Cool fall temps don’t stop the fun at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The October schedule of events and activities is out, including the Bark & BBQ event for furry friends on Oct. 5, Skulloween at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant on Oct. 31, and must-see museum exhibits.
Also take advantage of your chance for a factory tour to see where the sausage (aka Harley engines and transmissions) gets made. While you’re in the area, stop by the Harley-Davidson Shop for some new cool-weather wear.
Read the press release below for details.
Find more moto-events at American Rider‘s Events Calendar
MILWAUKEE, USA (October 1, 2024) – Yes, MOTOR Bar & Restaurant has one of the city’s most welcoming patios for four-legged friends – complete with H-D-branded puppy treats. And it gets pawsitively better when Oct. 5 sees the return of one of Fido’s favorite days of the year. That’s when Bark & BBQ comes back to the Harley-Davidson Museum campus. OnMilwaukee and Milwaukee Radio Alliance’s B93.3 are ready to “raise the woof” at the 2024 Bark & BBQ. The fun takes place 12- 4 p.m. on the Harley-Davidson Museum campus, where parking is always plentiful and free. This is a free event where the first 93.3 (!?) guests receive a Stella & Chewy’s goodie bag. More than 30 vendor booths and food trucks with loads of treats will be on site along with shopping and dog-related services. Plus loads of activities to entertain and engage the pups. Check out the VIB (Very Important Barker) tickets, which feature early entry, two drinks at MOTOR, an appetizer buffet on that MOTOR patio, H-D Museum admission, and more! Visit the H-D Shop tent for dog toys, bandanas, and more that will have pups looking fetching. Come on down and come over to “the bark side.”
Speaking of MOTOR, the kitchen is leaning into the spooky season with its October specials. If you dare, check out the Sticky “Bat” Wings (chicken wings with a midnight hoisin sauce), Witches Brew Soup, Don’t Fear the Reaper Chicken Sandwich, and a Pumpkin King Cheesecake. Eat, drink, and be scary! Specials begin Tuesday, Oct. 1, and are available all month long.
MOTOR will also be the spot for Skulloween 2024, where everything black and orange will be celebrated on Halloween (Oct. 31). Your creative costume could earn you a $250 H-D Museum campus gift card, and BiG SWiG will be providing the soundtrack that will put a spell on you.
Finally, it’s your last chance to check out the H-D Museum’s first bilingual exhibit, “My Papi Has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tiene una Moto,” before it closes on Nov. 3. Take one last trip with author Isabel Quintero and illustrator Zeke Peña and share in the freedom and fun parents and their kids find when they take to two wheels.
Harley-Davidson Museum Programming/Events
Bark & BBQ, Oct. 5, 12-4 p.m.
Bark & BBQ, a collaboration with Milwaukee Radio Alliance’s B93.3. Bark & BBQ returns Saturday, Oct. 5 from 12-4 p.m. on the Harley-Davidson Museum campus. Bark & BBQ Presented by Camp Bow Wow and Bentley’s Pet Stuff features over 30 vendor booths with loads of treats, shopping, and dog-related services. Activities include: The SwiftPaws Lure Course, Camp Bow Wow Ball Pits, Ralphie’s Off-Leash Area, Bark N Scratch Outpost Photo Booth with Brew City Events, Hydration Stations throughout the event courtesy of NutriSource Pet Food, Bacon Flavored Bubbles with Yutka Fence, Peanut Butter Station with State Farm Agent Adam Chamorro, Flyball Demonstrations throughout the day courtesy of The Barkbarians and K-9 Turn and Burn, BBQ food trucks, and more!
Skulloween, Oct. 31, 5-9 p.m.
Head on down to one of Milwaukee’s most popular haunts, MOTOR Bar & Restaurant, for a celebration of all things black and orange at Skulloween, powered by Budweiser and Bulleit Bourbon. Those who dress to impress will have a chance to win bragging rights in the H-D Museum’s costume contest. The outfit with the most votes at the end of the night will win a $250 Harley-Davidson Museum Campus gift card! In the meantime, check out MOTOR’s spooktacular food and drink specials, giveaways, outdoor fire pits, carved pumpkins, live music by BiG SWiG, and more as we celebrate the season. Don’t forget to check out the Harley-Davidson Shop & Factory Outlet, which will be open until 9 p.m.
