Rain holds down crowds at 83rd annual Sturgis Rally

August 7, 2023

STURGIS, S.D.–Rain put a damper on the start of the 83rd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally over the weekend.

Rain most of the day on Saturday kept crowds on Sturgis’ Main Street to a minimum, and it also cancelled the annual Mayor’s Ride. On Friday, rain also shortened the annual opening ceremony which was to include the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales trotting onto Harley Davidson Way pulling a hitch. Instead, the horses arrived in two large haulers, where they remained during the ceremony.

After the gloomy skies on Friday and Saturday; Sunday brought a return of the sunshine and the crowds as Main Street filled.

Sturgis Police report their biggest problems so far are illegal parking and D-U-I’s. As of Sunday, police had reported 19 D-U-I arrests and 26 parking citations.