The Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling™ is off to a record-breaking start. With some campers arriving nearly two weeks prior to the festival kickoff, the sea of people and rumble of bikes for the first two nights of performances was larger than the Sturgis Buffalo Chip campground has ever seen before.
The Sturgis music festival officially began Friday with the second annual Friday Fest kickoff. This Sturgis Rally pre-party packed in 12 solid hours of live music, dance troupes and bikini contests all on the main stage. Buffalo Chip showcase performers, The Mods, The Living Deads, Iron Cowgirl Missy, Charlie Brechtel, Midstokke and Zwarte shook the amphitheater throughout the day leading up to the evening’s headlining performance from heavy metal rockers, Queensrÿche.
Though the party lasted well into Friday night, the Sturgis campground was already buzzing early Saturday morning with the addition of the Outdoor Rendezvous. This new outdoor expo, which lasts throughout the weekend, features some of Sturgis’ finest vendors, including gun manufacturers, South Dakota made products and custom artwork. The Outdoor Rendezvous’ Thundering Buffalo Chili Cook-off served up an amazing variety of spicy chili to hungry patrons to raise funds for the Meals on Wheels program.
Saturday evening brought bands Pop Evil, Buckcherry and The Cult to the legendary Wolfman Jack Main Stage, and the bands had some major competition from the crowd when it came to who could produce the biggest sound. The audience was always eager to comply with requests from the stage to “make some noise.”
The Buffalo Chip has pulled out all the stops for Sunday’s official start to the 2013 Sturgis Rally. At any time of day guests will have a wide variety of contests, stunts and concerts from which to choose. The Buffalo Chip Tattoo Competition runs throughout the afternoon in the Chip’s Tattoo Café. This competition, which features five renowned tattoo artists, will be filmed to appear during CMT Bike Week. Judging and awards take place on the Chip’s Roadhouse Deck at 6 pm tonight, Sunday August 4th.
“We’re very excited about attendance we’ve seen so far and look forward to what this year’s rally has in store.” Says Rod Woodruff, President of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “In addition, it’s a huge honor to have CMT television filming their Bike Week series here and we’re excited to be able to send a piece of the Chip into millions of home across the country.”
Sunday also features the grand finale to the Outdoor Rendezvous, with a jaw-dropping extreme shooting exhibition from world record holder, Pat Flanigan at 6:45. Additionally there will be mixed martial arts fights taking place at the CrossRoads at the Buffalo Chip® at 5:30. Sunday’s headliners on the main stage are Sturgis Rally favorites, ZZ Top, along with Grammy Award winners, Halestorm, and delta blues band, 4onthefloor.
Campground admission passes are still available and all concerts are free with camping. Passes also grant guests access to the Bikini Beach swim paradise, 25 bars, thrilling exhibits, and outrageous events. The 32nd annual Sturgis Buffalo Chip Motorcycle and Music Festival runs July 29 through Aug. 11, 2013. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com or by calling (605) 347-9000.
