STURGIS – Motorcycles will once again be revving their way through the streets of Sturgis to support the city at this year’s Little Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Organizers expect a crowd of more than 5,000 for this year’s three-day rally starting Thursday, which will include rides throughout Oktibbeha and Choctaw counties, concerts and more than 60 vendors.
“We are extremely excited,” Sturgis Mayor Jerry Bean told The Dispatch. “We’ve got a lot of people that put in a lot of effort and expense to put this on. … They have pretty much come together to make this event what it’s supposed to be.”
The festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday at Diane Jackson Memorial Park with a drive-in organized by the Choctaw Cruisers, which will include motorcycles, cars and trucks from anyone interested in participating, Bean said. The drive-in will be filled by an opening concert at 7 p.m. by the Full Circle Part Band.
On Friday at about 9 a.m., the festival will host its cook-off where about 12 competitors will grill their best barbecue dishes and have them judged by a panel. The top three finishers will receive a split of a cash prize, Bean said.
Mississippi Highway Patrol will escort the annual Dinner Ride, which will leave from Sturgis at about 4 p.m. Friday and drive to Village Cycle Center Powersports in Starkville for dinner and continue travelling through Louisville and Ackerman before returning to Sturgis, Bean said. The ride already has 300 motorcyclists signed on.
While pre-registration for the dinner is closed, Sara Edwards, a volunteer with the organizing board for the rally, said the 85-mile ride is still open to those looking to tag along the day of.
“They can still ride; they just don’t have to pre-register,” Edwards said. “Preferably, they would message me and let me know that they’re coming, or just message the page and I can add them to the list.”
Following the ride Friday, there will be performances from Bouncing Betty and Colin Stough at 7 and 10 p.m., respectively.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., there will be a $20 benefit poker ride with pre-planned stops in Ackerman, French Camp and Maben, where riders can build their poker hands. The rider with the best hand will also receive a prize. Proceeds will benefit muscular dystrophy.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can stop by Diane Jackson Memorial Park for games including a mechanical bull, a dunking booth and a cornhole tournament. There will also be more than 60 food, clothes and arts and crafts vendors, Bean said.
Visitors can purchase a wristband for $40 for access to all three days of the rally.
Following the three days of events, there will also be a blessing of motorcycles by the Christian Motorcycle Association on Sunday, Bean said.
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