by Noella Noelophile®
A man in his late twenties trots down the street, pulling two children in a red wagon festooned with red, white and blue balloons. It’s 9:30 a.m. on the Fourth of July.
The kids yell, “Hurry up, Daddy!” as they make their way towards the beach.
A girl, about nine years old, freezes with stage fright when her name is called to give a patriotic speech. Her turn passes, she blinks back tears and a beauty queen puts an arm around her and whispers in her ear.
Ten minutes later, the girl stands tall and delivers her speech–which turns out to be one of the best of the day.
The winner of the “Southern California National Anthem Sing-Off” starts singing “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Her accompanying instrumental cuts out midway. The singer looks uncertain whether to continue, but her audience picks up the next line–and everyone completes a rousing rendition together.
These are just three of my favorite memories of the annual Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade, in Long Beach.
This is Americana at its best–and it’s just about to happen again.
2018 marks the fifteenth Great American Kids’ Bike Parade, happening Wednesday morning at 1 Granada in Long Beach.
Hosted by Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team, the Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade is a free community event. “Kids” of all ages are invited to walk the two-mile route or ride their decorated bicycles along the bike path along Long Beach’s Ocean Boulevard.
(You may want to plan to get there early. We’ve been able to park in the beach-adjacent lot without a problem in the past, but Fourth of July traffic can be heavy.)
At 9:30, the kids’ patriotic speech contest is scheduled. Speeches are limited to 90 seconds, maximum.
Next? The kids’ patriotic costume contest, at 9:50.
Then, at 10:00, according to Justin Rudd’s webpage, the winner of the 2018 National Anthem Sing-Off Contest (which C.A.T. also hosts) will do the honors.
Then–off to the bike track!
We’ve seen some very creative decorated bicycles in the years we’ve attended the Great American Kids’ Bike Parade. This is a Fourth of July tradition we always enjoy.
All of the above events are free, but advance registration is required. (Onsite registration is available, as well.) “Spectating” is free, as well.
By law, kids in the bike parade must wear helmets, and be escorted by parents. No motor driven bikes or dogs on the bike path, please.
Meanwhile, be sure to stay for the awards ceremony, at the conclusion of the parade.
And as Long Beach “Chief Inspiration Officer” Justin Rudd exuberantly called out, pedaling his own bicycle into the start of one parade:
“Happy Fourth of Julyyyyyyy!”
The Great American Kids’ Bike Parade starts at 10:00, Wednesday morning, July 4, at 1 Granada (near East Ocean Boulevard) in Long Beach. Onsite registration will be available, and kids can also register for the patriotic speech contest and costume contest, happening at 9:30 and 9:50, respectively.