No name is as synonymous with motorcycles in the United States as Harley-Davidson. Founded in 1903, the company has been bringing choppers nation-wide and globally for 120 years, forging a community and legacy that’s survived the Great Depression, two World Wars, and every obstacle that’s shaken the corporate world. Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso is proud to be part of that storied history, and it’s inviting the rest of the Region to celebrate with a two-day anniversary party.
Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso is the largest multi-location Harley-Davidson dealership in the state of Indiana, so when it decides to celebrate, the Region shows up. The experts at Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso have developed a good relationship with Northwest Indiana, so their accomplishments are everyone’s accomplishments.
“A lot of people start off as customers and they turn into family,” said General Manager Jeff Haggerty. “That's really what the whole Harley-Davidson community is about. They're huge supporters of children, huge supporters of veterans, huge supporters of animals. It's a brother and sisterhood.”
The 120th anniversary party kicked off on Friday with live music from Valparaiso’s very own Head Honchos as partygoers with food and a beer garden provided by Leroy’s.
“We like to support local businesses. I mean, we're a small business, and we like to support other small businesses and local entertainment,” said Haggerty.
Folks from the Region and beyond came out to celebrate with the dealership. Many had purchased Harleys from the Valparaiso location previously, so a lot of attendees felt a sense of pride to be a part of such a wide-spread community.
“There are people that were just in yesterday from Canada,” said Haggerty. “We had a group of guys from Washington, DC, and Virginia. It's just people from all over,” said Haggerty.
At the end of the day, Harley-Davidson has been providing excellent service with expert care for over a century, and Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso is a part of that legacy. With relationships formed through consistent quality and active engagement with the community, the dealership has become a staple of Valparaiso.
“It's just a chance for everybody to get out and get together and just enjoy,” said Haggerty. “Our summer here is, in our opinion, so short. We only have a certain amount of time, so if it gets everybody out and gets everybody to enjoy the good weather, it's a nice thing to do.”
The celebration doesn’t end with the day; a second day of family-friendly activity, including the Hogs with Dogs lunch and live music from local Musician David Hagenow kick off Saturday at noon. Get out to the dealership for another afternoon of fun!
To learn more about Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso and the services it provides to the Region, visit hdvalpo.com.
