Laconia Motorcycle Week facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laconia Motorcycle Week |
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Line-up of motorcycles at Weirs Beach during the 2007 event
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| Genre | Motorcycle rally |
| Dates | Historically 9 days in June, ending on Father's Day |
| Location(s) | Laconia, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Founded | 1916 |
| Attendance | 375,000 (2004) c. 188,000 (2010) |
| Patron(s) | Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Association |
Laconia Motorcycle Week is a big yearly event for motorcycle fans. It takes place in Laconia, New Hampshire, USA. It's one of the oldest and most famous motorcycle gatherings in the country! People come from all over to see cool bikes, watch exciting races, and enjoy the beautiful New Hampshire Lakes Region.
Contents
History of Laconia Motorcycle Week
How it Started
The Laconia Motorcycle Week began way back in June 1916. A few hundred motorcyclists gathered at Weirs Beach in Laconia. Seven years later, in 1923, a group called the Federation of American Motorcyclists officially recognized the event. They called it part of the "Gypsy Tour." This was a special event where motorcyclists would travel together. They celebrated with races and hill climbs for a whole weekend.
Growing Popularity
More and more motorcyclists kept coming back to Laconia each year. Soon, people started arriving earlier in the week. This made the event unofficially become a week-long celebration. Local businesses really liked the event. It helped them start their busy tourist season.
A Time of Trouble
However, Laconia's Bike Week had some difficult times. In the summer of 1965, there was a big problem between some motorcycle groups and the local police. This event got attention from news all over the country. Because of this, the police and city leaders started to see the rally as a big inconvenience. Laconia officials made rules much stricter. The number of events during the week started to go down. The rally eventually became a shorter, three-day weekend. This caused many fewer people to attend.
Bringing it Back
It wasn't until the early 1990s that things started to change. Businesses in Laconia wanted more tourists to visit. They asked the Federation of American Motorcyclists for help. They wanted to bring the rally back to a full week-long event.
Eventually, these business owners teamed up with local motorcycle groups. They formed a new organization called the Laconia Motorcycle Rally and Race Association. This group now plans and organizes all the events for Motorcycle Week. They also help promote the event across the country. Today, Laconia Motorcycle Week is a nine-day event. It always takes place in June, either starting or ending on Father's Day.
