STURGIS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The uncertainty of COVID-19 will mean a toned down 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally come August.
The Sturgis City Council Monday night chose an option to welcome in bikers for this year’s event – but, other than the usual motorcycle parking on Main Street, there will be few events.
Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie says in an effort to try and avoid large crowds on Main Street, the city will have no photo towers, no opening ceremony, no entertainment or events at Rally Point and no B-1 flyover.
Ainslie says vendors will also a set of guidelines and protocols they will have to follow to protect their employees and customers. This has been a tough decision for the council said Anslie, and because they couldn’t close down the city, they felt this was their best option.
Ainslie says if a health advisory comes down from the state department of health, governor’s office or health care providers, the mayor could declare an emergency.
They will keep their good deeds program going during the rally so those with underlying health issues or the elderly will not have to leave their homes. He says the city is also working on setting up mass testing for residents after the rally.
Ainslie says the city has been working closely with Monument Health – who own hospitals in Rapid City, Sturgis and Spearfish on the rally issue.
(Gary Matthews, home slice group, contributed to this article.)
