Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Attracts Thousands, With Few Masks And Little Social Distancing (Photos)

Topline: Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts flooded a small South Dakota town for the 80th iteration of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that, despite the continuing coronavirus pandemic and outbreaks in South Dakota, is expected to draw 250,000 attendees over 10 days for riding and live music—no face mask required, and little social distancing to be seen.

• While most local residents of Sturgis (60%, according to a poll) would have liked to see the rally postponed, local officials said they were powerless to stop the annual rally, even during the pandemic, because of South Dakota’s lack of coronavirus restrictions and pressure from community businesses.
• While masks are recommended at the rally by organizers, they aren’t required, and photos from the rally’s opening day show few attendees wearing them as they eschew social distancing guidelines to form large crowds.
• The rally will have a 10-day run and an expected 250,000 visitors, with crowds expected to peak on Wednesday, a Sturgis city spokesperson told CNN.

Further reading:

South Dakota To Host Hundreds Of Thousands For Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Starting Friday (Forbes)

Riders begin to gather in South Dakota for 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (CNN)