Hill City, Keystone gearing up for the rally

Everyone is revving up for the 83rd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally taking place Aug. 4-13. This year there is a brand new event, two breakfasts and a raffle for the Hill City Ambulance. 

The Rally Rev Up is a weeklong event hosted by Diamond Spur Events Center. The festivities kick off Friday, Aug. 4 and run through Saturday, Aug. 12. The venue is however closed Aug. 7 for a private event. 

Each day between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. there will be a variety of live music, food trucks and vendors. 

The concerts on the lawn will feature Ken Raba and Dayna Tully. People can dance if they feel the urge or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Picnic tables will be set up outside so people can grab a beverage, sit by the creek, play yard games, take photos in the 360 video booth, enjoy the venue and take a break from riding around. 

Inside the venue will also have seating and air conditioning running for guests who need a break from the heat. 

Rotating daily is a selection of food trucks including Rustic Chef, Chill Your Roll and KZ’s BBQ. According to venue director Maja Marsh, these are “some great locals.” Along with this, the venue’s horse trailer mobile bar and a bar inside will be open. 

For vendors, Hydration Station will be involved with a variety of IV nutrient therapies.

Jewel of the West, run by Stevie Cummins, will be at the venue as well featuring clothing and jewelry. 

“She’s so great,” said Marsh. “Her stuff is just beautiful.” 

The Masked Marion is attending with her pin-up art and will also be doing a custom painting of a Jack Daniels bottle that will be raffled off. Tickets are $5, and a winner will be drawn at the end of the event. If the winner is not present, the artwork will be mailed to them. 

Finally, Complete Weddings and Events will have a photo booth with two different options. They will be taking candid photos of people coming in on Hwy. 385 as well as running a stationary mobile booth. Here guests can ride up and get their photo taken. Photos are either printed on the spot or mailed. 

“We’re so excited,” said Marsh. “It’s our first year being open for the rally, and we’re really excited to be a part of the community.”

Marsh added that she hopes “everybody can enjoy Three Forks, and the venue and just enjoy their time while they are visiting.”

A daily schedule of events will be on the Diamond Spur Events Center website and Facebook page as well as on posters around town.

If all goes well, Marsh said they hope to grow the event next year. 

Meanwhile, the Keystone Senior Center Biker Breakfast takes place Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Keystone Community Center from 8 a.m. until the food is gone. According to senior center board member Jon Veltman, they are planning on feeding at least 125 people. 

Breakfast is $7 and cash only. It includes an all-you-can-eat meal of biscuits and gravy, eggs, sausage, pancakes, coffee and juice. 

All the food has been donated so the proceeds will go back to the senior center. 

“With whatever profits we take in, we can make some improvements to our old building and replenish our bank account,” said Veltman. 

The Biker Breakfast has been held by the Keystone Senior Center in years past, but after COVID-19 hit it did not have the staff to do it. However, this year Veltman said they decided to try and do one day.

“I’m excited the senior center is back up and going. We had a few rough years with Covid. Now we’ve remodeled the senior center,” said Veltman. “We’re just doing stuff. I mean, that’s what the whole concept of a senior center is about. It’s helping the community, young or old. We just need to get back into it.” 

More volunteers are always welcome especially for clean up which Veltman said “is the hard thing because we have to mop and sweep the entire gym before we turn it back over to the town.” 

Anyone interested in helping can contact Veltman at 719-217-0197. 

The Hill City Senior Citizen’s annual Rally Breakfast is taking place Thursday, Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 12 from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Hill City Center. 

This all-you-can-eat breakfast will include pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits and sausage gravy, coffee and orange juice. The cost is $13 for adults, $5 for children 10 and under and free for children three and under.

All the proceeds go to benefit the Hill City area senior citizens. 

According to community coordinator Christy Derynck, everyone is excited about seeing old friends that come to the breakfast every year and working in the new commercial kitchen at the center. Hill City seniors have been hard at work preparing for this breakfast for the last six months.

There is still a need for volunteers to help with clean up and to cook pancakes, eggs and bacon. 

“We need help with those things on various days. If people just want to call in, I can work with them on what fits their schedule,” said Derynck. The number to call is 605-574-3211. 

“Thank you in advance to all the volunteers and also for the great support from our area businesses for this event,” Derynck said.

During this rally breakfast there will also be raffle tickets sold as a fundraiser for the Hill City Ambulance building fund. 

Last year Lori Nonnast with Jon Crane Gallery & Custom Framing and Jon Crane himself donated a framed print of Crane’s piece “Standing Watch” which pictured a close-up view of the tower at Black Elk Peak. This raffle was a success and raised almost $1,400 for the ambulance. 

This year Nonnast is once again donating a frame, and Crane is donating a print of “Sylvan Sunrise” that is 26 inches wide and 22 inches tall. The total value of this combined piece is $499.

“It is beautiful,” said Lori Comer. “I just appreciate their support of the ambulance and of the Hill City community.” 

To raise as much money as possible, ticket sales began this past spring and are available at Gypsy Rose Tattoo Studio in Hill City, where the framed print is on display. 

During the rally breakfast, the print will be on display at the Hill City Center between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. There is an unlimited number of raffle tickets and they cost $1 each or $5 for six. 

A public drawing to select the winner will be held at Gypsy Rose Tattoo Studio Sept. 4. 

For more information or to purchase raffle tickets, contact Comer at 605-430-7009 or ljcomer79@gmail.com. 

As always, Hill City Main Street will be closed to non-motorcycle traffic during the rally. The current plan is to close the road Friday, Aug. 4 and reopen it Sunday, Augu. 13. This will vary based on traffic.