Children ride decorated bikes through Summerly Community Park during Lake Elsinore’s Party in the Park Fourth of July celebration. (Photos by Emily Baierl)
Decorated bikes, scooters and wagons rolled through Summerly Community Park on Saturday morning as families gathered for Lake Elsinore’s annual Party in the Park bike parade.
The free event, hosted by the city’s Recreation Department, featured a children’s bike parade, bounce houses, crafts and other activities. Many families decorated bikes and scooters together at the park using materials provided by the city, while others arrived with bikes they decorated at home.
Six-year-old Marley said she was excited to ride in the parade.
“I like riding my bike and I love playing with my friends,” she said. “I’m making my bike cool with streamers.”
City staff said the event is designed to give families a simple way to celebrate together. Senior Management Analyst Ben Foster said it focuses on bringing families together rather than attracting large crowds.
“I think this event is really neat because it’s not massive,” Foster said. “It’s just really about the bike parade, families coming out, decorating bikes and having fun in the morning before the big festivities start for the day. It’s just very community-based, kind of that small town feel.”
Special Events Coordinator Melissa Veliz said the city created the bike parade as a family-friendly way for children to celebrate Independence Day.
“We wanted to do something that is festive, and we didn’t want it to be a big city parade,” Veliz said. “We wanted something that is friendly just for the kids.”
Veliz said holding the event at Summerly Community Park also highlights the city’s parks during July, which is Parks and Recreation Month, while providing a safe place for families to gather. The city also keeps the event free to make it accessible to as many residents as possible.
“As long as you can find a way to get here, everything that you do here is free,” Foster said. “It’s just a good gathering that’s open and accessible to everyone.”
Once the decorating wrapped up, children and parents lined up behind volunteers from Taco Crawlers, a group of friends who regularly ride bikes together, to begin the parade. The group led participants on a loop around the park before everyone returned for an awards ceremony recognizing the most creative and most patriotic bike.
Winner of the most patriotic award, Emiliano, poses with his decorated bike.
Ten-year-old Madeline won the award for the most creative bike. Her family has participated every year since moving to Lake Elsinore, and this was her second time winning an award.
“I’m happy and surprised,” Madeline said.
Madeline’s decorated bike, which won the most creative award.
For Josh and Hannah Amezcua, the parade has become part of their family’s Fourth of July tradition. The couple said they have participated for several years and decorated their children’s bikes at home.
“Letting them decorate their bikes and just getting out and celebrating with everyone,” Hannah Amezcua said when asked what she enjoys most about the event.
“It’s fun to get out and do it,” Josh Amezcua said.
Theresa Peppers and Joryder McGraf participated in the event for the first time, wearing patriotic outfits and decorating their bikes before helping lead the children’s parade with the Taco Crawlers.
“It brings people together,” McGraf said. “We love to see the kids out having a great time, the parents and everything, and we need more of it.”
Theresa Peppers and Joryder McGraf, attending the event with the Taco Crawlers, pose with their bikes.
After the awards ceremony, families continued enjoying the bounce houses and activities. For Veliz, seeing families make memories together is the most rewarding part of organizing the event every year.
“I love seeing how the community reacts,” she said. ”I love seeing the kids having fun. And not just the kids but the parents, the grandparents. Everyone that comes, you feel their excitement.”
