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For decades, Harley-Davidson has summoned the hogs for anniversary parades every five years. Those rides occasionally ended with big-name concerts at Veterans Park, but the company made music a priority for last year’s reimagined Homecoming Festival. The four-day expanded fest resulted in record numbers: 130,000 attendees and 70,000 bikes roaring through the streets.
Only one year later, the festival is back – but don’t expect a parade. Those will still happen in their usual five-year cycle, says Bill Davidson, vice president of the Harley-Davidson Museum. “But we also felt like doing a homecoming every year and really starting to build Milwaukee into a bigger destination.”
That means bringing headlining acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jelly Roll and Cypress Hill to Veterans Park, along with bike stunts from Nitro Circus. The Harley-Davidson Museum is returning as a venue, but H-D has a new spot to celebrate as well. The long-awaited Davidson Park, next to the company’s historic headquarters, will make its debut with a vintage bike show.
This year’s festival will also recognize Willie G. Davidson, who designed classic models like the Fat Boy and the Low Rider.
Davidson says that these occasions are a great reason for Harley riders to visit Milwaukee once again. “Our riders always say how wonderful it is to be welcomed by so many people to the birthplace of Harley-Davidson.”