Harley-Davidson Factory Tours in Wisconsin are back and better than ever! Guests are invited to “Walk the Line” and enjoy an all-new guided tour of the Powertrain Operations factory in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This tour takes place on the actual factory floor. The sights and sounds of the manufacturing of H-D engines and transmissions is an experience like no other. This is a walking tour lasting about one hour. Safety googles and vests are provided. Fully enclosed walking shoes are required (1-inch heels max). Our highly rated Engines 101 Class is also back in session! Tours and classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays (excluding major holidays).
Advance reservations are required. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum Web Store to make yours. Private group reservations may be accommodated; call 414-287-2789 for more information or reach out to us at groups@h-dmuseum.com.
Harley-Davidson Museum Must-See Exhibits and Installations
“Creating a Legend: Art & Engineering at Harley-Davidson” (now open)
At Harley-Davidson, design and engineering work together to create machines with big emotional impact. Functional improvements fuel changes in look and feel, yet visual or market desires also shape operating innovations. The process of how ideas move from concept to prototype, and production involves a lot of people and many kinds of materials. From pencil and paper to CAD, clay, and 3-D printing, see how Harley-Davidson design and engineering teams have envisioned iconic products for over 120 years. You can also take the opportunity to create your own masterpiece with sketch paper and hang your artwork in the H-D Museum.
“My Papi Has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tiene una Moto” (closing Nov. 3)
From award-winning children and YA author Isabel Quintero and illustrator Zeke Peña comes the Harley-Davidson Museum’s first-ever bilingual exhibit, “My Papi has a Motorcycle” / “Mi papi tiene una moto.” Based on the beloved children’s book of the same name, “My Papi has a Motorcycle” shares a story of family bonds strengthened by the simple act of taking a joy ride on a two-wheeled machine. With brilliant, colorful art from Peña paired with heart-warming stories from Southern Californian riding families, “My Papi has a Motorcycle” will draw smiles from kids of all ages. It’s an exhibit that focuses not only on where you can take a motorcycle but where a two-up motorcycle ride with a loved one can take you.
For over 100 years, Harley-Davidson has created strong bonds with those who fight for our freedom. In the Harley-Davidson Museum’s latest Google Arts & Culture exhibit, read through a brief look at how the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, employees, and riders contributed to the defense effort during World War II. Then make your plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum and experience the gallery dedicated to World War II, including the famed WLA, “the bike that won the war.”
Harley-Davidson Shop
Sweatshirt season is here! Get ready for the cooler temperatures with these new thick and soft additions – including green and gold gear. Plus, check out all the toys, water bowls and bottles, bandanas, and more now stocked in the H-D Shop (and set up outside for Bark & BBQ on Oct. 5).
MOTOR Bar & Restaurant
Check out these October specials from the MOTOR Bar & Restaurant.
- Sticky “Bat” Wings: Smoked and seasoned chicken wings served with a midnight hoisin chokeberry glaze. Served with carrot and celery sticks.
- Witch’s Brew Soup: Creamy, autumn harvest of pumpkin, butternut squash, and apples with beet bacon and topped with spiced pepitas.
- Don’t Fear the Reaper Chicken Sandwich: Spicy, breaded chicken breast, Carolina Reaper honey, spicy pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and Pepper Jack cheese on a Breadsmith cheddar-peppercorn bun. Served with a side of french fries.
- Pumpkin King Cheesecake: Pumpkin and cranberry swirled cheesecake with cinnamon ginger graham crust, cranberry sauce, and a jack-o’-lantern deco.
Save the Dates
- Veterans Day Appreciation Weekend, Nov. 9-11
- New exhibit, “Ezy Ryders,” opens Nov. 23
- Breakfasts with Santa, Dec. 1, 8, 15
- H-D Homecoming festival, July 10-13, 2025
