VAN BUREN — The Van Buren Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will host a month of harvest festivities in Van Buren to coincide with the end of the school’s harvest break, starting with a bicycle rodeo, safety presentation, and parade on Oct. 11 at the old Gateway School parking lot.
The event will also feature a free helmet giveaway for children. In the state of Maine, all bicyclists under the age of 16 must wear a helmet while operating a bicycle. Supplies of the free helmets are limited, so organizers are asking participants to bring their own if they have one.
The rodeo and helmet giveaway will kick the event off at 11 a.m. if the weather is appropriate; in case of rain, alternate activities will occur inside.
The parade is a walk/ride/roll event, meaning everyone is invited to participate in whatever way they are comfortable. It will have two courses from which to choose: a longer, approximately two-mile course and an approximately half-mile course, to meet the various needs of participants. This event will occur rain or shine and begins at noon.
In the afternoon, a community picnic will occur at the Gateway School, along with short presentations and activities to teach children team-building and anti-bullying skills. Various community organizations will also have booths for sales and informational materials about techniques to build health or maintain health.
For more information, please contact Miles Garcia, chamber director, at vbchamber@gmail.com.
