‘More than bikes': 102nd Laconia Motorcycle Week expected to draw hundreds of thousands to New Hampshire
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Although motorcycle riders and enthusiasts come to Laconia from every state in the country, Anderson said many make shorter treks from throughout New England and the Northeast, so weather patterns in the coming days are likely to impact last-minute attendance for better or worse.
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That said, the arrival of a cold affront
from Washington, D.C., seems to be repelling visitors from New Hampshire's
Event organizers and local business owners have heard from Canadians who are unhappy with President Trump's tariffs and other recent decisions, Anderson said. They have expressed in 'various colorful ways' that they won't cross the international border to attend this year's bike rally, she said.
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'We are really hopeful that a bunch still will come,' she added. 'They make a tremendous impact on our tourist economy, and so we want them here. We hope that they feel that welcome mat from us and from the state of New Hampshire.'
Motorcyclists enter the 2024 annual Laconia Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach in New Hampshire.
Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe
There is no centralized pre-registration system for Laconia Motorcycle Week, so organizers largely base their expectations on past experience and what they hear from local business owners, Anderson said.
Not everyone who participates in Laconia Motorcycle Week spends much time, if any, in the city itself. There are
With so many more bikers on Granite State roadways in the coming days, state and local public safety officials held a press conference Thursday urging the public
to be cautious, courteous, and responsible.
New Hampshire State Police Lieutenant Alexander J. Davis said troopers will step up patrols not only in the Lakes Region but across the state to detect and deter dangerous and impaired driving and riding.
In each of the past three years, traffic enforcement efforts during Motorcycle Week have yielded more than 830 speeding tickets and more than 120 administrative license suspensions statewide, according to the New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles.
So far in 2025, eight motorcyclists have been killed on New Hampshire roadways, according to DMV data. The year-end total was 31 in 2024 and 37 in 2023.
Motorcyclists fill the beachfront area during the 100th Laconia Motorcycle Week in Laconia, N.H., in 2023.
JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images
Laconia Mayor Andrew Hosmer joined those calling for people to stay safe while having fun, patronizing local businesses, and enjoying the sights, sounds, and sense of community.
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'This event is about more than bikes,' Hosmer said. 'It's about tradition, tourism, and the energy that happens when people gather to celebrate what they love.'
This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday,
Steven Porter can be reached at
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