Huge Biker Rally To Close 50 City Blocks In Downtown Austin

AUSTIN, TX — The annual Republic of Texas biker rally, where tens of thousands of motorcyclists descend on Austin for fun and camaraderie, will prompt the closure of multiple streets this weekend.

If you've seen a disproportionate number of bikers on the roadways lately, that's because many ROT attendees already have begun to arrive to their wheeled convention. Today, Wednesday, June 6, is the first day of the gathering that lasts until Sunday, June 10.

Among the key arteries to be closed will be Congress Avenue between Cesar Chavez Street and 11th Street and a wide swath of downtown real estate running from 2nd Street through 10th Street. Because of the event, parking along Congress Avenue will be prohibited beginning at 3 p.m.

• ROT Rally Facebook Event

By Friday, June 8, there also will be a partial closure between Brazos and Colorado streets, according to the Downtown Austin Alliance. Vehicles will be allowed to enter and exit parking garages within the closure areas, officials noted. Cesar Chavez Street will remain open, and 11th Street will only be closed while the motorcycle procession is loading onto Congress Avenue from around 8 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. on Friday.

To see a map of all the street closures, click here.

The Republic of Texas (ROT) Rally annually brings together bikers from all 50 states and worldwide for the largest “turnstile” (paid ticketed attendees) motorcycle bike rally in the U.S., organizers describe on the event website.international locations to Austin. The gathering is widely known for its downtown Austin bike parade, which closes off more than 50 city blocks and ends on Congress Avenue in front of the Texas State Capitol.

To catch a glimpse into the massive scale of the gathering (along with an idea of the decibel levels achieved by the en masse motorcycle meeting), check out video from last year's ROT rally:

The gathering attracts top musical acts and entertainers from Willie Nelson, Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett, Hank Williams Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd, organizers noted. This year's musical headliners include ZZ Top, Dirty River Boys, Hairball, Shooter Jennings, Richie Kotzen and The LACS.

That's it for now, and Patch will update this story if developments warrant. In the meantime, enjoy some ZZ Topp:

>>> Image via Shutterstock