Band at Harley Davidson Rally Point in Sturgis, SD

Complete Concert Guide for the 2018 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Thursday, August 2

 

Friday, August 3

 


Legend Suspension Rally Install Banner

No matter how you got it here, you’ll want to ride it home on your new suspension!


 

Saturday, August 4

 

Sunday, August 5

 


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Monday, August 6

 

Tuesday, August 7

 

Wednesday, August 8

 


Legend Suspension Rally Install Banner

No matter how you got it here, you’ll want to ride it home on your new suspension!


 

Thursday, August 9

 

Friday, August 10

 

Saturday, August 11


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Sturgis Rally 2017 Statistics

Have you been to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?  Wonder how it stacks up compared to other years?  Here are some key statistics so that you can compare year over year numbers starting with the 75th Anniversary.

 

Estimated attendance

2015 – 739,000

2016 – 448,000

2017 – official count TBD

 

DOT Traffic counts

2015 – 510,749

2016 – 329,789

2017 – 311,937

 

Marriage Licenses Issued in Sturgis

2015 – 122

2016 – 49

2017 – official count TBD

 

Traffic Violations

2015 – 212

2016 – 422

2017 – 147

 

Traffic Arrests

2015 – 155

2016 – 152

2017 – 147

 

Rally Related Fatalities

2015 – 15

2016 – 3

2017 – 8

 

Do you go to the Sturgis Rally every year? Have you noticed the different trends from year to year?

 

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Turkey Legs at 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Top 4 Rally foods to try before you leave Sturgis

Just as all types of people and motorcycles converge at the Sturgis Rally, as do food vendors who offer a wide selection of chow for hundreds of thousands of hungry bikers to nosh.  Famous names and street vendors alike come from thousands of miles away to set up shop in Sturgis for a week of feeding hungry masses.  The options are almost limitless and there is something for everyone to enjoy, but we have compiled a list of the top four foods to try in Sturgis to get you started.

 

4. Sweeto Burrito

What began as a venture in a North Dakota oil patch, has since become rally food legend. The line is always long, but service is fast, and it is always worth it. Rally goers can literally not wait to get their lips around a Sweeto Burrito – a huge tortilla stuffed with ingredients including carne assada, sweet shredded pork, tater tots, cilantro sauce, french fries, smoked chicken, and many other options of flavorful goodness. Although there are franchises of Sweeto Burrito popping up across the country, the original food truck can be found in the parking lot of the Iron Horse Saloon.  And you don’t want to miss it.

 


 

3. Turkey Leg

A day on the motorcycle makes a biker hungry. Savagely hungry. Satisfy your inner caveman with a punch of protein like no other and chow down on a giant turkey leg. Smoked for hours and deeply infused with flavors of charcoal and mesquite, you will not regret or soon forget taking down one of these bad boys. Offered by numerous vendors at various locations all over Sturgis, you are sure to pass by one when hunger strikes. Get it. Take a picture of it. Devour it.

 


 

2. Steak Tips

There is a bit of controversy surrounding steak tips in the town of Sturgis. Two venues vie for the title of “best steak tips in the world.” Contender number one is the Knuckle Saloon. Boasting tender marinated tips cooked as you like them, and breaded or unbreaded. The Knuckle Saloon offers a twist on the original with buffalo style bleu cheese tips if you are feeling a little more … saucy. The Knuckle Saloon is located on the corner of Lazelle and 1st Street. The second contender is the Loud American Roadhouse, located right on Main Street in downtown Sturgis. Their steak tips are touted as beef tenderloin, gently dusted with a secret blend of house herbs, spices and flour and flash-fried to a medium rare that nearly melts in your mouth. So who has the best steak tips? You may need to try both, and decide for yourself.

