Make memories and create a new Harley Tradition at the Harley-Davidson Museum this month

From the Official Mama Tried Pre-Party to Breakfast with Santa (and more), the H-D Museum offers plenty of reasons to celebrate the season.

MILWAUKEE, USA – It’s back! The Midwest’s preeminent motorcycle show, Mama Tried, makes its triumphant return. And the Harley-Davidson Museum is where you can kick off the full weekend of full-throttle fun with the Official Pre-Party on Thursday, Dec. 2. Hang with builders, racers and fans and root on your favorite boonie bike racer while rocking to the sounds of REXXX. Plus, free shuttles to The Rave / Eagles Club on Saturday and Sunday for Mama Tried make it an ideal pairing for your H-D Museum visit.

And that’s just the first weekend of December! Big kids will love the Ugly Sweater parties at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant during select BBQ & Blues nights and the wee ones will be wearing ear-to-ear grins at Breakfast with Santa, which will feature H-D™ IRONe™ demos, LEGO make-and-take kits, gingerbread house decorating and an opportunity to let the Big Man know what’s on their wish list.

Speaking of wish lists, whether you’ve been naughty or nice, pick up that perfect gift, stocking stuffer, gift card or make your own custom shirt at The Shop! New products are arriving daily to keep holiday spirits high. And the H-D Museum’s Annual Pass looks fantastic in the stocking or under the tree.

And if you haven’t made your plans for your holiday gathering this year, the team at 1903 Events and MOTOR Group Dining are ready to make your party – big or cozy – festive. New holiday parties booked for December 2021 and January 2022 receive a complimentary passed holiday welcome cocktail.

Finally, don’t forget that Harley-Davidson is teaming up with the United Way Worldwide to bring a little cheer to those in need during the most wonderful time of the year.

For each holiday tradition shared onsite at the H-D Museum and through posts on your personal social media channels using the #MyHarleyTradition (Instagram, Facebook & Twitter) through the end of the year, the Harley-Davidson Foundation will donate $10 USD to United Way Worldwide, for up to $50,000 USD in total worldwide donations. Whether your favorite tradition takes place around the table with your family, in the garage with a loved one or just out on the open road (on your way to the Harley-Davidson Museum, of course), we want to hear about it and share in the joy of the season. For more information visit: Harley-Davidson.com/traditions.

Please note that the H-D Museum and The Shop will be open 10 a.m.–3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and closed on Saturday, Dec. 25 (Christmas). On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (December 31 and January 1), the H-D Museum will be open 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

And beginning with the new year, the H-D Museum™ campus will also roll out seasonal hours for January and February. The H-D Museum will be open Thursday–Monday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The Shop will be open Thursday – Monday, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. And MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant will be open 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays, and 11 a.m.–8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Beginning March 1, 2022, the campus will resume 7 days a week operation.

PROGRAMMING / EVENTS

Mama Tried Motorcycle Show Official Pre-Party at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant

Thursday, Dec. 2, 5–9 p.m.

The world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum kicks off the Midwest’s preeminent motorcycle show weekend with the Official Mama Tried Pre-Party, powered by Budweiser® & Bulleit® Bourbon.

Kickstart the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show weekend as you rub elbows with Flat Out Friday racers and Mama Tried Motorcycle Show builders.

Up in RUMBLE, live music by REXXX – Milwaukee’s premier power pop powerhouse is ready to bring you in your face, body-movin, sweat-drippin rock and roll. Zach Otto (Sex Scenes) Harrison Colby (Sex Scenes, NO/NO) Ryan Reeve (Surgeons in Heat) Sam Reitman (Surgeons in Heat) and Mitch Reitman (Low End, Take Offense) have teamed up to give you the best night of your life. Straight from the good land to your ears.

In between those rollicking sets from REXXX, the Flat Out Friday Boonie Bike World Series will light up the track outside on Motorcycle Plaza. Top off the night with raffles, outdoor fire pits, Busch Light Bike Night koozie and Bulleit Cocktail specials all night long. Check out the extended hours at The Shop where you can score the official Mama Tried T-shirt.

Free Shuttles to Mama Tried Motorcycle Show

Saturday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

The H-D Museum will be offering FREE SHUTTLES to the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show on Saturday and Sunday. Two shuttles will loop continuously from the H-D Museum, stop at The Iron Horse Hotel and Fuel Cafe 5th St. and head to The Rave / Eagles Club on Saturday, December 4 from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday, December 5 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Complete shuttle loop takes approximately 20 minutes. Look for the Shuttle Stop pick-up signage outside of The Shop at H-D Museum™ (Canal Street & South 5th Street), outside The Iron Horse Hotel (West Florida Street) outside Fuel Cafe 5th St. (5th Street, North of Pierce Street) and outside The Rave / Eagles Club (24th Street between Michigan and Wisconsin Avenues).

