Little Legs, Big Hearts: Northeast Harbor’s Sweetest Parade Turns 25
Holding Each Other Up: 25 Years of Joy on Two Wheels in Northeast Harbor
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware.
NORTHEAST HARBOR—The bicycle parade and ice cream social at the Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor spun off to a terrific success, August 6.
“It started out as a silly and fun excuse to gather in a celebration of summer and enjoy an ice cream sundae. Somehow along the way, this annual get-together turned into one of the most iconic and anticipated events of the entire year,” the Neighborhood House’s website reads.
This year, it was the 25th annual bicycle parade that had riders and walkers and scooters heading down the Neighborhood Street and then back up to Main Street and the Neighborhood House to cheers, joy, laughter, a few minor accidents on sidewalks, and so much togetherness.
Mount Desert Police Sgt. Chris Dickens was assigned to the back of the parade, followed by a fire truck and an ambulance.
It’s one of his favorite events he said.
“Because of the kids,” he said, smiling and driving at all of approximately 2 m.p.h.
It’s hard not to love them.
“He won’t stop smiling,” one mom enthused as they headed up Main Street.
“You’re in the parade, baby. Look! You’re in a parade. Right. Now,” another mom encouraged their child who was in a stroller, leaning over the back of it as she spoke.
Behind her dads laughed hysterically, golden cones perched atop their heads. One boy stopped in the middle of Main Street for a moment, feet braced on the asphalt, looking around, taking it all in.
A little girl cruised by him, a little wobbly but making time up the hill.
A mom held a child’s bike, stabilizing her, doing everything she could not to let her fall.
That’s what community is and what the Neighborhood House and all of its year-round events exemplifies: holding each other up, doing everything you can not to let anyone fall, cheering someone on as they pedal with little legs up hills and telling them how to apply the brakes when they are heading down.
“It’s shorter than the Memorial Day parade,” one onlooker quipped as she walked down a sidewalk to find a good location to watch. “But it’s so good.”
“Plus, ice cream,” the man next to her said.
“It is always the ice cream.”
Bikes and scooters and strollers and heads and helmets were decorated. The parade rolled through town. Ice cream sundaes were made. Volunteers assisted. Jordan Pond Ice Cream & Fudge Shop provided the ice cream. The Bar Harbor & Mt. Desert Police Department, and Mount Desert Fire Department were also part of the fun.
Friends and family and neighbors laughed and hugged on all parts of the parade route.
There were a few tears and a couple of slow-motion collisions with sidewalks, but it was a gathering of all ages and a celebration about nothing other than bikes and kids and community.
That’s all a bit part of the Neighborhood House’s mission. The house has been a community center for Mount Desert since 1905.
The Neighborhood House’s mission reads, “The fundamental purpose of The Neighborhood House is to serve as the community center for the year ‘round and summer residents of the town of Mount Desert. The center, along with its programs, is dedicated to the maintenance and improvement of the community values and spirit of the town. The programs shall not focus on any age group or income bracket within the community; we will provide equally for all.”
A QUICK NOTE
We will have more photos on Facebook here if you want to check them out. There were just too many to include here.
All photos: Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Community Café Serves More Lunches Than Ever Before!
November 22, 2024
https://www.theneighborhoodhouse.com/
https://www.theneighborhoodhouse.com/contribute
https://www.theneighborhoodhouse.com/cafe
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