by Noella Noelophile®
When the audio system failed, the crowd’s patriotic spirit didn’t.
That was just one of the best parts of last year’s Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade celebration in Long Beach.
Now, Justin Rudd and his nonprofit Community Action Team are preparing the 2015 edition–and you and your family are invited.
One week from tomorrow (which is, unbelievably, the Fourth of July–already!) Justin and company would like everyone to come be a part of this year’s free celebration. Participants can begin registering their decorated bikes for the 2015 Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade at 8:15 that morning, at the beach bike path at 1 Granada Avenue. The parade itself starts at 10 am.
$10 cash prizes will be awarded for the top ten best decorated bikes. Creativity, originality, use of red, white and blue and spectator appeal will all be considerations for the judges.
There will also be a costume competition and best patriotic speech contest for ages 12 and under, following the 2-mile-long ride along the beach bicycle path.
Officially, the Great American 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade starts at 10 am next Saturday, July 4th. Besides coming to find parking and register, though, you’re likely to want to be there early anyway. This is a local community celebration at its best.
Last year, more than 500 participants took to their red-white-and-blue decorated vehicles for a morning ride along the beach, according to organizer and Long Beach “Chief Inspiration Officer” Justin Rudd’s Facebook page.
At the start of the 10 am festivities, then-Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell was on hand, with Justin, Long Beach Fire Chief Mike DuRee, Third District Councilman Gary DeLong and local beauty pageant winners who would serve as contest judges.
Ceremonies started with the singing of the National Anthem, courtesy of the winner of Community Action Team’s “National Anthem Singing Contest, which had taken place about two weeks earlier. The gathered crowd sang along.
As with any live event, there was an element of the unexpected. The audio instrumental behind the singer faltered and gave out, during the first verse. The crowd sang louder–and vocalist and attendees finished the song together a cappella. (While she had the musical talent, everyone there had the heart worthy of the applause that followed!)
Then, it was time for a parade.
Justin jumped onto his bike and led the way down the path, with an exuberant shout of, “Happy Fourth of Julyyyyyyy!” Parade participants followed.
After the parade, there were free popsicles for all the kids
The costume competition and patriotic speech contest followed, with spectators applauding and enjoying a gorgeous Fourth of July at the beach. 
Old-fashioned Americana–in the twenty-first century. If you’re in the Long Beach area, come join in the festivities, next weekend!
The 12th Annual Great American Kids’ Bike Parade starts at 10 am, Saturday, July 4th, 2015, at 1 Granada Avenue at Ocean Boulevard, in Long Beach. Admission and parking are free. Registration is required, and begins at 8:15 am.. By law, kids are required to wear bike helmets, and must be escorted by a parent or guardian during the parade. Here’s the link to a map and driving instructions.