Harley-Davidson Reveals 115th Anniversary Celebration Details

Cross-country rides, a city-wide party, and endless events promise to make this Harley-Davidson birthday one to remember!

If there’s one thing we know about Harley-Davidson, it’s that they love to throw a party. And for the legendary motorcycle maker’s 115th anniversary, they intend to throw their biggest party to date. It all kicks off on Labor Day weekend as southeastern Wisconsin and the city of Milwaukee celebrate the iconic brand like never before.

Harley-Davidson started celebrating way back on its 85th anniversary, so it knows a thing or two about planning a shindig. But this time, things will be a little different. “Our 115th anniversary is going to be different than any anniversary we’ve done before,” Bill Davidson, Vice President of the Harley-Davidson Museum promised.

For starters, riders across the country can participate in cross-country rides dubbed Harley-Davidson Rides Home. Starting August 21st, the rides take off from Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and Portland, Maine. After a scenic ride through each part of America, the rides wind up in Milwaukee just in time for the big bash.

It’s there that they’ll find a city-wide party larger than any previous year. The Harley-Davidson museum will serve as the epicenter, with other events spread out around town. That means field games, custom bike shows, live music, plenty of grub, and tattoo opportunities. And this time, loads of racing, from flat track to drags to beach races along Lake Michigan.

The Harley-Davidson 115th Anniversary celebration takes place August 29-September 2. And the best part? It’s free! Although, if you like being fancy, VIP packages are available. Otherwise, you really don’t have a good reason not to put this one on the calendar. Heck, Harley-Davidson is even throwing a party in Prague, in case you live on the other side of the pond. You can check out the entire schedule and list of events by heading over to Harley’s official 115th Anniversary page.

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.