Still crazy after all these years
From June 21st to 23rd, the Hamburg Harley Days celebrated the 110th birthday of Harley-Davidson and its own “ten year”
Harley and Hamburg are a very special relationship. After all, the first Milwaukee Irons often found their way to Germany via Hamburg's harbor.
So the Hanseatic people didn't have to wait long when it came to properly celebrating two anniversaries this year: 110 years of Harley-Davidson and 10 years of Hamburg Harley Days, which meant lots of surprises and an entertainment program on the third weekend in June 2013 , which more than lived up to the occasion.
The center of the action was once again the 40,000 m2 tent city “Harley Village” at the Hamburg wholesale market.
The open space, which has been tried and tested for years, also turned out to be a hit on the event's anniversary with its combination of great city views and generous space for the numerous caterers, retailers and independent traders. Spectacular stunt shows, free test drives and live music acts from Lake, Andrew Strong and nine other bands formed a completely harmonious overall package.
The highlights of the anniversary edition included the large expo and experience tent, in which not only the latest Harleys but also an exhibition on the history of the brand could be admired, and the “Harley Days Night Parades”, which provided many a fiery moment.
Anyone who wanted to enjoy the city's nightlife to the full afterwards also had the opportunity to park their machine safely in the new safe parking area for the first time.
See and be seen was the motto at night at the second event location on the Reeperbahn and on Saturday afternoon on Mönckebergstrasse, where the best V-twin tuners in the motorcycle scene gathered.
Under the strict eyes of the jury, which included Harley fans and actors Till Demtrøder, Stephan Luca and Kostja Ullmann, the Ride-In Bike Show featured numerous high-quality unique items.
On Sunday, around 10,000 bikers honored their hosts under the leadership of Till Demtrøder and TV chef Horst Lichter at the large motorcycle parade, a good 43 km long, across Hamburg.
A shared experience that thrilled both bikers and onlookers with the special charm of the harbor metropolis - and put a big permanent grin on the faces of both Demtrøder and Lichter.
Around 550,000 visitors were counted at the three event locations over the three days, and it is certain that the party will continue in 2014: The Hamburg Harley Days 2014 is expected to take place from June 20th to 22nd!
Text & Images: Copyright Harley-Davidson 2013