The first Friday of the Sturgis Rally at the Buffalo Chip features blues rock kings ZZ Top, a motorcycle parade, the Support Bikers Moto Meetup, bike shows, a beer wall smash and the winner of the Sturgis Battle of the Bands.
Sturgis, SD (April 13, 2023): The Best Party Anywhere® will celebrate the start of the 83rd Sturgis Rally with the largest kickoff party the Sturgis Rally has ever seen. The Buffalo Chip’s Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff™ will feature the bearded giants of classic rock and biker favorites ZZ Top. To help ZZ Top kick off the rally in style, the Buffalo Chip will host the Support Bikers Moto Meetup, the Full Throttle Magazine Official Rally Kickoff bike show, a parade into the amphitheater, a beer wall smash stunt in honor of Sturgis Rally founder Pappy Hoel’s original fire wall smash stunt and so much more. In addition, the Chip has allied with the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce on the Sturgis Battle of the Bands, with the competition’s winner receiving a set in front of ZZ Top. See the full band lineup so far and all 10 Bike Shows in the Custom Series at BuffaloChip.com/BANDS and BuffaloChip.com/Bikes.
“Visitors have never had the opportunity to kickoff opening night of the rally with a group as popular and legendary as ZZ Top before, not to mention all the other insane fun planned for that day… we must be crazy!” said Rod Woodruff, President of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “Making a big deal out of the start of the rally is a no-brainer. Friends come from around the world to escape the stresses of their lives and have a good time. That first day will kick this party off like never before!”
ZZ Top
Aug. 4
That Little Ol’ Band from Texas, ZZ Top, is returning to The Best Party Anywhere®. They’re Bad, and they’re coming to rock the Buffalo Chip’s Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff. These classic rock megastars bring their legendary raunchy blues rock boogie to the Chip’s Wolfman Jack Stage on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.
The Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party
Aug. 4
The Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party begins with a bang with the Support Bikers Moto Meetup at the Big Engine Bar at 4 pm. Parade lineup begins at 5 p.m. and the first 100 to reserve their spot will enjoy the ZZ Top concert from their bike in front of the stage. Once inside the amphitheater, the festivities will continue with a Beer Wall Smash, Star-Spangled Banner, live entertainment on the main stage from the winner of the Sturgis Battle of the Bands, ZZ Top, and the International Bikini Team.
Kickoff Party Parade
Aug. 4
The first 100 people to reserve their spot to ride in the parade will be able to ride into the amphitheater and park their bike right up front for the ZZ Top concert. To reserve a spot, riders need a Buffalo Chip campground admission pass that includes Aug. 4, then they just need to email their reservation number and number of bikes to info@buffalochip.com. Riders then pick up their parade sticker on the day of the event at the Support Bikers Moto Meetup at the Big Engine Bar.
Beer Wall Smash
Aug. 4
Buffalo Chip Executive VP and Executive Fun Expert, Daymon Woodruff, will once again slip on the colorful rodeo chaps, spiked helmet and can-smash attitude, and blast through a wall of beer on a mini bike for the wildly entertaining climax to the Sturgis Rally Kickoff parade. AND attendees are welcome to drink up the fizzy remnants, for free.
June 3
One lucky band will score the set on the Buffalo Chip Main Stage opening for one of the Rally’s biggest concerts, ZZ Top, during the Buffalo Chip Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff Party. The first-ever Sturgis Battle of the Bands hosted by the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce culminates with a live competition on June 3 at Harley-Davidson Rally Point in Sturgis, and the winner of the battle will get the gig at the Buffalo Chip Aug. 4 along with other amazing prizes. Bands can learn more and enter at https://bit.ly/Sturgis-BOTB
Announcing The Sturgis Buffalo Chip Custom Series
Aug. 4 – 10
Custom Series King Award
Aug. 11
The Best in Show winner from each show in the Buffalo Chip Custom Series will go on to compete against one another for the title of Custom Series King. All Best in Show winners will be invited onto the Buffalo Chip’s legendary Wolfman Jack Main Stage where celebrity judges will crown the winner of this prestigious award.
Full Throttle Magazine Official Rally Kickoff Show
Featuring Tony Cianci
Friday, Aug. 4
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
What better way to kick off the rally than with a bike show? Full Throttle Magazine Official Rally Kickoff Show welcomes all brands and awards prizes in 15 classes, giving guests a huge variety to view and participants a greater chance of winning. Classes include the Bagger Blastoff, which invites any brand bagger with a loud-and-proud sound system to come crank it to 11.
Presented by Motorcycle Knuckle Busters
Saturday, Aug. 5
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
The very first motorcycles to enter the Buffalo Chip gate in 1982 were choppers, so it is only fitting that the Chip has a show for chopper lovers. Featuring old school, new school and everything in between, The 6th annual Schools Out Chopper Show features the biggest cash prizes in Sturgis. Best-in-Show takes home $2500 and first in seven other classes wins $500.
