By MELISSA McCORD
Associated Press Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Harley-Davidson Inc. topped off its 100th birthday celebration Sunday by bringing 150,000 devoted followers together at Milwaukee's lakefront for a party featuring country star Tim McGraw, rocker Kid Rock and Elton John as its mystery guests.
McGraw rode to the stage on a Harley and went straight into a set. Kid Rock later joined him in a song, drawing the loudest applause of the night at that point, and then did more songs with McGraw's band.
After McGraw completed the set, a large gospel choir filled the stage and sang as dozens of spotlights swirled their beams over the audience, forming a cone or wheel shape.
John later took his seat at the piano, getting a mixed reaction from the biker crowd.
Evelyn Hickey, of Austin, Texas, said she likes John but didn't think it was the best choice for the Harley event. She and her group were leaving after his first song rather than waiting for a closing fireworks show.
"We all just are tired," she said. "It's been a long day."
Jeremy Wilburn, 22, of Olive Hill, Ky., also was on his way out. "Look at all the people leaving, that tells the story right there," he said.
The thousands of fans of the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker spent Labor Day weekend taking in everything Harley _ including motorcycle exhibits, memorabilia sales and a 10,000-motorcycle parade that rumbled through the city Saturday.
Harley-Davidson handed out 150,000 free tickets to the party, which centered around a large stage built within feet of Lake Michigan just for the occasion. As the concert went on and some people began leaving, others were able to walk in and join the crowd without tickets.
The company kept the headlining acts shrouded in secrecy virtually until the moment they took the stage.
As the show began, fireworks shot from the sides of the stage. Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd welcomed the crowd and the Doobie Brothers opened the concert.
"We're a biker band. We believe that riding can set you free," said Pat Simmons, of the Doobies.
As the Doobies played their last song, 20 Harley workers rode 2004-model motorcycles onto the stage, 10 from each side, crossed in front of the band and parked in front of the stage as flames shot out from the stage floor.
The event took a serious tone when Harley CEO Jeffrey Bleustein announced Harley riders had raised $7.2 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and presented a check for that amount to MDA representatives.
"We all know that the real magic of Harley-Davidson is in the people who are drawn to it," Bleustein said. "Harley-Davidson has reached 100 years because of the passion and the loyality of people like you."
Aykroyd led children involved in the MDA in singing "Happy Birthday" to Harley.
The size of the crowd seemed to overwhelm the concession stands, resulting in lines stretching to nearly 80 people deep.
Despite waiting nearly an hour for food, John D'Agostino said the event was more organized than he'd expected.
"This isn't bad for 100,000 people," said D'Agostino, 38, of suburban New Berlin.
Pete Jeremich, 45, from Rochester, N.Y., said the four-day celebration has special meaning to him because he met his wife, Sandy, at the company's 85th anniversary.
"I've been riding this thing for over a quarter of a century so it's time to celebrate. It's been a love affair for 25 years," he said.
The day was overcast and mild, with people lounging on blankets and staking out spots in the grassy area in front of the stage as they waited for Sunday night's concert.
Two large Harley-Davidson banners flanked the stage.
"Ever since William Harley and Arthur Davidson produced their first motorcycle, Americans have been in love with the speed and power of Harley-Davidson," President Bush said in a taped message shown on screens on each side of the stage.
Gov. Jim Doyle and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson also appeared in video birthday greetings.
"Just remember when you're on a Harley-Davidson, you're riding the best machine ever made by mankind," Thompson said, earning a huge cheer.
Many at the party said Harley is the quintessential American company.
"It doesn't get any more American than Harley-Davidson," said Jim Griffin, 38, of New Milford, Conn.
Melinda Presnal, 48, Tenafly, N.J., said she enjoyed the celebration's patriotism because she and her husband live near New York City and were affected by the terrorist attacks.
"This is bringing people together and unifying people and that's good especially after all that's happened," she said.
Mark Tomlinson, 48, from North Pole, Alaska, said everyone in the nation should take pride in Harley's birthday.
"It's a success story and it was almost gone at one time," he said. "It's American made so it's a pride thing."
Thousands of leather-clad bikers cruised to southeastern Wisconsin over the past week to pay homage to Harley, which started in 1903 when William Harley and Arthur Davidson made their first motorcycles in a backyard shed in Milwaukee.
Harley had expected to draw 200,000 to 300,000 people for the festivities, which included nightly block parties around the city, music at the city's Summerfest grounds and Saturday's parade of 10,000 gleaming motorcycles through the heart of the city.
___
On the Net:
Harley-Davidson: http://www.harley-davidson.com
Door
County news 
