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The second Harley Dome Cologne was a resounding success

• More than 12,000 visitors at the event site at Tanzbrunnen
• Large trader area, history exhibition, after-show party, and parade
• Live rock music by Michael Schenker, Cologne stars, and others

Under the motto „More Bikes, More Music, More Cologne,“ the venerable cathedral city was turned upside down for an entire weekend: From May 23 to 24, Cologne was in a festive mood, as the Harley Dome Cologne took place for the second time in North Rhine-Westphalia's largest metropolis. The heart of the event beat on the right bank of the Rhine, because only from here do you have the perfect view of the cathedral and the picturesque old town. But the stars of the event were not Cologne's landmarks, but thousands of motorcycles. Over 12,000 bikers, party and music fans made the pilgrimage from near and far to meet friends, talk about gasoline, and celebrate.

On Friday evening, motorcyclists filled the quaint streets of the old town, the Hard Rock Cafe hosted a meet and greet party with guitarist Jimmy Cornett, and the evening came to a close with cocktails at the Hilton Hotel's Ice Bar.

From Saturday onwards, the organizers had pulled out all the stops at the event site at the Tanzbrunnen: even more accessory, fashion, and food stands than at last year's debut event encouraged visitors to stroll, feast, and shop. In addition to the chill beach club on the banks of the Rhine, this year's event featured beverage islands and plenty of seating areas on the grounds, as well as an after-show party on Saturday, inviting visitors to relax. The dark factory custom bikes from the US manufacturer and the German „Custom Kings“ were presented in a Dark Custom Area.

The major exhibition marking the anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, featuring original machines from the model's fifty-year history, attracted numerous visitors to the Tanzbrunnen Theater. And right next door, visitors were able to test drive the latest V-Twin versions from Milwaukee, as the large Harley trucks had brought an entire armada of current bikes to Cologne specifically for this purpose.

The bike photo shoot and the Jeep adventure course put big smiles on the faces of visitors. The artistically converted custom bikes, which competed against each other in a big contest, sparked a lot of shop talk. However, it wasn't just the many V-Twins that were responsible for the good vibrations, as powerful bands rocked the large open-air stage on both days. Highlights included Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock on Saturday evening and the cream of Cologne's music scene on Sunday.

Of course, the bikers didn't miss the opportunity to pay tribute to Cologne with a big parade. Under the motto „Against intolerance in road traffic,“ the steel dragon of around 5,500 motorcycles wound its way across the Rhine and through the city on Saturday – much to the delight of Cologne residents and visitors alike, as it's rare to see so many Harleys in action. A successful event and a reason to celebrate again next year. More information will be available shortly at www.harleydomecologne.de.

Text copyright Harley-Davidson Germany GmbH (Image credits: Rösler/Rieger/Harley-Davidson)