Special Events

Special Events

Octoberfest in Milwaukee: Simply Wunderbar!
October 5-9, 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Welcome Reception

Saturday, October 6
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

The Welcome Reception for Octoberfest in Milwaukee will be held at the Sprecher Brewery in Glendale, Wisconsin. Buses will transport attendees from the Wyndham Hotel to Sprecher for a brewery tour and tasting of many European and traditional style beers, gourmet sodas, Wisconsin cheese and Milwaukee's own Usinger sausage. Saz's, a Milwaukee tradition for ribs, will cater some hearty hors d'oeuvres which may be sampled to a quiet background of live German music. Please join us at the Bier Tent for fun, a taste of Milwaukee, and a chance to catch up with your colleagues!

Harley-Davidson Tour

Friday, October 5
1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $10 per person
Attendance maximum: 55
Children must be 12 years old or over and accompanied by an adult. Low heeled and completely closed shoes are mandatory.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. The company was born in 1903 in a small shed located in the Davidson family´s backyard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Harley-Davidson Powertrain Plant is where the XL motorcycle engines are produced for both Harley-Davidson and Buell. During your tour, you will see firsthand how a powertrain is created. The facility is also the site of the Genuine Parts Manufacturing plant, in which over 1300 different parts are made for older model Harleys.

After the tour we will make a stop at the nearby Harley-Davidson/Buell Dealer to visit the motorcycle showroom and a gift shop that offers a large selection of merchandise for sale, including the official Milwaukee Harley-Davidson T-shirts.

See for yourself where the Harley-Davidson mystique begins!

Library Tour

Saturday, October 6
12:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Cost $5 per person
Attendance maximum: 30

Todd Wehr Library, Medical College of Wisconsin
The library was added to, chopped off, covered in plastic, divided into three separate parts, demolished, remodeled, reconstructed and totally rearranged from June 1998 - January 1999, and closed for only 5 hours. A 70´s style plain-wall, orange-carpeted library acquired a lot of network jacks, wood trim and wainscoting, and hardly resembled its former self. The tour will be given by Dick Carr, Assistant Director and point person for all of the above grief and creation.

Milwaukee Public Library
An historic landmark located in the downtown area, MPL has just completed a $10.4 million, 8-year renovation. The transformation of this 1898 building is a great example of how renovation can be a viable choice for central libraries considering major building projects. While maintaining the integrity of the original architectural bones, technology has been integrated throughout the building to serve the public in this digital age. The beauty of the building includes a lighted 3-story domed entrance with an Italian Mosaic floor, the new Krug Rare Books Room, a new grand staircase made out of Ramon gold Jerusalem stone, and the 15,000 square foot Betty Brinn Children´s Room with an original floor designed by Lois Ehlert.

Hosted Dinners

Monday, October 8

Hosted dinners will be offered for those staying in Milwaukee Monday evening. Check at the Hospitality Table to sign up for local favorites such as Karl Razsch´s and the Safe House.