by Paula Tracy from https://www.seacoastonline.com LACONIA – On Monday night, Laconia City Councilors will be asked to approve the 97th Progressive Laconia Motorcycle Week for Aug. 22-30 if it cannot be held June 13-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Charlie St. Clair, executive director for the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, said he is hopeful the request will be approved. “It’s too important an economic event for it to be canceled,” said St. Clair, who is also a Democratic state legislator. He said if the rally is postponed until August and the pandemic is not greatly improved in summer, he would look to find a date and hold it into the fall. “We would not expect the numbers to be what they normally are,” he said, estimating 300,000. “But who knows, maybe everyone will be chomping at the bit.” Gov. Chris Sununu is in the driver’s seat ultimately. He is concerned about health and safety as well as the economic consequences. Sununu said this week he wants to hold out as long as possible before deciding. He has held out, as well, on closing or modifying the use of campgrounds, which many bike week enthusiasts rent out from across the country, along with hotels, motels and house rentals. The visitors would require, gas, groceries, and restaurants, which currently allow for only take-out under the emergency orders due to the pandemic. Sununu said he spoke with Laconia Mayor Andrew Hosmer and discussed the matter on Thursday. Laconia Bike Week is the oldest and third largest motorcycle rally in the nation. The largest is in Sturgis, South Dakota, Aug. 7-16. The Sturgis City Council will vote June 15 on whether to hold the rally this year. Lake George, New York, which holds a motorcycle event the week before Laconia Bike Week, has decided
