Riders parade through Milwaukee

Engines roared through downtown Milwaukee on Sunday as thousands of riders celebrated the famous Milwaukee-based motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson Motor Co. in the company’s 115th anniversary parade.

Around 6,500 people rode in the parade from North 45th Street and West Wisconsin Avenue down to the shore of Lake Michigan.

Riders selected to be in the parade showed off vintage bikes alongside newer models with custom paint jobs (one even looked like a cow). Onlookers lined Wisconsin Avenue down to the lakefront watching the bikes go by.

The parade showcased the united independence of Harley riders as they waved flags from countries across the globe from custom bikes while showing off sound systems with rock and country music. Large groups from Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Great Britain made their way down Wisconsin Avenue with riders from the U.S.

That’s Matt Anfang’s favorite part of the parade. “Seeing the flags on the back of people’s bikes — it’s amazing,” Anfang said. “I mean, we just came here from Kenosha, but there are people from all over the world.”

Flavio Teixeira traveled from Brazil to Milwaukee with a group of 10 riders.

“It’s exciting just to see this celebrated and remember the origins of the company,” he said.

The parade was planned to end at Veterans Park, but due to heavy rains Saturday night event officials canceled events there. Events scheduled for the park, including a Nightrain concert, did not take place.

“It’s a mud hole,” said Wendy Roe of Sheboygan. “Look at my shoes,” she said pointing to her black leather riding boots caked in mud.

Parade riders continued north on Lincoln Memorial Drive and bypassed the park at the end of the route. Riders could still park, pick up anniversary pins and use the restrooms at the park.

The event capped a weekend of activities across Milwaukee from racing at Bradford Beach, live music and factory tours to street parties on Brady and South 5th streets. The 115th anniversary attracted more than 100,000 people to Milwaukee.

JOURNAL SENTINEL MICHAEL SEARS / MILWAUKEE A rider reaches out to greet onlookers. The Harley-Davidson 115th anniversary parade included thousands of motorcycles traveling through the streets of Milwaukee on Sunday. The parade started at Miller Park and continued east on Wisconsin Avenue through downtown, ending at the lakefront.

MICHAEL SEARS / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL David Zien, former Wisconsin state senator for the 23rd Senate District, waves to the crowd as he passes by on his three-wheeled Harley-Davidson motorcycle with full-size American and Wisconsin flags. Zien has logged more than 2 million miles riding motorcycles, and lost part of his left leg in a highway crash in Florida.