Laconia Motorcycle Week has a way of making June in New Hampshire sound like rolling thunder. Every year, the small city of Laconia and nearby Weirs Beach transform into the epicenter of one of the world’s best-known motorcycle rallies, drawing hundreds of thousands of riders, vendors, and spectators to the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Recognized as the oldest national motorcycle rally in the United States, Laconia’s roots stretch back to 1916, when early “Gypsy Tour” riders began gathering at Weirs Beach for a weekend of rides, races, and lakeside socializing. Over time that informal meet-up grew into a full-scale rally, with the Loudon Classic road race becoming a centerpiece and helping cement the event’s reputation on the American motorcycling calendar.

Today, Laconia Motorcycle Week typically runs for nine days in mid-June, ending on Father’s Day, and is officially hosted by the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association. In recent years the rally has taken place from roughly June 14–22, with the 2025 edition marking the 102nd running of the event. Lakeside Avenue at Weirs Beach becomes the rally’s main strip: a tightly packed corridor of parked bikes, vendor tents, live music stages, and waterfront bars. The constant rumble of engines mixes with the smell of food stands and the sight of chrome stretching out of view.

For many attendees, the heart of Laconia Motorcycle Week is not just the main drag but the rides that fan out into New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and White Mountains. Organizers and local tourism partners promote scenic loops past Lake Winnipesaukee, the Kancamagus Highway, and mountain passes that showcase the state’s forests, rivers, and small towns, giving visitors a taste of classic New England riding.

First-time visitors quickly learn that the rally’s scale can be intense, but its core is social, with New England hospitality softening the noise around.

The rally is also big business. Estimates suggest that Laconia Motorcycle Week generates tens of millions—and in some reports up to roughly $100 million—in economic impact for New Hampshire, driven by spending on hotels, restaurants, fuel, retail, and entertainment. For local businesses that rely on summer tourism, Bike Week often marks the unofficial start of the busy season, filling campgrounds, inns, and marinas long before peak July and August crowds arrive.

Alongside the party atmosphere, public agencies treat the week as a major safety operation. New Hampshire State Police and local departments boost patrols, set up traffic management plans, and issue regular reminders about impaired and distracted riding, asking both riders and drivers to stay alert during the influx of motorcycles. Temporary parking rules on key streets like Lakeside Avenue create dense but orderly rows of bikes and improve pedestrian flow along the waterfront.

Events throughout the week cater to a wide range of interests. Factory demo rides, custom bike shows, and stunt exhibitions compete for attention alongside charity poker runs, live concerts, and manufacturer displays at local dealerships. Riders can spend the morning carving twisty back roads, the afternoon shopping vendor rows for parts and riding gear, and the evening listening to bands with the lake as a backdrop.

More than a century after that first Gypsy Tour, Laconia Motorcycle Week remains a living piece of motorcycling history and a major celebration of riding culture. The combination of heritage, scenic riding, economic significance, and high-energy events makes the rally a bucket-list experience for many enthusiasts—and a defining week on New Hampshire’s annual calendar.

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