 

 


 

1. Something New

Food vendors vary from year to year, providing new adventures for your palate. What could possibly be described as “metal carnival food”, or “fair food on crack”, all bets are off as to what you will have the opportunity to taste. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a giant funnel cake or deep fried Oreos.  Grab some food on a stick from corn dogs to kabobs.  How about a pizza dog…a hot dog wrapped in pizza and deep fat fried. Whatever your taste buds desire and more is sure to be found in a food truck, tent, restaurant or shack at the Sturgis Rally. Take a chance, try it, and add it to the list of your unique Sturgis experience.


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Band at Harley Davidson Rally Point in Sturgis, SD

Complete Concert Guide for the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Thursday, August 3

 

Friday, August 4

 

Saturday, August 5

 

Sunday, August 6

 


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Monday, August 7

 

Tuesday, August 8

 

Wednesday, August 9

 

Thursday, August 10

 

Friday, August 11

 

Saturday, August 12


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Top 3 Selfie Spots in Sturgis

If you are headed to Sturgis, SD for the annual motorcycle rally or for any of the other events hosted by this small community you will no doubt be taking many photographs while you are there. There are many options to share the experience of your trip, but frequent visitors know what the most iconic and recognizable photos are. We have narrowed it down to the top three “must do” Sturgis photo opportunities.

 

Welcome to Sturgis Sign

3. Official Sturgis Signs

On Lazelle Street (just east of I-90 exit 30), is a Welcome to Sturgis sign in the Sturgis Coffee Company parking lot. It is the perfect spot to snap a photo on your way toward any downtown festivities. The black and orange hues of the sign contrast the often clear azure skies of South Dakota. If you happen to come into Sturgis via Junction Ave (exit 32 off of I-90), there is another welcome sign, just like its partner across town. It is located on the north-east corner of Junction Ave and Anna Street, across from the Best Western Sturgis Inn.

 

Sturgis sign on Sly Hill north of downtown Sturgis, South Dakota

2. Sly Hill

Visible from anywhere in downtown Sturgis, north of Bear Butte Creek, the Sturgis Community Center, and Sturgis RV Park, the giant Sturgis sign on Sly Hill is redolent of a sign you might see in Hollywood. The concrete letters simply spelling out the word “Sturgis” leave no question you are in the City of Riders. Be sure to snap a few selfies with the easily seen letters in the background, and send it to your jealous friends who didn’t make the trip.

 

Bob Davis and his assistant Jake West taking the official 2015 Rally Main Street photo

1. Main Street

As you wander down Main Street in Sturgis, you will quickly find that there are a multitude of opportunities for photos during any of the organized rallies. During the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally colorful characters abound, biker babes and body paint are the normal, and giant food portions are standard. If you are looking for the ultimate selfie, you will want to pay the fee to stand on the towers located on either end of Main Street, giving a bird’s eye view of the hustle and bustle below.

 

You are certain to catch many more photos that reveal the unique playground, that is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, or Camaro Rally, or Mustang Rally. But if you really want to make your friends jealous, be sure to catch these three.


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Sturgis Camaro Rally 2017 Schedule

2017 Sturgis Camaro Rally Schedule has been announced!

The first day of the 2017 Camaro Rally is Thursday, June 22 and will include registration at the Iron Horse Saloon, a guided poker run, and be followed by an evening mixer, a pub crawl, and entertainment! Activities for Friday will include a complimentary breakfast for registered attendees at the Knuckle Saloon, a fun run, and drag racing! The events for Saturday, June 24 include a car show and show and shine, main street photo, loud pipes contest, award presentation, and evening entertainment at the Iron Horse Saloon. The final day of the Rally consists of a fun run and a group photo opportunity.

