Jr. Patriot Report - September 2026
Fall Ride
A lot of bikers like to attend organized motorcycle events. These gatherings can be a single day ride or an event including entertainment, food, and vendors lasting a week. On almost any given weekend during the riding season, you can find a motorcycle run or rally somewhere in Wisconsin. Even ABATE of Wisconsin has its own four day “Summer Hummer” every June.
One of the bigger motorcycle events in the Midwest happens in northern Wisconsin. On the third weekend of September, every year, tens of thousands of bikers come to the small town of Tomahawk for the Tomahawk Fall Ride (or as it's now called, the Northwoods Fall Ride.) This biker event was started 45 years ago and has grown into a rally which attracts riders from all over the country. While some of the popular national bike rallies, like at Sturgis or Daytona Beach, started out as motorcycle races, the Tomahawk Ride started out to raise money for charity (specifically, the Muscular Dystrophy Association) and still does.
For the four days (Thursday through Sunday) of the Fall Ride, Tomahawk becomes the center or the biker universe. Tomahawk's SARA Park on the Wisconsin River becomes biker central, with food and product vendors, bike games, and bike shows. Several blocks of West Wisconsin Avenue in Tomahawk are closed to all vehicles except motorcycles, where more food and biker products are available, along with live music in the evenings. The local Harley Davidson dealership in nearby Arbor Vitae has an open house and offers demo rides on new Harleys. The State Patrol does some riding demonstrations, and the local Harley factory has tours. Friday night also features the Thunder Parade, where hundreds of motorcycles go on a short ride (18 miles) and end in downtown Tomahawk.
The fun is not limited to Tomahawk either. The Fall Ride is timed to take advantage of the changing colors of the trees in the fall. Many of the bikers attending go by themselves, in small groups or on one of the organized rides to enjoy the great roads and fall beauty of Wisconsin's Northwoods. Many places in Lincoln and Oneida counties offer refreshments and live music for the Fall Ride. One campground in Lake Nokomis (north of Tomahawk) starts the festivities early, offering food, merchandise, live music and other entertainment for bikers all week.
Hopefully, you will get a chance to enjoy the fun and camaraderie of the Northwoods Fall Ride or some similar event, if you haven't already. Unfortunately, some in our government and society indirectly look to eliminate our ability to enjoy these events and our freedom of the road. This could be by releasing untested robotic driven cars on the roads, limiting our fuel and engine choices, or limiting service and repair options. ABATE of Wisconsin, and other motorcyclist rights groups are actively working to make sure the roads and rallies always stay open and safe for everyone.
John
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