This year's 41st Annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally begins on Thursday May 25 and runs through Monday May 29 in beautiful Red River.
More than 20,000 bikers are expected to roar into town, joining others on Main Street for live music, vendors, tattoo contests, contests for the ladies, charity rides and a 50/50 Raffle drawing for cash!
The rally was back in full throttle last year, providing a much-needed boost to the local tourism industry after the pandemic, with thousands more people coming to check out one of the largest mass gatherings since the pandemic hit.
While Red River is the main hub for the event, other communities also benefit. Hundreds of bikers can be seen gathering at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near Angel Fire, about an hour away, and we in Taos are sure to see (and hear) more than a few bikers traveling through town. No doubt, the ongoing construction will have them headed out of our little town in no time.
Visitors we spoke with last year all said the event was not only about coming back together, but to remember the service members who died in the line of duty. This year, post-pandemic, that sentiment will ring even more true.
Some highlights of this weekend-long bike rally include the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway — an 83-mile loop through Northern New Mexico's beautiful, scenic nature highways, as well as the parade ride to visit the aforementioned Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park in Angel Fire, where you can pay your respect to American heroes.
Get ready for the rumble as thousands of bikers from all over line Main Street for one big party.
Live music happens literally all over town, along with vendors carrying everything you can imagine, from leather and lace to food and fun souvenirs. Definitely head to the Red River Brewing Company’s awesome patio for a great meal, home brewed refreshments, and the best place to people watch in town.
The Red River Town Council has voted to make certain changes to the Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally. One of the main changes is reducing the number of vendors on the town’s property (Town streets, parks, and Red River Conference Center) during the Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally.
This year, only food vendors will be allowed to vend on the town property. However, this change will not affect vendors renting out booth spaces from the private businesses.
Currently, the council are planning to host this event focusing on family-friendly and veteran-oriented activities: Flag Retirement Ceremony; Veteran Banner Signing; Flag Field Display. The activities (various contests, live music concerts, Steve Stucker’s Rally in the Valley) hosted by the private businesses are still planned.
So get your leathers on and head out on the highway for a weekend of revelry and remembrance.
Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally
This year's 40th Annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally will be held on Thursday May 25 through Monday May 29 in Red River, N.M.
Contact the Red River Tourism Office for more details
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