PLEASE NOTE: Shuttles stop at 10 p.m. Saturday. If you plan to stay at the show past 10 p.m., take a Lyft or Uber back to pick up your car. For questions, contact 1-877-436-8738.

Ugly Sweater Party

Saturdays, Dec. 11 and 18, 5–8 p.m.

On Saturdays December 11 & 18 (5–8 p.m.), check out the Ugly Sweater Party at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant during our weekly BBQ & Blues night. Dec. 11 is headlined by She’s Right – He’s Left and Dec. 18 brings the Andrew Gelles Trio to MOTOR Bar and Restaurant for some scorching Blues music. Before the BBQ, take a spin through the H-D Museum and do a little holiday shopping at The Shop (we won’t tell if it’s for you) where you can enjoy complimentary gift wrapping, gifts with purchase (while supplies last) and special deals throughout The Shop, which will offer extended hours. You can even register to win a $250 shopping spree.

Breakfast with Santa

Sundays, Dec. 12 and 19, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

On Sundays December 12 & 19 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.), bring the family down for Breakfast with Santa at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant. Along with our lunch menu, a breakfast menu will be available. Gingerbread Houses to decorate can be purchased for $20 each. Make a day of it and take part in an audio-guided experience that will dive into Harley-Davidson history, demos on our kid-size electric balance bikes, the H-D™ IRONe™, airbrush tattoos, LEGO kits, kids crafts and more. Our friendly staff at The Shop will be happy to offer complimentary gift wrapping, gifts with purchase (while supplies last) and they can sign you up to win a $250 shopping spree.

Annual Pass

Looking for interesting things to do and ways to fully enjoy our programs and exhibits? The Harley-Davidson Museum’s new Annual Pass offers individual, family and VIP levels to fit your lifestyle. Just some of the perks of the new Annual Pass include: admission discounts, free admission for children under age 18, merchandise discounts at The Shop, dining discounts at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant and more.

Plus, if you purchase an Annual Pass in 2021, those passholder perks can be enjoyed all of 2021 and 2022. Visit H-D Museum.com to see complete ticket details for exclusions and other terms and conditions.

Engineering Merit Badge (Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.)

All scouts are welcome to come earn their Engineering Merit Badge at the Harley-Davidson Museum! This experience will be partially facilitated as scouts explore the history of Harley-Davidson as well as the engineering of motorcycles as they complete the nine merit badge requirements. Advance registration is required. Program registration closes one week prior to the scheduled program date. Ticket includes: downloadable activity booklet used for the program, partially facilitated program, blue card signed by the facilitator (one blue card per scout registration) and an exclusive H-D Museum™ patch.

Scout Virtual Engineering Merit Badge (Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.)

This new 90-minute online program is open to scouts from all over the country. Our program facilitator will guide the troops and explore the role an engineer plays while creating a Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle. Nine requirements for the Engineering Merit Badge will be discussed during this virtual, interactive program. Advance registration is required. Program Fee: $20 per Scout, which includes an activity booklet used during the program and a special H-D® patch upon completion of the program.

MUST-SEE EXHIBITS AND INSTALLATIONS

Inspiration and Recovery: Wounded Veteran Climbs the Seven Summits (on display now)

In September 2009, Specialist Benjamin Breckheimer, a Cavalry Scout with the U.S. Army 2nd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, was severely wounded during a tour in Afghanistan. His rehabilitation was difficult as he endured numerous surgeries. During this same time, the Harley-Davidson Museum regularly sent care packages – including H-D Museum™ flags dotted with well wishes – to active-duty military personnel. Breckheimer took to mountaineering during his recovery and over the summer carried the H-D Museum flag to the summit of Denali, the highest point in North America. With that peak reached, Breckheimer became the first and only Purple Heart recipient to reach all the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. He continues to climb, and he shares his inspiring story to encourage resiliency and support the mental health of veterans and current service members.

Revolution® Max Engine (on display now)

The brand-new Revolution® Max 1250cc engine powers a new generation of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. See the liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin that delivers for the Pan America™ adventure touring model and the performance cruiser Sportster® S motorcycle. On view in the Museum lobby.

Clubs & Competition (on display now)

In the early part of the 20th century, motorcycle culture was a homegrown phenomenon. It grew out of the passion of riders for their evolving sport. The camaraderie that developed around riding and attending competitive events led to the formation of motorcycle clubs that hosted destination rides, family picnics with motorcycle games and other riding competitions.

