From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
TICKETS ON SALE FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON MILWAUKEE-AREA 100TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES
Summerfest, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Veterans Park to host events launching the Motor Company into its next century
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee area will truly become hog heaven this summer as thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world converge on the city for one of the biggest birthday parties ever seen. For four days in August, Harley fans will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson, reveling in everything the Motor Company and the Milwaukee area have to offer, including live entertainment, special exhibits, food and a motorcycle parade. These events – the Celebration and the Party – will bring a bang to the Company’s year long 100th Anniversary.
The Celebration will take place Thursday, August 28 through Saturday, August 30, and will include three ticketed events and a series of free activities to excite enthusiasts and Milwaukee residents alike. Milwaukee’s Henry W. Maier Festival Park (Summerfest Grounds) will host special Harley-Davidson exhibits, stunt and drill teams, and 10 stages of live entertainment.
A short distance up the Lake Michigan shore, fans will find more than 80,000 square feet of museum-quality exhibits (Journey, Culture, Machine and Ride) from the Company’s worldwide Open Road Tour. On a beautiful site overlooking the lake, these displays will include select motorcycles and memorabilia from the Harley-Davidson Archives that tell the story of the historic Motor Company. This area will also feature Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Ford displays, as well as the Miller Roadside Café. Outside the tents will be a free area with dealer retailing, children’s activities and food stands. Marketing of tickets to the general public for the Celebration begins on March 3, 2003. Tickets are available for purchase at 1-800-HD100th or at www.harley-davidson.com.
“We are excited to be celebrating Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary with our family of enthusiasts, employees, dealers and the Milwaukee community, where it all started for Harley-Davidson in 1903,” said Jeff Bleustein, Chairman & Chief Executive Office of Harley-Davidson, Inc. “It’s a chance to share our passion for motorcycles with the world and look forward to another 100 years of fulfilling dreams.”
Next Stop – Milwaukee Art Museum
The Celebration continues inside the spectacular Milwaukee Art Museum, which serves as the perfect location for the Motor Company’s first-ever exhibit on product styling, design and development. Utilizing sketches, video, clay models and mock-up motorcycles, this fabulous exhibit walks visitors through the entire design and development process and powerfully illustrates the genius of Harley-Davidson’s styling, design and engineering departments.
In addition to the ticketed events, Harley-Davidson will offer free activities at local Harley-Davidson Motor Company facilities including: the Juneau Avenue corporate headquarters, the Pilgrim Road and Capitol Drive Powertrain Operations, the Product Development Center, and the Franklin Parts and Accessories Distribution Center. Activities will also be offered at the Buell Motorcycle Company in East Troy, Wisconsin.
Celebration tickets allow unlimited three-day access to the Summerfest grounds, the lakefront displays, as well as one-time admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum. The package also includes a commemorative laminated ticket, a lanyard and patch, a 100th Anniversary flag, a United States flag and a souvenir program. Tickets are $50 plus a $5 tax and handling fee (shipping is courtesy of Harley-Davidson Motor Company).
Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) Events
For (Harley Owners Group) H.O.G. members, there is an exclusive party that runs concurrently with the three-day Celebration that no H.O.G. member will want to miss. The H.O.G. 20th Anniversary will be held at the Washington County Fair Park (approximately 30 miles north of Milwaukee) beginning on Wednesday, August 27, with a “special welcome” ceremony. Dubbed CLUB H.O.G. XX, the H.O.G. 20th Anniversary party will be free to all H.O.G. members and will include entertainment, vendors, food, and of course, world renowned H.O.G. camaraderie.
10,000 Motorcycles, One Great Cause, One Giant Parade
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) “Parade of Heroes” will lead a motorcade of 10,000 motorcycles through the streets of Milwaukee on Saturday, August 30. Led by enthusiasts who have raised more than $5,300 each for MDA (representing 100 minutes of MDA research), the parade will also include representatives from Harley-Davidson dealerships, a H.O.G. chapter parade of flags, Harley-Davidson employees, and riders selected from a lottery of those purchasing tickets to the Celebration before May 1.
The MDA Parade of Heroes will certainly be one of the most memorable experiences of the 100th Anniversary and will help highlight the 23rd year that the Motor Company has been associated with MDA. During that time the Harley-Davidson family of customers, dealers and employees has raised more than $40 million to aid research and program services for children and adults with neuromuscular diseases. The company is aiming to raise more than $5 million for MDA during the 100th Anniversary events.
The Rumble Heard ‘Round the World’
The event to launch Harley-Davidson into the next 100 years – The Party – will occur in Milwaukee’s Veteran’s Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, Sunday, August 31, 2003. The free main-stage extravaganza will feature live entertainment. The Party will be the pinnacle of the Anniversary and a tremendous kick-start to Harley-Davidson’s second century.
Additional information about 100th Anniversary activities may be obtained by calling 1-414-343-4116 in the U.S., or logging onto www.harley-davidson.com.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight street, custom and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers.