Weather impacting the start of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

STURGIS, S.D.(KBHB) – Rain put a damper on the start of the 83rd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally over the weekend.

Rain most of the day on Saturday kept crowds on Sturgis’ Main Street to a minimum, and it also cancelled the annual Mayor’s Ride. On Friday, rain also shortened the annual opening ceremony which was to include the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales trotting onto Harley Davidson Way pulling a hitch. Instead, the horses arrived in two large haulers, where they remained during the ceremony.

Despite the rain, Rally Grand Marshal Laura Klock was excited to be there.

After the gloomy skies on Friday and Saturday; Sunday brought a return of the sunshine and the crowds as Main Street filled.

Sturgis Police report their biggest problems so far are illegal parking and D-U-I’s. As of Sunday, police had reported 19 D-U-I arrests and 26 parking citations.

The Meade County Sheriff reports 50 people had been booked into the county jail.