Chestnut Hill Bike Parade returns for the Fourth

by Walt Maguire
Posted 7/7/21

Returning for its 104th year, the Fourth of July Bike Parade rolled down Germantown Avenue on Saturday, July 3.

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Chestnut Hill Bike Parade returns for the Fourth

Posted

Returning for its 104th year, the Fourth of July Bike Parade rolled down Germantown Avenue on Saturday, July 3.

Open to members of the community, children ages 1-11 gathered with bikes, wagons and scooters, all decorated for the event.

The Bike Parade & Celebration began in 1916. The Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy Business Men’s Association sponsored the event for 65 years, then members of the Bocce Club took over the tradition in 1981 when Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy began to each develop their own business associations. It was cancelled last year as a pandemic caution, and the club decided to wait out this year, so this was a symbolic, smaller affair, hosted by retailers Molly Ellis of Threadwell and Cynthia Fillmore of Windfall Gallery.

The first ride post-pandemic had several special participants: children born during the pandemic, out for their first public event.

Nolan Doyle was born June 1, 2020. Parents Colin Doyle and Theresa Langshultz brought his bright red plastic wagon with a blue paper sign on the front: “Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday Mom!” Theresa’s birthday is July 4. “I grew up in New York, and every year my parents told me Macys was throwing a parade for me,” she laughed. Julian Sellmyer, also 1, was there with his big sister Paige, 3, who had made the paper fireworks and streamers for her bike.

At 9:30 everyone gathered at Mimi’s Café at the Top of the Hill. Will Detweiler, former Chestnut Hill Community Association president, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the parade started down the avenue to the playground at Jenks.

Some of the decorated bikes and scooters will be on display through Saturday in shop windows along the avenue, including Artisans on the Avenue (8434 Germantown Avenue), Noble Goods (8436), and Villavillekula (8419).

Fillmore and Ellis were happy with the turnout, and are already planning for a full-scale return with the Bocce Club in 2022. “We expect to be back at the Water Tower next year,” said Ellis.