Key Points

• 20th Annual Bike Parade & Ice Cream Social- Thursday, July 23

• This year’s event will feature a “Virtual” Parade & “Drive Thru” sundaes

• Decorations will be available starting Friday, July 17

• Participants should email or post photos of decorated bikes to social media and tag The Neighborhood House or use the tag #bikeparade2020

• EVERYONE is invited to come enjoy a sundae regardless of age, or if they decorated a bike

For two decades now the annual “Bike Parade & Ice Cream Social” has served as a highlight of the summer season. What began as a silly excuse to gather and enjoy an ice cream sundae with a couple of dozen participants has turned into a highly anticipated event drawing nearly three hundred year ‘round and seasonal residents from across Mt. Desert Island along with visitors of all ages.

As the multigenerational flock of “cyclists” makes their way down Tracy Road and back up Main Street (often with varying degrees of success), the sound of laughter lingers in the summer air, and the significance of this quirky little gathering becomes apparent. Behind the chocolate fudge tinted smiles, there is a sense of community that comes when we all share a common experience, regardless of how silly it might seem at the time. That’s perhaps the reason this yearly gathering has lasted as long as it has, and why people have actually been known to plan their visits around it.

Early this spring as the uncertainty of the pandemic began to make planning events next to impossible, it was clear that the Bike Parade & Ice Cream Social was something that needed to continue in some shape or form regardless. Luckily, much like many of the other activities and events at The Neighborhood House, the Bike Parade enjoys a low key and laid back vibe which allows enough flexibility to get creative and make adaptations. After a bit of brainstorming it was decided that without the ability to limit the monstrous turnout to just fifty, the parade portion of the festivities would become “virtual,” hitting the “information superhighway” rather than Main Street. As for the ice cream sundaes, why not set up a first of its kind “drive through?”

While the festivities will look a little bit different, rest assured, the community spirit, silly nature of it all, and of course, the ice cream sundaes, will all remain exactly the same.

Here’s how to take part in our first (and hopefully last)

Virtual Bike Parade & Drive Through Ice Cream Social

Virtual Bike Parade

1. Starting Friday, July 17, stop by The Neighborhood House to pick up a complimentary bag of decor for your bike, wagon, scooter, etc. Participants of all ages are encourage to take part, and you can also supplement with your own decorations if you’d like.

2. Snap a photo of your decorated bike (the more creative, the better). We’re going to use that picture as part of “virtual parade” we’re going to post on our website Facebook page. You can email us the photo or upload it to your own social media— just be sure to use the hashtag #bikeparade2020 or tag The Neighborhood House in your post so we can find it.

Drive Thru Ice Cream Social

1. On Thursday, July 23 at 5:30pm, bring the entire family to The Neighborhood House.

2. When you arrive in Northeast Harbor, you’ll see the Mt. Desert Police Dept., as well as some of our volunteers directing traffic to the drive-thru line

3. Follow the traffic and be sure to roll your window down as you come down Rock End Road. We’ll take your “order” and before you know it you’ll be enjoying a delicious ice cream sundae complete with homemade hot fudge.

Speaking of that homemade hot fudge…