question – How big was the 81st Sturgis Rally in 2021? This year was a bounce back year for the Sturgis Rally. Leading up to the 81st, rumors swirled that 2021 would see a massive turnout, maybe even the largest Sturgis Rally ever. In some ways, the rumors were true. What was the Sturgis Rally Attendance in 2021? SD Department of Transportation numbers as reported by the department and local News Source KOTA, indicate “more than 525,000 visitors attended the 81st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.” “Rally attendance was up 13.8% over last year when COVID19 kept attendance low at 462,182.” 2021 Sturgis Rally Vehicle Count Numbers Business and vendors in the Sturgis area reported increased sales, Custer State Park reported an eight percent increase in visitor traffic and campgrounds like the Sturgis Buffalo Chip saw a record number of campers, but how many people were really in attendance? Was it as big as the 75th? No…It was not as big as the 75th. According to the official traffic numbers released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the 81st Rally in 2021 was not nearly as big as the 75th, but traffic was up almost 14 percent from 2020. The South Dakota DOT gathers these numbers from road tube counters placed at nine locations where traffic enters Sturgis. One vehicle is counted for every two axles that hit the counter on their way into town. The full DOT report on the rally can be found here. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is reporting that the 2021 Sturgis Rally was a safer rally than 2020. Though the traffic was higher this year, the number of crashes were about the same, but fatalities and DUI arrests were down. See more rally statistics from the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety here. South Dakota State News Reports the Department of Revenue’s tax collections at the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are currently at $1,795,706k, 34% more than 2020. The 82nd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for Aug. 5-14, 2022. Get a jumpstart on 2022 by registering for the rally and receiving your free welcome packet at Sturgis.com/registration. Love
