Join us in Chicago
over Labor Day Weekend
(August 29-September 1)
for

Can you believe we’ve been doing this for THIRTY years? Whether we first met in the campground across the highway from the Metallica concert back in 1995, or at last year’s “29 Heures d’Abattoir,” you know that Slaughterhouse is the Midwest's biggest, best, and longest-running scooter rally. Scooterists come from around the country, and around the world. We're expecting 200+ attendees for this anniversary year. If you’ve never been, there's never been a better time to come. We’re bringing back some favorite rides and events, along with special new ones!

Live updates and chat on our WhatsApp Community.

Questions? Email us.

Join our email list for important updates.

Visit and share our Facebook event page.

Follow and share our NEW instagram page.

Thanks for your help spreading the word!

Thanks to Kent Smith for the artwork!
Check out his great shop, Shirts So Good.


Registration:

Registration is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Registration is $50. You’ll get a great 5" chenille patch, a 1" button, a decal, magnet, program, and your wristband for a jam-packed weekend of thrills and excitement.

If you were among the first 200 registrants, (now sold out!) you'll get so much more:

Did you miss out on all that sweet stuff? Sorry, but we couldn't have been clearer that time was of the essence. We may have extras of a few items, the sooner you register, the better chance you've got, but we're not promising anything. Bring some extra cash to buy some other surprise goodies that will be available only at the rally!

The Cog:

Cogs are enameled-and-chromed steel badges made to commemorate scooter events or clubs. They’re traded and collected around the world. It's kinda weird we've never made one before. Ours is made by the supplier to the Vespa Club of Britain. It’ll look amazing mounted to your scooter (with rivets or 3M tape), or on display with other scooter memorabilia. The first 200 registrants will get one in their rally bag. After that, they're gone!

The Flying Pig:

For the first time in many Slaughterhouses, you’ll have the opportunity to win a scooter; the “Flying Pig” built by Chicago Vespisti Garage. This tribute to Porsche's famous "Pink Pig" started life as a humble Genuine Stella. It's being completely rebuilt and packed with top-shelf performance components from our friends at Pinasco, PLCcorse and more, with a custom hand-made Slaughterhouse 30 seat from Selle NISA. ONLY registered participants at the rally are eligible to win.

Note: This is an artist's rendering, stay tuned for actual photos, specs and rules!

T-Shirts & Apparel:

Slaughterhouse 30 T-shirts, scarves, and other goodies are available to order here. Older shirts are still available, too! These are printed on demand and will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer within a week or so. Note: None of this merchandise will be available for purchase at the rally!

Charity:

For the past few years, Slaughterhouse has donated all our profits to My Block, My Hood, My City to ”inspire youth, empower communities, and build a better world one block at a time.” With your support, we’ve been able to donate almost $5000 over the last two years, and with a higher registration fee, the “Flying Pig,” and the general excitement around our thirtieth anniversary, we plan to donate even more this year. We’re also looking to work with M3 over the summer to organize some scooterist volunteer opportunities, stay tuned! Thanks for your support of this great organization!

Sponsors:

Schedule

Here's a prelimiary schedule of the weekend's events… All events, dates, times, and locations subject to change, check the final itinerary in your registration kit and WhatsApp Community. for last-minute changes.

Thursday, August 29

7-10pm Early registration, location tbd. Beat the rush and pick up your registration kit Thursday night.

9:30-11pm Kickstands up at 9:30pm for a ride around O'Hare Airport hosted by Vespa Club of Chicago, ending at Gene and Jude's Hot Dogs, 2720 N. River Road, River Grove.

Friday, August 30

3pm In town early? Have the day off? Second City Scooter Society is hosting an afternoon ride. Location/route TBA.

7-12pm Registration and live music. Venue/bands TBA.

11:30pm-1am Our famous midnight ride through downtown Chicago. Route TBA.

1am-4am If that's not enough, round out the evening dancing to eighties music at Late Bar, 3534 W Belmont, Chicago (Avondale neighborhood), (cover charge.)

Saturday, August 31

10am-6pm Big group ride to the historic Chicago Stockyards with a photo op at the stockyard gates. Lunch, locations, skill course, and ride routes TBA.

6pm-midnight Saturday Night party, raffle, and scooter show at Marz Community Brewing Taproom, 3630 S Iron St, Chicago (Bridgeport neighborhood). Concours and judging at 7pm, Raffle and awards at 10. Will you win the Flying Pig or other fabulous prizes? Marz has a huge variety of beers, cocktails, seltzers, and non-intoxicating drinks. Taco Sublime (at Marz) serves amazing food. Just across the river lies Bridgeport, the Community of the Future, with other great dining options.

