STURGIS, S.D. – The 81st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is now officially underway as the opening ceremony was held Friday.
The World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales were part of the opening ceremony as they drew a large crowd as they paraded down Main Street and to Rally Point, where rally-goers were allowed to take pictures with them.
Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen says Rally Point is celebrating its sixth anniversary, and it was a lot of hard work in the making.
“I believe it was 2015 when the City of Sturgis completed this spot. Rally Point. It used to be an empty bank parking lot and used during rally for things like vending. But, the City Council made a hard decision back then, we spent a lot of money and we partnered with Harley Davidson and now we have one of the most beautiful spots that is used year round.”
Carstensen says new for the rally – open container on Main Street.
“We have open container allowed this year, for the first time ever, so we decided to open up the rally with a toast.”
The council approved open container earlier this year for the rally. They’re hoping to raise money for Sturgis Rally Charities through the $10 cup that rally patrons buy. Those cups are the only open containers allowed on Main Street.
Also speaking today, was this year’s Grand Marshall, Jody Perewitz.
Perewitz says she was excited to be in Sturgis.
“I have been waiting for this moment for about six months now. And I am even more ecstatic with how packed it is down here on the first Friday. It is definitely going to be a busy rally.”
Perewitz has become one of the most recognizable women in the motorcycle industry today.
From Massachusetts, she paved her own way into history by becoming the first woman to ever jockey an American V-Twin powered motorcycle into the record books at well over 200 mph. Perewitz now holds 16 land speed records, one of which is a world record.
The 81st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally runs through August 14th.