Full Schedule:

Thursday, June 22nd

  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – Iron Horse Saloon Registration
  • 10:00 am to 5:00 pm – White’s Queen City Poker Run – Guided Poker Runs leave at 11am and 12pm from Iron Horse Saloon parking lot
  • 6:00 pm – Knuckle Camaro Mixer – Meet & greet, meal, and announcements at The Knuckle Saloon Pavilion
  • 7:30 pm – Pub crawl – Start of Pub Crawl at The Knuckle Saloon
  • 9:00 pm – Entertainment – End of Pub Crawl at The Loud American

Friday, June 23rd

  • 8:00 am – The Knuckle Saloon complimentary breakfast
  • 8:00 am to Noon – Iron Horse Saloon Registration
  • 9:00 am to 10:30 am – KEVN Black Hills Fox Veterans Show – Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital
  • 10:30 am to 5:00 pm – White’s Queen City Fun Run – Guided Fun Run will leave at 10:30am from Ft. Meade Veterans Hospital
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – RainGear Wiper Systems Autocross – Buffalo Chip
  • 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Dale’s Tire & KEVN Black Hills Fox Drag Race – Sturgis Dragway, Time Trials followed by Eliminations
  • 6:00 pm – Camaro Rally Slot Tournament – Mineral Palace – Deadwood, SD – Happy Hour with slot tournament to follow

Saturday, June 24th

  • 8:00 am to 11:00 am – Iron Horse Saloon Registration
  • 8:00 am to 11:00 am – Show Line-Up at Lynn’s Dakotamart Parking Lot
  • 8:00 am to 11:00 am – Parking and Photo – Main Street
  • 11:00 am to 2:30 pm – Loud American Show & Shine
  • 1:15 pm – Main Street Group Photo
  • 2:30 pm – Loud Pipes Contest as exiting for parade in front of Loud American
  • 3:30 pm – KSKY & ESPN-Rapid, Cruise to Whitewood
  • 5:00 pm – Happy Hour – Iron Horse Saloon
  • 6:00 pm – Dinner Iron Horse Saloon
  • 7:00 pm – Iron Horse Saloon Camaro Rally Awards Banquet
  • 9:30 pm – Entertainment to follow – Iron Horse Saloon

Sunday, June 25th

  • 8:30 am – White’s Queen City Fun Run
  • 10:30 am – Group Photo opportunity

All times and events are subject to change

 

See more on the Sturgis Camaro Rally website .

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Sturgis Eats Featured on the Travel Channel

Jambonz Sign - Alligator with bone in mouth - Sturgis, SD

Sturgis, SD is not a stranger to worldly exposure and celebrity sightings, especially during the first week of August during one of the largest annual motorcycle gatherings of the year.  August 2016 was no exception, as the Travel Channel decided to reveal some Secret Eats in the town of Sturgis and surrounding area.

After stopping at a traveling BBQ pit for some of Sturgis’ finest street meat, Adam Richman and crew headed to Jambonz Bar and Grill.  The fun feel of the bayou carries through the atmosphere and the menu at Jambonz, and is paired with a side of friendly mid-west service and hospitality.

Next stop for Adam and crew was the Deadwood Social Club.  While the town of Deadwood enjoyed some recent acclaim due to the HBO series by the same name, this particular focus was on the wild boar poppers (cherry peppers filled with cream cheese filling, and wrapped in wild boar bacon).

The crew spent a few more days roaming the Black Hills, including a stop to the town of Rapid City.  While there, they made sure to visit the Blind Lion, a speakeasy hidden in the basement of a popular downtown restaurant.

If you ever find yourself in the Black Hills, be sure to check out these stops on your trip and checking out some other delicious opportunities that the area has to offer.

The episode is scheduled to first air on February 1, 2017.  Check your local listings for times.

 

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Bear Butte yesterday and today

Bear Butte and Bear Butte Lake on an evening in April 2016
Bear Butte and Bear Butte Lake in foreground on an evening in April 2016

Bear Butte Past and Present

If you have ever been to Sturgis, South Dakota, you have no doubt noticed the lone mountain to the northeast on the horizon.  This is Bear Butte, a place considered sacred by the American Indians of the Northern Great Plains, with human artifacts being found here dating back over 10,000 years.

