Prague Hosting Huge Harley-Davidson Celebration in July

By Dan Gregory - June 26, 2018

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‘H-D 115th Anniversary’ party to include 4,000-bike parade plus an appearance by notable offspring Karen Davidson.

Home to the oldest Harley-Davidson club in the world, the city of Prague is hosting a mammoth H-D 115th Anniversary celebration from July 5 to 8. More than 60,000 motorcyclists are expected to visit the Czech Republic capital over the festival’s 4-day span, with over 100,000 people coming from 71 countries or territories. (Although some bikers may want to arrive a day earlier to catch the legendary Rolling Stones in concert at the city’s Letnany Airport on July 4.)

The anniversary party’s main center of activities will be at the Výstaviště exhibition space, which is located in the heart of Prague. Attendees can expect 250 exhibitors, plus six stages of entertainment featuring live bands and DJs. Attractions include Czech freestyle motocross Petr Pilát, biker games, a stunt show, custom bike show, and an auction of helmets painted by well-known musicians, athletes, actors, and notables related to the world of motorcycles.

Harley-themed attractions include the H-D Demo Truck, H.O.G. Village, and the H-D Museum featuring over 150 Harley-Davidson models from 1914 up to current models, including such rarities as the Harley-Davidson F1000 Race from 1929.

Notable guest for the weekend is Karen Davidson, the great-granddaughter of Arthur Davidson, who, together with William S. Harley, established the motorcycle manufacturing company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Attendees will not want to miss the awe-inspiring parade of 4,000 Harleys biking through the center of Prague on July 7. And ensuring that everyone can have a good time, Staropramen Brewery is creating a special non-alcoholic beer for the event so that people who are behind the handlebars can drink.

While in town, you’ll want to check out the National Technical Museum, which is hosting a special exhibition through October 28 celebrating the 90th birthday of Harley-Davidson Club of Prague. Sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles on the Czech and Slovak market last year increased 31 percent.

This is a big year for the Czech Republic: 2018’s New Year’s Day fireworks marked the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Divorce when Czechoslovakia peacefully divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Later this year in October, the country will commemorate 100 years since Czechoslovakia’s formation.