Patriotic bike parade heads to St. Clair – The Voice

On July 16, St. Clair will host a family bike parade and ice cream party. Pictured is a bike parade from last year. (Courtesy of Patrice Hawkins)

Kids ready to experience the independence of riding a bike can not only get their first bike this month in St. Clair, but they can also ride like it’s Independence Day.

The St. Clair Recreation Department is hosting two events in July that can help kids get going this summer. The first is the Kids Garage Sale and Market, which will be held on July 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eddy Center, 301 N. Ninth St. in St. Clair. The market is run entirely by kids to attract kids to shop. Bicycles, toys, games, crafts, art, jewelry, sporting equipment and similar goods can be bought, sold or traded during the market. Children of all ages are welcome.

Youth interested in setting up a booth at the sale are asked to register in advance by calling 810-329-7121, extension 3, or at St. Clair City Hall, 547 N. Carney Drive in St. Clair. On-site registrations will be accepted, space available. Participation is free, but parental supervision is required.

“We have a little garage sale kit at City Hall that people can pick up when they come in and register. It’s a kit with stickers and some tips, an inventory list and things like that,” said Recreation Director Patrice Hawkins.

Those who sign up will have the choice of an indoor or outdoor area. Youth vendors must display their items on a blanket or table. For those who do not have a table, a few tables are available. Youth vendors must set up and clean up their assigned area and conduct all trading and money exchange operations.

Set-up begins at 9:00 a.m. on July 11. All pre-registered vendors must report to the south entrance by 9:30 a.m. to drop off their merchandise. Parents of vendors may park across from the Eddy Center or in the adjacent street parking lot.

Anyone who purchases or trades in a bike during the sale will soon have a chance to use it, as the Family Bike Parade, hosted by the City of St. Clair Recreation Department, will take place on July 16. The event is free to attend and no registration is required.

Hawkins said about 100 people usually participate. The St. Clair Fire Department and Police Department are also expected to participate in the parade as escorts.

Families can meet at 5:30 p.m. on the lawn in front of Holy Family Episcopal Church to participate in the parade. The church is located at 115 N. Sixth St. in St. Clair. Families are asked to decorate their bikes, strollers and wagons in red, white and blue. Those without decorations can pick up decorations during the 5:30 p.m. meeting at the church.

The parade begins at 6 p.m. Hawkins said the ride will be less than a mile long. It will end at the St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center, 308 S. Fourth St. in St. Clair. Participants can enjoy tours of the historical museum, old-fashioned games and ice cream.

Nicole Tuttle is a freelance reporter for The Voice.

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