Summer is coming to an end, but the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee is keeping the party rolling with activities and deals throughout the month and year. This year, the Museum celebrates 15 years with a four-pack ticket deal for $15! Take advantage of this deal to check out the Mama Tried exhibit, the My Papi Has a Motorcycle exhibit, and others.
The Harley-Davidson Museum Bike Night series continues through the end of September with free live musical performances every Thursday night. Continue reading below for the Bike Night musical schedule. Saturday Demos continue until the end of September as well, so take advantage of a chance to ride a new H-D motorcycle, especially now that the new CVO Road Glide and Street Glide are part of the fleet.
The MOTOR Bar & Restaurant on campus is serving up some delicious specials this month, so swing by during your visit to the museum to refuel and connect.
More activities and exhibits are listed in the press release below. Continue reading for more information.
MILWAUKEE, WI (August 31, 2023) – Forget what you heard about the changing of the seasons with the arrival of PSL (pumpkin spice lameness) – it’s still summer in southeastern Wisconsin! And that means the Harley-Davidson Museum campus will still be the hottest spot found in Milwaukee.
The inaugural H-D Q: End-of-Summer Sale & Picnic kicks off this week! Beginning with Bike Night on Aug. 31, the holiday weekend will feature the return of the H-D Factory Outlet sale, free live music, stunt shows, boonie bike races, and a pig roast from MOTOR Bar & Restaurant. Celebrate the end of summer and create more memories during H-D’s epic 120th Anniversary year.
And don’t forget: We want you to be a part of the H-D Museum’s 15th Anniversary celebration. Score a four-pack of general-admission tickets online for use on the 15th of each remaining month in 2023 (9/15/2023, 10/15/2023, 11/15/2023, or 12/15/2023) for only $15! These four-packs are on-sale now and advance online purchases are required to visit on the 15th of the month. You choose the month you wish to redeem the tickets. Same-day purchases are allowed. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum website for details. It’s the perfect time to check out the recently opened special exhibit, “Mama Tried: Bringing it Together,” and see custom builds and art fresh from the show floor.
Programming/Events
Harley-Davidson’s 15th Anniversary Celebration
In honor of the H-D Museum’s 15th anniversary, we have an exclusive offer: a four-pack of general admission tickets for only $15 will be available for use on the 15th of the month, valid for use in September, October, November, or December 2023. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum website for details.
H-D Q: End-of-Summer Sale & Picnic, Aug. 31 – Sept 3
As we approach the end of the summer, we can’t help but share the excitement about our upcoming four-day Labor Day celebration, and we want you to be part of it all. An end-of-the-season sale for the H-D Factory Outlet and live music from Screamin’ Cucumbers will kick off the festivities at Bike Night on Thursday, August 31. From there, we’ve curated a lineup of events that cater to everyone – from moto enthusiasts to families and more. We’ll have free live music daily, concessions and a pig roast from MOTOR Bar & Restaurant, model year ’23 motorcycle demos, and tattoo artists. You can also check out our new “Mama Tried: Bringing it Together” exhibit, along with Flat Out Friday Boonie Bike Races and Division BMX Stunt Shows. We can’t wait to close out the summer with you!
H-D Museum Bike Night Concert Series powered by Budweiser King of Beers and Bulleit Bourbon, Thursdays, 5 – 9 p.m.
All wheels unite every Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Join riders (and non- riders) for free live music from some of our favorite bands, fun, drool-worthy rolling sculptures, and outdoor food and beverage specials from MOTOR. The Bike Night Koozie Special is back. Enjoy $3 Busch Light all-season. And don’t forget to check out the signature cocktails from Bulleit.
- 8/31 Screamin’ Cucumbers kicks off the H-D Q Labor Day weekend
- 9/7 Rock-A-Diles
- 9/14 Driftwood
- 9/21 The Whiskeybelles 9/28 Mixtape (finale)
Saturday Demos powered by H-D Insurance, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (through Sept. 30)
Visit the Museum campus on Saturdays to experience the fun and freedom of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Riders with their motorcycle endorsement/license will be able to choose from a dozen of the latest and greatest #FreedomMachines from Harley-Davidson, including Touring, Softail, and Sportster models. Plus, the all-new CVO Road Glide and CVO Street Glide are now a part of the fleet. A pre-determined scenic route through the Menomonee Valley will give riders the chance to explore the H-D Museum’s surrounding neighborhoods. Sign-up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Riders and passengers must be at least 18 years of age. All riders (and passengers) must wear a helmet, eye protection, shirt, long pants, and closed-toe shoes with heel strap. All riders and passengers must bring their own riding gear.
Looking for interesting things to do and ways to fully enjoy our programs and exhibits? The Harley-Davidson Museum Annual Pass offers individual, family, and VIP levels to fit your lifestyle. Just some of the perks of the new Annual Pass include: virtual access to the H-D Museum with various Harley history topics covered in our Virtual Gallery Talk series, admission discounts, free admission for children under age 18, merchandise discounts at The Shop, dining discounts at MOTOR Bar & Restaurant, and more. Visit the Harley-Davidson Museum website for details and other terms and conditions.
Get closer to the artifacts, exhibits, and stories with a guided tour of the H-D Museum! There are three specially designed tours in our experience portfolio:
- The VIP Tour is ideal for special guests and special occasions.
- Our Beyond the Gate Tour takes guests into the motorcycle vault.
- Everyone will love the Spotlight Tour, which is a perfect intro to the story of Harley-Davidson Group bookings are available for 2-50 guests. Call 414-287-2799 or email groups@h-dmuseum.com for reservations. Check out the tour calendar for public tour availability, too.
