22nd Annual Bicycle Parade & Ice Cream Social

Thursday, July 28

Bike Decorating at 5:30 | Parade at 6:00 | Sundaes to Follow

What began as a silly excuse to gather together to enjoy some ice cream sundaes in 2000 has turned into an annual tradition that only grows stronger by the year. The Twenty-Second Annual Bike Parade & Ice Cream Social is scheduled for Thursday, July 28.

Although a lot has changed in the last two-plus decades, the “Bike Parade” is still the same. Participants gather on the lawn of The Neighborhood House to decorate their bikes, trikes, wagons, scooters, etc., prior to the parade. At six o’clock the group (typically in the hundreds) ventures down Tracy Road and then back up Main street to show off their creative works. Of course, it’s easy to work up an appetite peddling your way along the parade route, so we wrap things up with an hot fudge sundaes.

The best part is, whether you participate in the parade on two wheels, or simply watch it while on two feet— EVERYONE is invited to take part in the ice cream social. While we’re big fans of bikes (and ice cream), what we’re truly fans of is the sense of community spirit this event continually builds.

So please mark your calendar and make it a point to join The Neighborhood House and hundreds of folks from across our island community at this year’s celebration. We look forward to seeing you!

One of the highlights of the Bike Parade & Ice Cream Social has always been the hot fudge served with the sundaes. When the event first started it was easy enough to whip up an adequate supply to drizzle over a couple of dozen sundaes. As the festivities grew to the point where hundreds of sundaes were being dished out, the task became a little bit more laborious, but certainly well worth it. For years we kept the recipe a closely guarded secret, but in the early days of the pandemic while folks were stuck at home we decided the best pick-me-up would be hot fudge sundaes. Thus, our first (and only) instructional cooking video hit the internet (see below). The recipe is actually based on one from the Junior League of Portland’s cookbook, “RSVP: An Invitation to Maine Cooking.” So while we certainly hope to share a few scoops with you on July 28, if you can’t be there you can still get a taste of the festivities at your leisure.