LACONIA — About 250,000 bikers and bike enthusiasts are expected for the 89th annual Laconia Motorcycle Week.

Weirs Beach is the epicenter of activity for the event, considered the largest in the Northeast and one of the largest in the nation. The rally officially begins Saturday at 11 a.m. with the Peter Makris Memorial Ride around Lake Winnipesaukee. This year, the hill climb on Wednesday will be in Canaan rather than at Gunstock.

And in a new attraction, celebrity tattoo artists will be at the Opechee Inn and Spa Conference Center beginning next Thursday.

Organizers said that reservations for the week are above last year's numbers. They predict attendance to climb along with the mercury, as a sunny week is in the forecast.

There are now so many events across the state, tourism officials have three rally itineraries at www.visitnh.gov, said Lorna J. Colquhoun, communications and legislative director for the Division of Economic Development, who was at Thursday's kick-off.

Last year, there were no fatalities in the city related to the rally. Public safety officials are hoping for the same this year, urging riders to stay away from the yellow center line and out of no-parking zones. This year, the bridge over the river between Paugus Bay and Weirs Beach bay will no longer be closed to four-wheel traffic.

Laconia Police Chief Chris Adams said a decade ago arrest levels were in the range of 500 during the rally. Fewer than 100 were arrested last year during the 10-day event.

State Police Maj. Russ Conte agreed the event has become far more family-friendly.

“I don't think there has been a safer environment,” he said.

Conte reminded drivers that bikers will be coming into the state from every conceivable direction over the next few days.

Highway Safety Agency Coordinator Peter Thomson said he hopes for the continuation of a positive trend: Last year there were 14 fatal motorcycle accidents, the lowest ever during the event. That compares to 2005's 42 motorcycle fatalities.

Bob Letourneau, formerly a Derry state senator, now works with the Department of Safety's motorcycle training unit.

“We have the largest rally in New England,” he said. “And the safest in the country.”

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Paula Tracy may be reached at ptracy@unionleader.com.