Harley-Davidson hosts Milwaukee Rally Labor Day weekend

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee's House of Harley-Davidson, and the Harley-Davidson Museum are each hosting events over Labor Day weekend. This, in anticipation of the 110th Anniversary celebration in 2013.

The House of Harley-Davidson is hosting the 12th annual Milwaukee Rally -- beginning on Thursday, August 30th.

At the Harley-Davidson Museum Thursday, Harley riders celebrated with a "burn out."

"They run it up real fast, the black tires spinning till they blow it. Then, everybody gets excited. You see smoke all over the place!" Harley rider Joe Lovett said.

Harley-Davidson celebrates its company anniversary every five years, and Harley riders are excited for the 110th.

"I already got my vacation scheduled. I'll be off the whole week," Lovett said.

The Harley anniversary celebrations draw Harley riders from around the world.

"These have become iconic festivals, experiences, entertainment happenings for our customers," Harley-Davidson Museum Vice President Bill Davidson said.

This Labor Day weekend, the House of Harley-Davidson will have more vendors, bikes, food, live music and activities throughout the annual Rally than any other dealer, including rides for a Friday Fish Fry, a Water Street street party, huge MotorClothes and Parts & Accessories tents, local food trucks and dozens of other vendors, plus live music all weekend.

The rally kicks off with Lynyrd Skynyrd performing Thursday at 8:00 p.m. at the Riverside Theater in downtown Milwaukee.

Events will take place at the House of Harley-Davidson in the 6200 block of W. Layton Ave. on the following dates/times:

    Additionally, the Harley-Davidson Museum will showcase some of the greatest customized motorcycles in the country during a three-day Custom Bike Show.

    The weekend's activities kick off Thursday, August 30th with the largest Bike Night of the summer that includes a party kicking off a year of 110th Anniversary global fan-driven celebrations and the first public preview of the new 2013 Harley-Davidson® models.

    On Friday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 1, the Museum partners with AMD™, an organizer of premiere international bike shows, to bring some of the best professional bike builders in the business to Milwaukee. This two-day Pro Build show displays must-see motorcycles that are truly rolling sculptures and works of art.

    On Sunday, Sept. 2, an amateur build show takes place with an opportunity for custom motorcycle owners from all over the country to show off their work.

    Registration information for both shows is available at h-dmuseum.com. All proceeds from the amateur show registrations on Sunday benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

    In addition to the Custom Bike Show, Labor Day weekend at the Harley-Davidson Museum features live music, the 2013 New Model Launch Party, an official public kick-off to the yearlong global fan-driven celebration of Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary and much more. It’s also the last chance for visitors to see the Museum’s special summer exhibit, Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket, which chronicles the fascinating history of the leather jacket from a functional garment to a cultural icon. The exhibit will run through Labor Day before traveling to the EMP Museum in Seattle. 

    The Harley-Davidson Museum is located at 400 West Canal Street in Milwaukee.