Each August, hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts make their way to the Black Hills and surrounding communities for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. While Sturgis may be at the heart of the Rally, riders travel throughout our region—and every community has an opportunity to make an impression.
That’s the idea behind Travel South Dakota’s Rally Rush, encouraging communities to find creative ways to welcome riders and show them the hospitality that makes South Dakota memorable.
This year, communities throughout our region answered the call. We know we haven't seen everything that took place, but here are a few efforts we were excited to see:
Deadwood Rumbled Together.
The Deadwood Chamber’s Deadwood Rumbles Together campaign captured and shared photos of riders and visitors, celebrating the people and energy of Rally Week.
Custer was “Minutes, Not Miles from the Best Ride Yet.”
The Custer Chamber provided customizable Rally Rush Canva templates that local businesses could personalize with their own photos, specials, events and information while carrying a consistent community message.
Rapid City invited riders to Ride the Rush.
The Veterans Breakfast welcomed riders with a free breakfast, music and a salute to veterans, while a Harley-Davidson Street Bob giveaway encouraged visitors to explore approximately three dozen participating downtown businesses.
Mitchell started the celebration early.
The 19th Annual Palace City Pre-Sturgis Party welcomed riders heading west with stunt shows, free live music, headliner Redferrin and a bike parade with Brian Klock and the Klock Werks team.
Sturgis helped riders navigate the heart of the Rally.
The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau created a Rally Essentials booklet, comprehensive Google Maps vendor map, along with a Rally Events Superlist to help visitors make the most of their time in Sturgis.
BH&B was proud to be part of Rally Rush, too.
During Rally, our staff took the welcome on the road. We joined Visit Rapid City at the Veterans Breakfast, greeted arriving visitors at Rapid City Regional Airport, and welcomed riders during Custer Cruisin’ at the Mayor’s Ride stop and along Main Street. Along the way, we handed out Rally Rush microfiber bike-cleaning towels and motorcycle maps, carried Welcome Riders signs and ran digital advertising welcoming motorcyclists to the Black Hills & Badlands.
And these are only some of the efforts that took place.
To all of our communities, tourism partners, businesses, volunteers and residents who welcomed motorcyclists this year: thank you. Whether you organized an event, created a promotion, decorated your community, handed out a giveaway or simply offered a friendly hello, you helped shape someone's experience in our region.
That’s the power of Rally Rush. When communities across South Dakota roll out the welcome together, we give riders another reason to remember their time here—and another reason to come back.