The 2023 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival roared into Milwaukee from July 13 to 16, drawing moto-enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to celebrate the iconic motorcycle brand’s remarkable 120-year history.
- The festival, featuring a thrilling blend of music and moto-culture, left attendees awestruck with its headline performances by Green Day and Foo Fighters, along with a variety of captivating events across the Milwaukee area.
- Over the weekend, 73,000 motorcycles lined the museum grounds and Sixth Street, attracting 130,000 attendees.
At Veterans Park on the picturesque Milwaukee Lakefront, Green Day and Foo Fighters took center stage on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively, performing to electrifying crowds of more than 80,000 motorcycle and music enthusiasts.
Preceding the headlining acts were stellar performances by Abby Jeanne, KennyHoopla, Phantogram, and The Cult on July 14, while July 15 witnessed extraordinary sets by Ghost Hounds, White Reaper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Cody Jinks. Additionally, the Nitro Circus delivered an adrenaline-pumping freestyle motocross show, and the Ives Brothers’ Wall of Death & Ball of Steel showcased exhilarating stunts, offering a family-friendly experience.
The celebrations extended to the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds, where Bike Night kicked off the festivities on Thursday. Over the weekend, 73,000 motorcycles lined the museum grounds and Sixth Street, attracting 130,000 attendees who enjoyed food trucks, Flat Out Friday Boonie Bike races, motorcycle displays, and demo rides of the latest 2023 Harley-Davidson models, including the electrifying LiveWire and Stacyc electric vehicles.
The Division BMX Stunt Show, custom and vintage motorcycle displays, and evening musical entertainment featuring headliners Hairball, The Jimmys, The Now Band, Rust Bucket Road Trip, and The Toys and Rebel Grace added to the excitement.
Notably, the Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Menomonee Falls hosted engaging activities such as demos of 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, factory tours, and impressive Police Skills Riding Demonstrations.
The festival’s grand finale was the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary Motorcycle Parade on Sunday, which saw 7,000 motorcycles revving their engines as they paraded through Wisconsin Avenue to downtown Milwaukee, concluding at Veterans Park on the lakefront. Enthusiastic crowds gathered along the route, cheering and waving in admiration.
To ensure that all roads led to Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson devised six exhilarating Ride In routes starting from various points across North America, culminating in the Homecoming festivities. Riders had the freedom to join at any point along the routes and ride at their own pace, fostering a sense of camaraderie among fellow H-D enthusiasts.
Moreover, the festival witnessed the consumer debut of the new 2023 Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) Motorcycles, the CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide models, which showcased cutting-edge technology, enhanced rider comfort, and dynamic performance driven by the powerful new Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 engine. These awe-inspiring motorcycles were showcased at the Harley-Davidson Museum Garage area and available for demos at the Company’s Powertrain Operations facility.
The 2023 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival was undoubtedly an unforgettable celebration of motorcycle culture, uniting riders from around the world to commemorate 120 years of the legendary Harley-Davidson brand. As the festival concluded, the anticipation for next year’s event, scheduled for July 25-28, 2024, reached new heights, promising even more excitement and thrills in the years to come.
