The Milwaukee Post

August 24, 2018 • Milwaukee County Post • 17 Harley bikers kick-start fun Beginning Wednesday and continuing through Labor Day weekend, Milwaukee will be action-packed when bikes around the world rum- ble into town. Here are a half-dozen fun, free anniver- sary events. 1. Harley-Davidson 115th and Hog 35th Moto- Carnival Where: Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee When: Noon to 11 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 2 What: Watch motorcycle stunts by circus performers and thrill racers, motorcycle displays, Ferris wheel and helicopter rides, food, bever- ages, and entertainment. 2. Harley-Davidson deal- ership demo rides Where: Area Harley deal- erships W h e n : W e d n e s d a y through Sept. 2, hours vary according to dealership What: From Racine to Thiensville, seven south- eastern Wisconsin motorcy- cle dealerships will display new 2019 models, offer demonstration rides, and sell gear. For more informa- tion, visit https://www.harley-david- s o n . c o m / u s / e n / e v e n t s / milwaukee-115th/115-event- detail-dealerships.html. 3. Harley-Davidson Beach Brawl presented by The Race of Gentlemen (TROG) Where: Bradford Beach, 2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 31, noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 1. What: Experience how motorcycle races used to be. Watch the sand fly as bikers race along the beach, or swim in Lake Michigan. Food and beverages will be available. To enter your bike in the race, visit https://www .theraceofgentlemen.com/ harley-davidson-115/. 4. Juneau Avenue Global Headquarters Where: 3700 W. Juneau Ave., Milwaukee When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sept. 1 What: Visit the birthplace of Harley-Davidson, now one of the biggest motorcy- cle manufacturers in the world. Take a free photo at the official historical mark- er and visit the first factory site, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. 5. Street Parties — five Milwaukee area neigh- borhoods ■ Party in the Park Where: Rotary Performance Pavilion, 1190 N. 70th St., Wauwatosa When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sept. 1 ■ Jazz in the Park Where: Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 30 ■ Motorcycle Alley Where: S. 5th St. (south of Virginia Street), Milwaukee When: noon to midnight Aug. 31 through Sept. 1 ■ Brady Street Experience When: East Brady Street between North Marshall and North Farwell avenues Where: 4 p.m. to mid- night Aug. 31 through Sept. 1 ■ Historic Third Ward Street Party Where: North Broadway and East St. Paul avenues and Catalano Square Park When: Noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 1 6. Downtown parade of Harley motorcycles Where: Begins at 45th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, continues down- town, and ends in Veterans Park When: 1 p.m. Sept. 2 For detailed event infor- mation, visit www.harley- davidson.com/us/en/events /milwaukee-115th.html. — Catherine Jozwik, Special to TimeOut Photo courtesy of Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson bikers participate in the company's 110th anniver- sary parade in downtown Milwaukee in 2013. ENTERTAINMENT By CATHERINE JOZWIK Special to the Post MILWAUKEE — Decibel levels will rise as thousands of motorcycles pour into Milwaukee from Wednesday through Sept. 2, in advance of Labor Day, but you don't have to own a Hog to join in this sizzling celebration. This year, the Harley- Davidson 115th anniversary celebration will offer plenty of free motorcycle-centric events open to the public, including a Bradford Beach race, a downtown Milwaukee parade, plenty of live music, and street and park parties. "If you've never experi- enced life on the back of a bike, this is your chance to get a taste of it," said Tim McCormick, public rela- tions representative for the Harley-Davidson Museum campus. He noted that in years past, many Harley festival activities were concentrated at Henry W. Maier Festival Park. Now, events are spread out throughout the city. In the past, ticket pack- ages to anniversary events were sold. This year, more community members can enjoy the festivities without stretching their wallets. "Ninety to 95 percent" of the Harley activities are free this year, McCormick added. Also, the festival has expanded to include more of southeastern Wisconsin, such as the "Run What You Brung" race at the Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove. The event is open to all motorcyclists. "Bikers wanted to get out and explore," McCormick said. The Harley-Davidson com- pany was founded in 1903 in a small shed near its current Milwaukee headquarters. Harley has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Now, it's one of the biggest motorcycle manufacturers in the world. Since its 85th anniversary celebration in 1988, Harley- Davidson festivals have been held every five years. McCormick said nearly 100,000 people from "all over the globe" flock to events held during Labor Day Weekend. "Legions" of Visit Milwaukee volunteers and Harley-Davidson employees help out at anniversary cele- brations, which are planned years in advance, McCormick said. Four organized rides for bikers from the West Coast, East Coast and Florida to Milwaukee began Sunday. "We are so excited to show- case Milwaukee and the entire region to our visitors from around the country and around the world," said Kristin Settle, director of communications for Visit Milwaukee. Events at lakefront This year's celebration offers many unique and fun events. The 115th and Hog 35th Moto-Carnival, from Wednesday through Sept. 2 at Veterans Park, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee, features free fun for all ages. Participants can watch the Una Circus in which women performers execute daring feats involv- ing motorcycles and a tra- peze, observe Milwaukee's Lake Michigan shores in a Robinson R44 helicopter, ride the Ferris wheel and mechanical Hog, and enjoy food, drink and free enter- tainment. New and vintage motorcy- cles will race through the sand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at Bradford Beach during the Harley-Davidson Beach Brawl. Food and bev- erages will be sold, and the beach will be open for swim- ming. "I'm very excited to see what Bradford Beach will turn into. This should be a great beach party atmos- phere," McCormick said. 'Everyone is invited' During the anniversary celebration, new 2019 Harley models will be on display at all seven area Harley- Davidson dealerships. "Our whole showroom floor will be packed with gear and anything else you need to ride," said Carrie Schmidt, marketing manag- er for Iron Town Harley- Davidson, 1925 S. Moorland Road, New Berlin. Live music and food ven- dors will also be part of the dealership's festivities, which continue through Labor Day. The Harley anniversary celebration will feature many free live concerts, including Bella Cain, Lee Brice and Aubrie Sellers at Veterans Park, the Georgia Satellites at Iron Town Harley-Davidson, and Rival Sons and The Reverend Horton Heat at the Harley museum campus. Many local restaurants and breweries are partaking in the motorcycle festivities. For example, Milwaukee Brewing Company and Third Space and Good City breweries are offering a Harley 115th anniversary European malt liquor. "We're all looking to roll out the orange carpeting for folks visiting Milwaukee," McCormick said. "Everyone is invited, whether you're a rider or not." For a complete schedule of Harley 115th anniversary events, visit www. harleydavidson.com/us/en/ e v e n t s / m i l w a u k e e - 115th.html. Harley-Davidson celebrates 115 years of bikes, riders Rolling out the orange carpet

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