The newly reinstalled display case in the Clubs & Competition gallery highlights clothing from club members from primarily the 1930s and 1940s. The clothing selections on view include full dress uniforms, shirts, sweaters, jackets, and caps, customized by the owners with their club name and logo, and pins or patches indicating membership in the American Motorcyclist Association. The H-D Archives™ collection includes Motorclothes® apparel sold in H-D® product catalogs but also non-H-D produced clothing items that have been proudly customized by riders.

Experience Gallery: Model Year 2021 Harley-Davidson® motorcycles (on display now)

Always a favorite photo opportunity for riders and non-riders alike, the H-D Museum’s Experience Gallery has been refreshed with five 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycles –including the all-new Pan America™ and the Sportster S!

Harley Fox (on display now)

Gail Anderson’s 1986 Softail® Custom motorcycle, “Harley Fox,” built by her partner Bob Burrows, took top prize at the first Ladies of Harley® (LOH) ride-in show during Daytona Beach Bike Week in 1987. With her custom bike and themed riding gear, Anderson presented a striking image that fit the growing visibility and exciting new options for women riders in the 1980s.

Alfonso Sotomayor’s 1957 Model FL (on display now)

The Harley-Davidson Museum is proud to announce its collection has recently grown with the addition of a 1957 Model FL that was ridden by famed Mexican stunt rider and racer Alfonso Sotomayor Canales.

Harley-Davidson’s history in Mexico dates back to at least 1913. In the 1920s, the brand was more frequently spotted throughout Mexico City as the motorcycles proved popular with the local traffic police who would also perform stunts with their Harley-Davidson® bikes. After racing from the 1930s into the 1960s, Sotomayor launched his own stunt riding career by performing the famed “Salto de la Muerte” or Jump of Death. Learn more about Sotomayor’s feats of derring-do and Harley-Davidson’s early entry into Mexico with this new display located in the Custom Culture area.

“Off-Road Harley-Davidson” (on display now)

In the decades before America paved its highways, early riders had to be prepared for all sorts of terrain: sand, clay or dirt – and wandering those makeshift byways were Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. Today, it’s called off-road or adventure touring; back then it was just called riding. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson motorcycles proved their toughness by riding over wooded hills, through stone-choked creek beds and up mountain sides. “Off-Road Harley-Davidson” tells the history of motorcycles designed for rough roads, the people who rode them and the adventures they shared.

“Building a Milwaukee Icon: Harley-Davidson’s Juneau Avenue Factory” (on display now)

A recently recovered cache of architectural drawings includes plans for the original Juneau Avenue facility. The pencil drawings, along with archival photographs, demonstrate the whirlwind pace of the company’s early growth. While building an international business—going from producing just over 1,000 motorcycles in 1909 to manufacturing 27,000 motorcycles in 1920—the company’s Milwaukee factory experienced near-constant expansion. Construction through this relatively brief period created the buildings that today, a century later, are still the proud home of Harley-Davidson.

“Building a Milwaukee Icon” provides a snapshot of Harley-Davidson’s formative years and illustrates a chapter of Milwaukee history when the city was known as the “Machine Shop to the World.”

THE SHOP

It’s that time of year to start thinking about who’s on your naughty and nice lists, and The Shop is here to help. Be sure to follow the H-D Museum on Facebook and Instagram to see what sweet deals you can score throughout the month. Give the elves a little break and ask for complimentary gift wrapping when you’re shopping in-person.  To help you fulfill those shopping needs, we’re staying open until 8 p.m. Dec. 2–4.  Can’t make it on those dates? Don’t fret. On Saturday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 18, The Shop will be open until 7 p.m.

MOTOR® BAR & RESTAURANT

MOTOR® Bar and Restaurant is now open seven days a week – including dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays! Whether you’re hankering for an authentic all-you-can-eat Wisconsin Friday fish fry or just want to reconnect with your “virtual” colleagues, MOTOR bar and restaurant provides the perfect backdrop to toast great food and good times. And the monthly specials are mouth-watering: Patty Melts, Baked Lasagna or a Mint Chocolate Torte will satisfy any craving.

1903 EVENTS

It’s not too late to book your holiday party! After months of missing out on events and gatherings, it’s time to reconnect with friends, family and colleagues. Intimate or grand, the team at MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant and 1903™ Events are ready to take care of all the details so all you have to worry about is where you left your dancing shoes. New holiday parties booked for December 2021 and January 2022 receive complimentary passed holiday welcome cocktail.

About the Harley-Davidson Museum

Discover culture and history through stories and interactive exhibits that celebrate expression, camaraderie, and love for the sport at the Harley-Davidson Museum. A visit to the H-D Museum is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. With an unrivaled collection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and memorabilia, a 20-acre, park-like campus, and a calendar full of activities, the H-D Museum is one of Milwaukee’s top tourist destinations for visitors from around the globe. Make your plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum at H-DMuseum.com.