As many as 30,000 to 40,000 motorcycle and camping enthusiasts will call the JB Wells Arena, Park and Expo in Gonzales home for six days this summer when the 48th National Bikers Roundup convenes on July 29 through Aug. 3, 2025.
National Bikers Roundup is the largest camping motorcycle rally held in the United States each year and is organized by several primarily African-American motorcycle clubs. There are strict rules that all attendees must follow: no weapons; no ATVs; no drones; no four-wheelers and no glass containers allowed. More than 1,000 motorcycle clubs attend the event each year, and African-American women make up close to half of the participants.
Last year, the roundup was held in Springfield, Illinois, and included a special “Ride for Justice for Sonya Massey,” a 36-year-old African-American woman who was shot and killed in her home by Sean Grayson, a deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Woodside Township, near Springfield.
The first roundup was organized in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1977 by Dallas Thibodeaux and Rozell Nunn Jr. and attracted 49 riders. It has grown in stature since then to become a multiple-day event with as many as 30,000 to 40,000 participants who enjoy camping, exhibition of their rides, parades, stunt shows and other entertainment, including drag racing and contests.
Because it primarily attracted African-American riders, the event was largely ignored by mainstream media and the motorcycle industry early on in its history, but has since attracted the support of manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson and Honda because it is family friendly and open to people of all ethnicities.
Since 1998, participants have been donating food and money to support local food banks and have since raises thousands of dollars and contributed tons of food.