Sunday, September 1

9am Beat the heat and traffic with an early lakeshore ride and get your bike blessed by Rev. Sean! Location/route TBA.

Noon-5pm Join us at Native, 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago (Logan Square neighborhood), for a reggae and soul dance party, featuring Rust Belt Boss Reggae and Heart of Chicago Soul Club. Try Surly Brewing's limited-edition "Slaughterhouse Lager" on tap! Tons of dining options in the neighborhood.

More information

You must be registered and wearing a wristband to participate in all rides and events.

Health

Stay hydrated and sunscreened. If you're sick, feeling sick, or have been exposed to sick people, or in an environment with a high risk of infection, please stay home, in case of illness, we'll mail you your goodie bag at no charge.

Safety

Ride safely and respectfully. Ensure your bike is in safe/legal/reliable condition. We highly recommend a full-face helmet, armored jacket, sturdy long pants, shoes that provide abrasion and impact resistance, and gloves. Even if it's hot. At a bare minimum, we implore you to wear a half-shell, and sturdy protective shoes. Please don't ride in flip-flops. Eye protection is required in Illinois.

Vespa Club of Chicago has published an extensive guide to scootering in Chicago, which also includes links to other useful resources. Please familiarize yourself with Chicago's riding and parking laws before the rally.

Group Rides

Crucial: Arrive well ahead of time for rides, with a full tank of gas. Pay close attention to pre-ride instructions about procedures to keep the group together. We'll do our best to provide clear route/contact info. If you do break down or get lost, get out of traffic safely and signal the chase vehicle or last rider. If no one's able to assist you, call the provided phone number(s) for help. We don't always have the resources to help everyone, but we'll do everything we can.

Please read Vespa Club of Chicago's group riding procedures before joining any group rides. If it's your first time riding in a group, try to attend our "new riders" ride before the rally.

Rides are held at “scooter speed,” typically the posted speed limit. Longer/bigger/faster rides will be split into groups to accomodate all displacements. Motormocyclez, minimotos, mopeds, etc. are all welcome if you can safely ride among motorscooters. We ask smaller-displacement bikes to stay towards the front of the pack, and bigger/faster vehicles to stay towards the back, it helps keep the group together.

We ride following MSF guidelines and obeying the law. Stunt riding and dangerous behavior is absolutely not welcome in our group rides. No winking, no nudging, we fucking hate it. Don't run lights or try to block traffic, we've got appointed crew and helmet coms to take care of that.

Lodging

We have a block of rooms available at the Ohio House, a vintage motel in the River North neighborhood, right near the Loop, Michigan Avenue, and many tourist attractions. It's also central to rally events. Rooms are $175/night (regular price $200) which includes free breakfast at Schneider Deli. Parking is an additional $15 (regular price $25). You must book by phone or email (not through the site), the group code is "VCOA." If you have any problems or questions, our contact there is Millaray.

Another favorite is the Heart O’ Chicago up in Andersonville. but that’s pretty far from the action this year. We’d suggest staying closer to downtown, or in Bridgeport or Pilsen. Check the facebook event discussion to find more suggestions.

Parking

Parking can be tricky depending on the neighborhood. Automobile parking is forbidden on many residential streets without a resident permit, though scooters with a Chicago tax tag can park on any residential street. Scooter parking on the sidewalk is not permitted, though may be permitted at some rally venues. Most streets are metered, and both scooters and cars need to pay for parking. The mobile app is easy to install and use. If you're trailering, we’d suggest parking your rig for free in an industrial zone or in the outskirts of town (use a hitch lock!) and ride your scooter all weekend. Ask on the facebook event discussion or email us for suggestions near your accomodations.

License Plates:

Personalized Slaughterhouse 30 Illinois license plates are no longer available (the order deadline was May 15). If you ordered a plate with valid IL vehicle registration, watch your email in late June for pick-up instructions. One you pick up your plates in July, you may legally display your plate, COVERING your existing plate, throough Labor Day.

If you ordered a plate without assigning it to a vehicle, the state will not release it until it's expired. We hope to have these plates on hand and distribute them the last day of the rally. If you paid for shipping, it will be shipped. We also hope to have extra unassigned numbered plates available for sale at the rally.

Disclaimer

This rally is organized by a loosely-knit and ever-changing group of hardworking volunteers who do it solely for your entertainment, continuing a 70-year-old tradition within the worldwide scooter community. Please understand that the individual organizers, sponsors, and venues accept no liability for damage, theft, loss, or injury. To participate in this event, you must sign the waiver stating you've chosen to accept accountability for any risks incurred. If you don’t sign the waiver, you’re are not a Slaugterhouse participant. If you’re not willing to be responsible for your actions, respect others, and follow the rules, please stay home.