Biker Rally Revs Up the Island    

The Island of Galveston is a tourist destination like few others in the state of Texas due to its unique geographic position and attractions.

 But from its beach season and cruise traffic, nothing compares to the incredible scale of the Lone Star Rally, held October 31st-November 3rd, which concluded this past weekend. The Lone Star Rally is the largest motorcycle rally in the state and the largest 4-day motorcycle event in the country. 

For context on the sheer size of this event, the standing population of Galveston is around 53,000. The Lone Star Rally averages a guest attendance of half a million, grossing over $115 million to the economy. With an event of this scale, there is much to discuss in terms of how to make the most of your time, so here is a brief overview of what happened this year.

The earliest recognizable sign of the rally’s beginnings is the influx of biker traffic around the island that condenses at the Strand, which completely shuts down and morphs to fit the event. Closed roads and all. 

Naturally, the already difficult Strand parking becomes even more limited. There are plenty of services for paid parking, which can range from not a terrible deal to outrageous. I’d recommend parking a few blocks away and walking to the event. Once on foot, it becomes a question of, “What next?” 

Along the various sectioned-off streets are a host of vendors ranging from jewelry to apparel to deliciously unique food and more. With all these options, there is going to be a range in both quality and price.

Ultimately, due to the size of the event, the only remedy is to stop in at as many locations as possible. Which may be time-consuming but will also carry the bonus of stumbling into lots of other unique vendors and people, which truly is the bread and butter of the fun in this event. 

Of course, how could we talk about the Lone Star Rally without talking about motorcycles? And goodness, there is plenty. 

The main road down the Strand is reserved for a caravan of motorcycles to ride by while hundreds, if not thousands, of onlookers stand by impressed, snapping as many photos and videos as they can.

Parked along any street possible are thousands of bikes of all shapes, sizes, and colors for all the bike enthusiasts to get their fix. 

Despite the niche interest appearance of this event, its sheer size and variation in vendors and activities mean that really anyone can have a good time. 

That said, to make the most out of the experience, go with a group and stay away at night. Crowds can be overwhelming, and it’s best not to be alone, and most of the violent crime that often accompanies the event often occurs in the evening. 

Armed with these guidelines and information, bike fans and others alike can begin to look forward to next year’s exciting event.