Council unanimously voted to work to keep event running with restrictions
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
In a unanimous vote on Monday, Laconia city councilors gave approval to work with the Motorcycle Week association to make the event happen during the last week in August.
The event will look different and come with restrictions. The city council voted to prohibit permits for vendors this year. That means the popular Lakeside Avenue beer tents in Weirs Beach will not be part of the 2020 event.
Before their decision the council listened to comments from the public, including workers from local taverns and bars.
Most encouraged the council to work with the association that hosts Laconia motorcycle week, but some asked them to pull the plug amid the uncertainty of COVID-19.
“Canceling motorcycle week this year is not saying we don’t like the event and we don’t want it in our city,” one commenter said. “It is saying that maybe, in a year of a global pandemic, we are willing to do everything in our power to ensure the best outcome for educating our young people.”
Nonprofit organizations are the one exception and will still be able to get vendor permits after one councilor suggested it would be a massive missed fundraising opportunity.
Motorcycle week usually happens in mid-June but was postponed back in the spring and pushed back until the last week of August. Typically, tens-of-thousands of bike enthusiasts travel to the Lakes Region for it. It is unclear how many will attend amid the pandemic.
–Tyler Dumont
WMUR.com
