Laconia Motorcycle Week®

Overview

The calm of the placid southern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, just off the sleepy hamlet of Laconia, NH, will shatter when the rip and roar of tens of thousands of motorcycles convene for the 101th Laconia Motorcycle Week, the oldest major rally in the US. The event, like many motorcycle rallies, began with racing. The Gypsy Tour, the pre runner to Laconia and other motorcycle events, first visited the area in 1916, gathering for shared passions, parts swap, telling tales, and, of course, racing and hill climbs. Motorcyclists are creatures of habit, so returning again and again to the same area for the same fun becomes a ritual. Almost a century later, it’s a pilgrimage. Laconia joins Sturgis and Daytona as the big three must-rides. There are the usual big rally bike shows, vendors, poker runs, and live music but what makes Laconia extraordinary is the spectacle of countless motorcycles funneling through a small town, and the spectacular scenery surrounding it in all directions. One of our favorite rides is the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. While you’re in town, park yourself on any corner off Lakeside Avenue and watch every make and model of motorcycle likely ever built roll by.