Wango Tango Custom Gold Wing Show
Presented by Snap Fabrications and CROIG
Featuring Joe Mielke and David Chang
Saturday, Aug. 5
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
The only show of its kind is setting up shop at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads for the second year to showcase Honda’s luxurious Gold Wing touring motorcycles. The Honda Gold Wing changed the face of two-wheeled touring in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and now it’s about to change the face of the greatest V-Twin rally with a sea of modern and vintage metric customs. This show is free to attend and all-inclusive, welcoming riders and fans of all ages and from all walks of life.
Featuring Joe Mielke of Snap Fabrications
Sunday, Aug. 6
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
The 11th running of the FXR Show and Dyna Mixer welcomes riders to have fun and talk motorcycles at this no-nonsense motorcycle event that puts the emphasis on the riders, their stories and their rides. Popular vote determines the winners who receive prizes courtesy of some of the biggest names in the motorcycle industry, and 100 percent of revenue from donations and t-shirt sales go directly to LifeScape of SD.
Hardcore Cycles Performance Show
Featuring John O’Brien
Monday, Aug. 7
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
This show is tailor-made for those who live the two-wheel performance life. The Hardcore Cycles Performance Show rounds up the industry’s top performance builders to go head-to-head where it counts: getting power to the pavement.
Sportster Showdown Party and Dirt Drags
Presented by Harley-Davidson
Featuring Pat Patterson of Led Sled Customs
Tuesday, Aug. 8
Camp Zero
Half bike show, half communal party, the Sportster Showdown brings out a mind-blowing collection of the coolest chopper, tracker, vintage and café Sportsters in existence. The show offers entrants some incredible prizes including cash, aftermarket parts and handmade trophies, not to mention the bragging rights that come with winning the Best Sportster in Sturgis. Happening concurrently with the bike show are Dirt Drags happening right next door at the Buffalo Chip Camp Zero.
Biker Belles® Women’s Bike Show™
Presented by Maiden Moto
Featuring Savannah Rose
Tuesday, Aug. 8
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
Riders don’t have to have a fully custom-built motorcycle at the Biker Belles Bike Show to enter. Whether it’s a mile muncher covered in dirt, which may win the Dirtiest Bike award, a mild custom, or even a really great story behind the ride, all women-owned bikes are invited to roll down to show it off at the Biker Belles Women’s Bike Show. While this show will only be displaying bikes ridden by women, all are invited to attend.
Featuring Joe Mielke
Tuesday, Aug. 8
Camp Zero
At the Mini Bike Show, it’s not the size of the bike that matters, it’s how you customize it. The show will feature two classes of competition – Coleman Powersports mini bikes, and all other things mini and two-wheeled. Master fabricators and self-deprecators will gather for the show’s fourth year to showcase minis that are small in stature but big in character.
Presented by S&S Cycle
Featuring Bill Dodge and Jon Montgomery
Wednesday, Aug. 9
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
The Evo Entanglement Bike Show presented by S&S Cycle celebrates the long-revered Harley-Davidson Evo engine. The Evo Entanglement welcomes custom Dynas, Softails, FXRs, Sportsters, touring bikes and even CVOs featuring the beloved power-plant. Colossal prizes will be offered including a complete S&S Cycle V-111 Engine (MSRP $6747), a Paughco Evo-style frame and a Baker Drivetrain OD6 Transmission for the Best In Show winner. Pre-registration is now open online, and the first 100 to register for this free show receive a free limited-edition Buffalo Chip Evo Entanglement Flannel, courtesy of Mint Speed Shop.
Bike Show Mafia All Class Bike Show & Godfathers of Bass Sound-Off
Presented by Revelation 1 Concepts
Featuring Jim Lynch
Wednesday, Aug. 9
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
Brand-new this year to the Buffalo Chip Custom Series is the Bike Show Mafia All Class Bike Show & Godfathers of Bass Sound-Off. All classes are welcome to ride in for top prizes including Master Builder, Best of Show Bagger, Best of Show Softail, Paint Champion and many more. The Godfathers of Bass Sound-Off invites anyone to crank up their system for a chance at winning in one of the eight sound competition classes.
Featuring Ted Smith and Biker Bob
Thursday, Aug. 10
Buffalo Chip CrossRoads
The Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show celebrates its 35th year at Sturgis this year as the longest-running and most prestigious bike show in the world, featuring 14 classes filled with the finest bikes the Sturgis Rally has to offer. The Rat’s Hole show displays the work of the world’s best builders, whose handiwork is judged on personality, function and a progressive sense of motorcycle culture. Over 70 coveted, hand-sculpted Rat Awards will be presented to the show winners.
Performances from world-class entertainers and top-tier bike shows are just part of what the Sturgis Buffalo Chip will present again for 2023. Guests will have the opportunity to experience thrilling events, legendary rides, powerful freedom celebrations, worthwhile charity events, heart-pounding stunts, white-knuckle racing, and so much more. Entertainment is free with camping. A full list of Sturgis Buffalo Chip events is available at BuffaloChip.com/EVENTS. The Buffalo Chip is home to the Sturgis Rally Information Center™ and is the official sponsor of the free Sturgis.com Official Sturgis Rally Registration Program.