As with many sacred places of the American Indian, Bear Butte is surrounded in legend. While there are several variations of the story, the Lakota Sioux, who are indigenous to the region, tell the tale of two boys.  The boys were playing in a field when they caught the attention of a huge bear named Mato (the Lakota word for bear).  The bear chased the boys onto a large rock.  The frightened boys prayed to the creator, Wakan Tanka.  The god took pity on the boys and raised rock from the earth toward the heavens into a tall tower the bear could not climb.  When the bear tried to pursue the boys, he left huge scratch marks down the sides of the rock tower.   The boys were rescued from the top of the tower by an eagle named Wanblee, and carried to safety.  The exhausted and frustrated bear walked off in his defeat, and laid down to rest and sulk at Mato Paha, or Bear Mountain — now Bear Butte. Today, the rock tower is known as Devil’s Tower and is located in eastern Wyoming, just north of Sundance.

In progression to the modern day, the area has come under scrutiny time and time again.  In 1857, the Lakota held a council at Bear Butte to determine what to do about the growing presence of white settlers, primarily gold miners, that were coming into the Black Hills.  

Fast forward to 1874, when the famed General Custer led the Black Hills Expedition from Fort Abraham.  The expedition was in violation of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, however, the lust for gold (not to mention Custer’s infamous character) led settlers and prospectors to the area in a frenzied gold rush.  

While the Lakota people believe that no one should own the land, it came to be that during the 1940’s  settlement era of the Dakota Territory, Mr. Ezra Bovee settled on the southern slope of the butte.  Soon after, Northern Cheyenne leaders approached Bovee, requesting permission to hold a prayer ceremony dedicated to ending World War II. Bovee granted permission and welcomed other tribes to the site. Throughout the 1950’s, Bovee generated interest in the site and attempted to have the area designated as a National Park. When the federal government lost interest in the project, the state of South Dakota stepped in, declaring Bear Butte an official State Park in 1961.  Bear Butte became a National Historic Site in 1965.

Today, the region is still considered sacred by American Indians, and they often visit the site to perform prayer ceremonies.  Prayer ties filled with tobacco as an offering to the Great Spirit in exchange for blessings are found hanging on branches in the area.  As a sign of respect, visitors are asked to leave the bundles undisturbed, and to refrain from making loud noises, playing music, or bringing pets onto the site.

From the pinnacle of the Summit Trail, at the elevation of 4,426 feet, four states can be seen.  For more information on visiting Bear Butte State Park and the Bear Butte Education Center, visit http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/bear-butte/.

 


There are several other museums in the area as well as numerous other recreational trails.



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Sturgis Camaro Rally 2016 Schedule

2016 Sturgis Camaro Rally Schedule has been announced!

The first day of the 2016 Camaro Rally is Thursday, June 23 and will include registration at the Easyriders Saloon, a guided poker run, and be followed by an evening mixer, a pub crawl, and entertainment! Fridays activities will include a complimentary breakfast for registered attendees at the Knuckle Saloon, a fun run, autocross, and drag racing. The events for Saturday, June 25 include a car show and show and shine, main street photo, loud pipes contest, and evening entertainment at the Easyriders Saloon. The final day of the Rally consists of a fun run and a photo opportunity at the Crazy Horse Memorial.

See the full schedule on the Sturgis Camaro Rally website.

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7th Cavalry Trail System gets official in 2016

7th Cavalry Trail System Logo / InsigniaThe Bureau of Land Management, in collaboration with Black Hills area nonprofit Black Hills Trails have put together a tentative schedule for the remaining work to be done before commissioning the new 7th Cavalry Trail System on the Fort Meade Recreation Area. The remaining work will likely entail thousands of volunteer hours throughout 2016, but the good news is signage will be placed on all trails in the new trail network in 2016. This will be a major boon for visitors to the area, as currently to make use of these trails a person must do some of their own way-finding or find a guide that is knowledgeable of the area.

The new Trail System reconstruction work includes rebuilding several major sections of the iconic Trail #89, or Centennial Trail, which is the best known and probably the most used trail in the Black Hills region.

Learn more about opportunities to get involved by visiting the Black Hills Trails website.

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