Too Broke for Sturgis 2026

August 8, 2026

A Shaky Start

I’ve been out at the Too Broke for Sturgis event hosted by the Pirate’s Pub for several years, and it seems to be growing. This year we had doubts early on — few vendors showed up, there were no food trucks, and rain had been threatening for days. Usually there’s a good turnout by 10am with bikes already lined up, but this year started off pretty dead.

Weather Flips the Script

Two years ago the show ran just hours before a hurricane hit, and today was supposed to bring normal rain — instead it turned hot and sunny. It’s like everyone else decided the rain wasn’t coming, because by 11:30-12 the motorcycles started pouring in in stead of the rain pouring.

Record Afternoon Turnout

By the afternoon, I think there may have been twice as many people as any other year. There were bikes, trikes, and even a few cars, since the show fell on the same Saturday as the local car meet.

Staying Hydrated in the Heat

Plenty of cold drinks were going around, but I have to admit, I was dying out there — the drinks I brought were gone quick. For a day that was supposed to bring rain, it sure was drying everyone out, but the Pirate’s Pub kept everyone well hydrated. In the afternoon the band started playing on the patio some cool tunes.

While in past years the show usually wound down for us vendors around 3, this time it was still going strong at 5.

Storm Clouds Roll In

That’s when the weather decided we’d had enough. I heard my sign blow over — a familiar sound at many of my shows — and when I went to pick it up I saw the storm clouds rolling in with the wind. As I started rushing to pack, I noticed the same gust had whipped over two other vendor tents, and everyone scrambled to pack up before the storm hit.

Beating the Storm Home

In perhaps record packing time for me, I had all my supplies loaded in the van, with most everyone else close behind. A few miles down the road I hit the rain, and by the time I neared Orlando my phone was chiming with thunderstorm and wind gust alerts behind me — but the sky ahead was clear and sunny. Typical Florida rain! This time, though, I didn’t lose any boxes.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

Before the sudden shift, the event was rocking — the band playing, people walking around and hanging out. Despite the slow morning and wet ending, from my perspective it was a success with a good time held by all. Expect to see me back again next year… with more drinks in my cooler.