It is happening in Milwaukee this weekend!
 

The Harley Davidson 105th anniversary party is here in Milwaukee this Labor Day weekend. The atmosphere around town is so energized that I had to mention it in case anyone in the Midwest is looking for something to do this weekend.

On Friday and Saturday the Summerfest grounds will have 4 stages going with performers from all genres. The Foo Fighters will play tonight and Bruce Springsteen tomorrow at Veteran's Park near the lakefront.

Last night was a free concert at Miller Park for the Harley Owners Group. I am not a HOG member but was lent a card by one. Sugarland and Kid Rock were the headliners and played full sets. I have never seen such a sight in my life as every inch of parking area at Miller Park covered with motorcycles. Someone could have really done a major Pee Wee and dominoed the whole thing!(I'm just saying....)

People have come in from all over the world for this weekend's festivities. I drove in to work this morning next to a bike flying an Australian flag! People have been hanging out on the overpasses to wave and "welcome" the Harley's as they ride "home."

I am not a motorcyclist and didn't live here for the 100th anniversary but this is beyond anything I have witnessed and so far seems to be just good clean fun!

Any Fodorites planning to make the trip?

It is a great event and viewing thousands of motorcycles on the interstate highways is awesome. However, do NOT expect to find overnight housing between the IL border and Green Bay since hotel/motel rooms have been block booked since Jan. 2007 for this celebration. It is an experience, but please drive carefully as 100,000+ Harleys are expected to be in Milwaukee on the roads.

We're driving from the western 'burbs of Chicago to Madison Sunday to take the rest of our son's stuff to UW. This party shouldn't cause us problems on I 90 should it? We're staying overnight, coming back Monday.

CAPH,

You know, I don't know how 90 will be. 94 and 794 have been a mess for the past 3 days - but that included the normal "Up North" crowd for Labor Day. In my time in Milwaukee, I have never heard 794 referred to as a parking lot - even during Summerfest - but that's what they called it today.

I would expect that you will see large groups of bikes heading back to wherever they came from on both days.

Good luck with move in - you'll be getting some fantastic weather!

Thanks, dmdevl! I took him up on Wednesday (but wasn't able to get everything in our relatively small car). And I did see more bikes than usual going and coming. Now I know why! I guess if I was seeing them already on 90 then, we can figure on seeing more, at least on Monday.

But I'm glad I saw your post. Thanks for the heads up! And for your good wishes. Glad to hear the weather will be good as I'm hoping to be able to enjoy a beer on the Memorial Union Terrace!

Have fun at the party!

There is a street dance for the Harley Riders downtown West Bend tonight-Friday. There are hundreds camped out at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Highway 45 and some of the surrounding roads are blocked off and only allow motorcycles to go to and from the fairgrounds.

We hear the motorcycles driving by all day.

Saturday morning will be the parade with thousands of motorcycles. They will not block off the freeway.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...p?locale=en_US