It starts with a rumble at a stoplight. Before you know it, you’re stuck behind a phalanx of growling, sputtering choppers all pointed at downtown Milwaukee. Like salmon swimming upstream to the place where they were spawned, every year thousands of Harleys return to the city that built them. And like believers on a journey to a holy site, thousands of bikers don their ceremonial leather garb. But this isn’t a pilgrimage, and these engines are running on more than instinct. Harley Davidson Homecoming is, first and foremost, a hell of a party.
For proof, look at the festival’s history of prior headliners: Foo Fighters, Green Day, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. This year’s lineup includes Jelly Roll, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Cypress Hill, all sharing the stage at Veterans Park. The rambling lawn abuts a war memorial, a 14-acre lagoon and plenty of hassle-free parking (it’s why we ride, isn’t it?) In the daytime, while the bands are warming up, you can check out the Harley Davidson museum, factory and headquarters, where the company manufactures these classic beauties, or explore the roads around Lake Michigan by joining one of several guided community rides. For a bite to eat or a drink around fellow hog-lovers, head over to Motor, a sleek, modern restaurant in the museum, or the Can Room, a darker, grungier bar in the same space. And if you’re still hungry for more rubber, ride out west to Sturgis Buffalo Chip Rally for a less Harley-centric sequel.
The Specs
- 130,000 people attended in 2023.
- Single-day GA tickets start at $125. Two-day GA tickets start at $200, or $500 for VIP.
- Check out our list of the best things to do in Milwaukee.
FAQs
Which airport is closest to the festival grounds?
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is approximately 10 miles away.
What is the bag policy?
All bags must be smaller than 12” by 6” by 12” and bags larger than 6” by 9” must be clear.
Is the festival ADA accessible?
There are designated accessibility lanes and accessible portable toilets at the festival entrances.
Which artists are on the festival lineup?
The 2024 lineup includes Jelly Roll, Hardy, Warren Zeiders, Priscilla Block, Hueston, Shaylen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Offspring, Cypress Hill, Destroy Boys, Otoboke Beaver, and Irontom.
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