Harley Rock 'N' Race Bad Tölz

Three Festival Days on Two Wheels in Upper Bavaria

When the first Milwaukee Iron V-twins roar through Bad Tölz in August, it's clear: Harley Rock 'N' Race is just around the corner. The festival has been a firm date in the Southern German motorcycle calendar since 2013 and is considered Southern Germany's largest Harley meeting. The venue is the iconic Jailhouse American Diner in Moraltpark, Bad Tölz, a Bavarian original with US DNA. For three days, the area, covering over 5,000 square meters with 3,333 bike parking spaces, transforms into its own little biker town.

Live Rock, Custom Bikes, and Burlesque

Over ten live bands play rock, blues, country, and outlaw country on the various stages of the festival grounds. More than 40 exhibitors present custom bike parts, leather clothing, helmets, jewelry, and culinary specialties – from pulled pork to burritos. The Custom Bike Show is a highlight of the weekend: on Saturday and Sunday, bikers present their individually built machines to a professional jury that judges them based on overall impression, build quality, and paintwork. In addition, burlesque shows, fire shows, and a hot dog eating contest ensure a lively atmosphere.

The Grand Charity Ride Through Bad Tölz

The centerpiece of the festival is the Charity Ride on Saturday: a guided tour of several hundred Harley-Davidsons through Bad Tölz and the Tölzer Land region. The spectacular parade along the famous Tölzer Marktstraße is a free show for the town and an emotional highlight for the participants. Proceeds from admission and the raffle go to the Biker Charity Run; over 13 years, around €150,000 has been raised for charitable causes.

Families Welcome, Dogs on Leash

Despite its tough biker aesthetic, Harley Rock 'N' Race is explicitly family-friendly: children under 12 get free admission, and many families and children accompany their parents. Dogs are welcome on a leash. The local police ensure safety – walking speed applies on the festival grounds. Overall, visitors experience a respectful, exuberant atmosphere far beyond the clichés.

Bad Tölz – the Bavarian Biker City

Bad Tölz, in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, is the largest town in the Tölzer Land region with 19,000 inhabitants. The historic Marktstraße with its painted Lüftlmalerei houses, the salt spa, and its proximity to the Prealps make Bad Tölz the perfect location for a motorcycle meeting: biker routes in the Bavarian Alps start practically on the doorstep. With Harley Rock 'N' Race, Bad Tölz has developed into the Upper Bavarian capital of the Harley scene.