Engineering Merit Badge (Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. and Sundays at 2:15 p.m.)
All scouts are welcome to come earn their Engineering Merit Badge at the Harley-Davidson Museum! This experience will be launched by our merit badge counselor. Then, scouts will 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, welcome and orientation by program facilitator, 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.
Valley Week, Sept. 23 – 30
Valley Week showcases unique and fun ways to experience nature, destinations, and history in the heart of Milwaukee! With the state’s largest entertainment destinations, miles of trails, acres of green space, and the Menomonee River – it’s always a good time to visit the Valley!
Must-See Exhibits and Installations
“Mama Tried: Bringing it Together” (on display now)
The Mama Tried Motorcycle Show and adjoining Flat Out Friday races are a bright spot in the dead of cold, Wisconsin winters. The show has amassed an army of followers and fans that give the weekend its signature style: People are the heart of the show; the bikes are the social lubrication. The Harley-Davidson Museum’s special exhibit, “Mama Tried: Bringing it Together,” focuses on the builders, the Racers, and the fans that gather over a bike or a brew.
A riot of bikes await you this summer: outrageous custom bikes, lovingly restored vintage machines, and one as rare as hen’s teeth – 1929 FHAC with FLXI Sidecar Factory Racer. Don’t come alone; bring your crew. That’s what Mama Tried is about, after all.
“My Papi Has a Motorcycle” / “Mi Papi Tiene una Moto” (on display now)
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.
Experience Gallery (on display now)
With inspiring stories from riders who have turned their dream of learning to ride into reality, a look at the epic journeys you can only experience behind the bars of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, plus the chance to throw a leg over a new 2023 Harley-Davidson #FreedomMachine, the reinstalled and all-new Experience Gallery shows the world how United We Ride! And now you can hop in the saddle of the newest Ultra Limited Anniversary, Road Glide Trike, Pan America Special, and Nightster motorcycles – the perfect photo op to commemorate your visit.
Keep the 120th Anniversary celebration going with two new pieces from the Archives team on Google Arts & Culture. “120 Years of Style” showcases the instant iconic pieces and those that are just plain cool. Take the long view with this glimpse of historic Harley-Davidson apparel. And “Celebrating 120 Years of Harley-Davidson” chronicles the party that is like no other. This year, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company celebrates 120 years of uninterrupted production. The celebrations of milestone anniversaries have themselves become historic events for HDMC, the riders, and the city of Milwaukee.
The H-D Museum @ 15 (on display now)
The Harley-Davidson Museum opened its doors for the first time in 2008. With 130,000 square-feet of factory-like buildings that honor Milwaukee’s industrial heritage and 20 acres of park-like space to gather, the H-D Museum was over 100 years in the making. Explore more about the construction and grand opening in a new display at the H-D Museum entrance.
Linda “Jo” Giovannoni (on display now)
In 2022, the world of motorcycling lost a prominent voice, Linda “Jo” Giovannoni. As a co-founder of Harley Women magazine, she shared her love of the sport through articles in newspapers and magazines, and in national television interviews and documentaries. Learn about how Giovannoni inspired riders for over 40 years.
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 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’s 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.
“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.
Harley-Davidson Shop + H-D Factory Outlet
If you didn’t get the chance to snag some 120th Anniversary gear – or if you just need more in your closet – a special selection of merchandise sold at Veteran’s Park during the 120th is now available on campus. And you don’t want to miss the sale during our H-D Q event, kicking off at Bike Night and running through Sunday in The Garage over Labor Day weekend. This sale will be double the fun of our sale in June, featuring more than twice the amount of inventory and more selections of the featured products – including $10 T-shirts! Stop by to shop the sale in The Garage first, then bring your receipt to the H-D Shop for a free gift with a purchase of $20 or more. Shop early to get the best selection and to participate in our limited-quantity specials and gift with purchase offer. Please note: This is a credit card- only sale.
MOTOR Bar & Restaurant
Our new Chef, Doug Stringer, has put together a great slate of specials for September. Come in to MOTOR and enjoy Pork Belly Barbacoa Elote Salad, Surf & Turf Po’boy and Peach & Fire Roasted Apple Cobbler!
September Specials (while supplies last):
Appetizer of the Month: Pork Belly Barbacoa Elote Salad ($18.95)
Smoked barbacoa rubbed pork belly, creamy corn salad, garden greens, Heirloom tomato, pickled red onion, queso fresco, chile-lime vinaigrette.
Sandwich of the Month: Surf & Turf Po’boy ($21.95)
Grilled marinated shrimp & sirloin steak, romaine lettuce, tomato, remoulade, whipped roasted garlic & herb LaClare Farms chevre, on a toasted bomber bun.
Dessert of the Month: Peach & Fire Roasted Apple Cobbler ($9.95) Served with apple compote, peach cream silk, cinnamon & coriander lace.
MOTOR will also be presenting a new trivia series in the CAN Room starting in October. We have partnered with Geeks Who Drink on Wednesday nights for two-hour trivia sessions; a fun, engaging, and competitive trivia session will be a great way to be challenged this autumn. Stay tuned for more details in the next few weeks.
1903 Events
The holidays are coming up, and 1903 Events is ready to help our clients make their event sparkle! We have the perfect place to host your team gathering. Our variety of spaces are ready to accommodate any event, big or small. For short-term bookings, we’ve created a special Happy Hour menu for private events that can be held in MOTOR and the adjacent bar, CAN Room. Book your event now through October 31st in MOTOR or CAN room and receive special limited-time pricing, including an offer on Happy Hour cocktails.
