the week. Biker bars are also a big part of the rally culture. Most of them offer live music and a few even have burnout pits for some tire smoking fun. Some of the bars are large enough for bikers to ride their motorcycles into and most have various forms of entertainment, too. Almost all of the bars feature live music, and some, like the Full Throttle Saloon, have hosted professional performers like Lil Jon and Molly Hatchet, for instance.
the area for the bars, bike shops and tattoo parlors. Sturgis also provides motorcycle races during the rally as well. The Bear Butte Zone, just east of the city of Sturgis is where the rally holds its major concerts. The Buffalo Chip and Rockin' the Rally are the two main venues for the concerts. Performers at these concerts have included Tom Petty, Keith Urban and Kid Rock. For the 70th anniversary, the rally will host ZZ Top as one of the main headliners. This zone is also known for having rowdy campgrounds and for hosting entertainment shows close to where the campgrounds are so that attendees can consume alcohol but not have to ride their bikes to the shows. The Bear Butte zone hosts motorcycle and car drag races during the week as well.
atmosphere is a huge part of the yearly gathering. The rally has its fair share of contests and pageants for women, which are not to be confused with the pageants most people might think of. Some unofficial events at the rally consist of women riding around showing off their bikes and their bodies. Partial nudity at the rally events and particularly at the campgrounds is not uncommon. Although some of the campsites near Sturgis are quiet and secluded, most are known for their parties. Downtown Sturgis remains strict with its laws about indecent exposure, but many attendees push the limits of the law throughout
The rally boasts in its official guidebook a list of criminal statistics over the years: Emergency room visits, number of attendees put in jail, parking tickets and even calls to the local sheriff are among some the deviant behaviors listed. Each year, an average of $250,000 worth of bikes are stolen during the rally, and even though there are a fair number of misdemeanors, most of the arrests are for non-violent crimes. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally atmosphere is definitely not suitable for families, but there's a wide range of people who attend the event. Doctors, lawyers, hardcore bikers and those just looking for a good time are all drawn to the events and culture of Sturgis.
In addition to the concerts, many bikers come to the rally for the scenic rides, which are found in the Black Hills Zone. This area of South Dakota and Wyoming includes Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands and several monuments including the Crazy Horse Monument. This area of the Sturgis rally is quieter and more secluded than the other two zones. Motorcycle hill climbs are also part of the rally, where bikers compete by racing their bikes up steep inclines. The rally also hosts the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building, a favorite event among attendees. So, for bikers who are looking for more than just scenic rides, the Sturgis rally provides a full array of entertainment that could rival Las Vegas. Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Culture Despite all the concerts, famous performers, bike shows and scenic rides, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is also wellknown for its surrounding culture. Besides the bikes, the rally's party
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