Harley-Davidson® Euro Festival, South of France
Motorcycles and Simple Minds rocked the French Riviera for the Harley-Davidson® Euro Festival, from June 7-10, 2018
- 20,000 fans and 17,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles attended this iconic event, held over four days in Grimaud, Golfe de Saint-Tropez
- Global legends Simple Minds headlined the music lineup, with live music on three stages every night
- The latest Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including the all-new Sportster Iron 1200™ and Forty-Eight® Special, plus exclusive special edition 115th Anniversary motorcycles were on display in the Expo area
- 100s of riders got to test their dream Harley-Davidson on local roads and 100s more took part in Guided Tours
- The parade featured more than 1400 bikes riding through picturesque towns and villages including the city of Saint-Tropez itself
- Exciting driving experiences of the entire Jeep® line-up and all-new Wrangler on display
The combination of iconic Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and the glorious scenery of the French Riviera was a perfect match once again as the Harley-Davidson Euro Festival rolled into Grimaud, Golfe de Saint-Tropez from June 7-10th, 2018, kicking off a summer of celebrations for Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary year.
The Mediterranean sun shone once again on the chrome and paintwork of more than 17,000 bikes, drawn to the beautiful beachfront of Prairies de la Mer on the Cote d’Azur, while the bars and restaurants around Port Grimaud and Saint-Tropez heaved with some 20,000 Harley riders and fans.
Throughout the weekend a vast range of activities kept riders entertained, with all of Harley-Davidson’s 2018 model range on display at the stunning Expo, including the all-new Sportster Iron 1200™ and Forty-Eight® Special, plus exclusive special edition 115th Anniversary motorcycles. Riders also had the opportunity to test-ride the latest motorcycles for real at the Demo Area. There was also plenty to see and buy in the retail areas including Harley dealers, independent traders and the artisan craftsmen of the Freeway Zone. Plus hair and beard trims!
The music line-up was hugely impressive too, catering for a wide range of tastes on three stages: the Harley Bar, the al fresco Long Bar, and of course the Main Stage where Saturday night’s headliners were the legendary Simple Minds.
The Jeep® brand was once again present as the major event sponsor, with a test drive area highlighting the quality and off-road abilities of its model range. The new Jeep® Wrangler was on display for all event-goers to admire the latest generation of the undisputed off-road champion which is equally at ease on city streets. Among the activities, branded hospitality, a zip line and a dedicated Mopar® exhibition area.
The Custom Bike Show in nearby Grimaud village once again brought together the work of some of Europe’s best custom bike builders, in a show that drew huge crowds to see the bikes and listen to the live music in the hilltop location. The magnificent – and highly coveted – Best In Show award was taken by a jaw-dropping build based on an Ironhead Sportster® by Italy’s Radikal Chopper.
Saturday’s Parade gave some 1,400 Harley riders the chance to take to the streets en masse – with locals lining the streets of Saint-Tropez and the boulevards of the local villages and towns to see the police-escorted trail of bikes taking in the beautiful sweeping roads and unique scenery of the region.
For more information on Harley-Davidson European events, please visit http://events.harley-davidson.com/.