The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau (HHRVB) has announced a new 2011 Sturgis Road Show will kick-start a national tour at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center (FSC) from April 15-17, 2011.

Two Sturgis icons — The Legendary Buffalo Chip and Loud American Roadhouse, have partnered with promoter Motoring USA and the Eastern Regional Harley-Davidson Dealers Association (EHDDA) to create an event for those who want to experience a taste of the legendary motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, S.D.

"Not everyone can make the pilgrimage to South Dakota," said Rod Woodruff, owner of the Legendary Buffalo Chip. "But now they can experience what makes Sturgis the best motorcycle event in the world this April in the Hershey Harrisburg region."

The 2011 Sturgis Road Show will serve up a taste of Sturgis in the Mid-Atlantic region with nightly concerts on "The Legendary Buffalo Chip Main Stage" and food and drink from Main Street Sturgis in the touring Loud American Roadhouse. Features include galleries of work by world-renowned motorcycle artists and photographers, vintage motorcycles and memorabilia presented by the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, Custom Chrome International Bike Show, beauty and fashion events, educational and entertainment seminars, and motorcycle product displays and installations.

Local tourism officials see this event introducing the large number of cyclists within the Mid-Atlantic region to Pennsylvania’s capital city of Harrisburg and America’s chocolate capital of Hershey. The HHRVB is offering special lodging rates for this event at regional hotels at HersheyHarrisburgHotels.com. 

"Selecting this region of Pennsylvania was a strategic decision," said Bill Tull, vice president of the EHDDA and owner of Susquehanna Valley Harley-Davidson. "Pennsylvania has the fourth most motorcycle registrations (329,750) in the United States surpassed only by California, Florida and Texas. Neighboring states New York ranks sixth with 202,565, New Jersey has 163,070, and Maryland has 72,533 registered riders."

Finding a central venue capable of hosting the elaborate event also played a role in the location," said Sharon Altland, HHRVB Sales Director. "Producers wanted the capacity to host large numbers of attendees, galleries, exhibits, and specialty option plus the capability to produce multiple special events and concerts under one roof."

The FSC is the premier event facility in the region with over 1 million square feet of connected exhibit area, including two indoor arenas. As a tourism destination, the region also provides ample lodging and easy accessibility for attendees coming from the Mid-Atlantic region.

"There are two kinds of riders in the world — those who have been to Sturgis and those who want to go," said John Detrick, CEO of Motoring USA. "We’re taking the Sturgis experience to the world."

The Sturgis Road Show schedule will expand in 2012 to include more cities domestically and internationally.