The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is no ordinary event. It’s motorcycles and moto culture with a breadth impossible to comprehend unless you’ve been to the Black Hills of South Dakota yourself. Founded in 1938, the festivities will resume again Aug. 4-13 for the 83rd iteration of the rally. 

Continue below for event and entertainment schedule.

The Opening Ceremony parade will start Friday, Aug. 4, and includes Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen, Grand Marshall Laura Klock, and other dignitaries, as well as an inspiring flag procession. Following the parade will be a “trick roping, whip cracking, and fancy gun spinning” performance by Loop Rawlins, who has won five International Wild West Arts Awards and appeared on the television show America’s Got Talent.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip 2023 Rally Kickoff Party

Live music will follow at the Harley-Davidson Rally Point and other locations in and around Sturgis throughout the evening, the weekend, and the rest of the following week.

Find all of American Rider‘s Sturgis coverage and news here.

On Saturday, the Mayor’s Pub Crawl will visit five famous downtown Sturgis bars: One Eyed Jacks, the Loud American Roadhouse, the Oasis, The Knuckle Saloon, and the Iron Horse Saloon. 

While the bike shows are too numerous to list them all, the Rat’s Hole, Biker Belles, and School’s Out Chopper Show should not be missed, as well as the “1st Sunday in Sturgis Motorcycle Show,” sponsored by V-Twin Visionary, J&P Cycles, and Rumble On.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip 2023 Rats Hole Custom Chopper

Besides awesome bikes, other tell-tale signs of an avid Sturgis rally fan are ink and facial hair. Northern Hills Tattoo & Piercing will present a tattoo contest on Aug. 8, and there’s also a Beard & Mustache Contest on Aug. 9.

When you’ve seen your share of parked bikes and are ready to hit the road, there are several guided rides to enjoy, including the 21st annual Mayor’s Ride, Medicine Wheel Ride, Veteran Warrior Ride, Legends Ride, Biker Belles Morning Ride, Rusty Wallace Charity Ride, and Western Frontier Motorcycle Ride, just to name a few. 

Legends Ride Sturgis Buffalo Chip

There are also many beautiful and historic locations to find on your own, including Mount Rushmore, the immense Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, and the town of Deadwood. Also worth exploring are sites in neighboring states like Wyoming, including its famous Devils Tower and Bighorn National Forest. For those unfamiliar with the area, the Ride with a Local program lets you join a group of motorcyclists on guided tours of the backroads and best places to visit in and around the Black Hills, taking place Aug. 6-12. 

And if you’re looking for a mini-rally, ride 30 miles east of Sturgis to Black Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid City, where you will find hundreds of motorcycle-related vendors, as well as the largest selection of new and pre-owned bikes in this region of the country.  

2023 Sturgis Rally Festival Poster
2023 Sturgis Rally Festival Poster

As the sun sets, make sure to head to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, located just east of the city off Highway 34, for more music and entertainment than you can shake a stick at, including headliners ZZ Top, Koe Wetzel, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Limp Bizkit, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Whiskey Myers, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, and Def Leppard.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip 2023 ZZ Top

Also this year, before the Def Leppard concert, catch the death-defying Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular, which will have Wall of Death daredevil Kyle Ives jumping a motorcycle over Blake The Flying Wallenda, who will be attempting one of the longest highwire walks of his career over the Sturgis Buffalo Chip amphitheater with no safety netting. 

If you can’t find fun things to do at the Sturgis Rally, you’re not trying hard enough. We’ll be there with our boots on!

For more information, visit the Buffalo Chip website, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally website, or American Rider‘s Sturgis page.

Event Highlights

Friday, Aug. 4

Opening Ceremonies and Parade – 3 p.m.

Harley-Davidson Rally Point, Sturgis

Time Montana – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

ZZ Top – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Saturday, Aug. 5

Mayor’s Ride – 7 a.m. check-in

Community Center, Sturgis

School’s Out Chopper Show – 11 a.m. registration

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Mayor’s Pub Crawl – 6 p.m. check-in

Harley-Davidson Rally Point, Sturgis

The Downboys – 7:05 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Steel Panther – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Koe Wetzel – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Sunday, Aug. 6

Medicine Wheel Ride – 8 a.m. registration

Bear Butte State Park, Sturgis

1st Sunday in Sturgis Motorcycle Show – 11 a.m.

Corner of 6th and Lazelle, Sturgis 

Ted Z & The Wranglers – 7:05 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Tommy Howell – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Lynyrd Skynyrd – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Monday, Aug. 7 

Legends Ride – 10:30 a.m.

Historic Franklin Hotel, Deadwood

Leilani Kilgore – 7:05 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Lita Ford – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Limp Bizkit – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Tuesday, Aug. 8

Biker Belles Morning Ride – 7:30 a.m.

The Lodge at Deadwood

Biker Belles Women’s Bike Show – 11 a.m. registration

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Tattoo Contest – 5 p.m. registration

Harley-Davidson Rally Point, Sturgis

Tommy Howell – 7:00 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Styx – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

REO Speedwagon – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Wednesday, Aug. 9

Rusty Wallace Charity Ride – 1 p.m. kickstands up

Spearfish City Park, Spearfish

Beard and Mustache Contest – 5 p.m. registration

Harley-Davidson Rally Point, Sturgis

Devon Worley Band – 7:05 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

George Thorogood and the Destroyers – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Whiskey Myers – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Thursday, Aug. 10

Western Frontier Motorcycle Ride – 8 a.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show – 10 a.m. registration

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Death Wire Daredevil Spectacular – 5 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Pop Evil – 8 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Def Leppard – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Friday, Aug. 11

Veteran Warrior Ride – 11:30 a.m. kickstands up

2130 Main St., Sturgis

Peach Street Revival – 7:05 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Puddle of Mudd – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Buckcherry – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip


Saturday, Aug. 12

Big Skillet – 7:05 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Petty and the Heartshakers – 8:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Back in Black – 10:30 p.m.

Sturgis Buffalo Chip

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