To commemorate the fourth of July, a West Hartford neighborhood in the Bugbee Elementary School district celebrated with its 39th annual bike parade.
By Gillian Hixson
At the corner of Linbrook Road and Montclair Drive, kids on decorated bikes and scooters lined up, waiting for the sirens of the fire truck to blare and the beat of the drum to sound. Some kids wore festive costumes; some adorned their bikes, scooters, or strollers with balloons and streamers; all had huge smiles on their faces.
Each year, the “horseshoe neighborhood” between Trout Brook Drive and North Main Street, encompassing streets like Linbrook Road, Linnard Road, and Linwold Drive, gathers to celebrate the fourth of July by riding bikes around the neighborhood streets.
This is the 39th annual neighborhood bike parade, this year’s organizer, Karen Shannon, explained.
At this year’s bike parade a West Hartford Fire Department truck led the bike riders, followed by a local drummer known as “Rob the Drummer” by the neighborhood residents. At the end of the parade, awards were given out for the best costume, best decorations, and best pet. The winners for each category are listed below.
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Best Bike (seven years old and under)
1st Place: Ben R.
2nd Place: Marin S.
3rd Place: Sam S.
Best Tricycle/Training Wheels
1st Place: Elaina as Tinkerbell
2nd Place: Ava as Elsa
3rd Place: Adira as Rapunzel
Best Float
1st Place: the Saunders Family
Best Bike (eight years old and up)
1st Place: Alice K.
2nd Place: Abby M.
3rd Place: Samara P.
Best Adult Costume
1st Place: Tom K.
Best Scooter
1st Place: Caroline S.
2nd Place: Maivn and Julia Jane B.
Best Stroller
1st Place: Micha as Winnie the Poo
2nd Place: Emma, Ruby, and Levi as Minnie Mouse and Chip and Dale
Best Child Costume
1st Place: Juliet as Pua the Pig from Moana
2nd Place: Isabella as Cinderella
Best Pet
1st Place: Myles as Mickey
2nd Place: Hadley
Best Group
1st Place: Maniatis’s, Fichandler’s, and Raiter’s as the characters from Inside Out
Best Wagon
1st Place: Ava S.
2nd Place: J.J. as Batman
3rd Place: Bria
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Kids and family of the neighborhood await the start of the bike parade. Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson.
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A fire engine led the parade around the neighborhood streets. Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson.
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Ready to ride! Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson.
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson.
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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And off they went! Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson.
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson.
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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At the end of the parade, the firemen opened up a fire hydrant to cool off the parade-goers. Photo Credit: Gillian Hixson
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan
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Fourth of July Parade. July 4, 2017. Photo credit: Patrick Dugan