- Crepe paper streamers are likely the first thing that comes to mind. You can weave it through the tire spokes, attach it to the handle bars and even attach it to your child so it will “stream” behind as they ride. An additional enhancement can be donning a costume that matches the parade theme, “Sheridan Celebrates the Wild Wild West.” Anyone finding favor with Toy Story’s Woody or Jessie?
- Balloons are also an amusing and colorful way to bedeck your bike. Purchase twist balloons at a local party supply store and get creative. Intertwine inflated balloons around the bike and attach them to your child’s bicycle seat. Twist balloons can be made into crazy “head gear” that can be wrapped around your child’s helmet and extend high up or tail behind. Light weight, multicolored and inexpensive, twist balloons can really enhance the liveliness of a bicycle parade entry.
- Your local “dollar” store can also be a one-stop shop for bicycle decorating supplies. Entertaining objects such as plastic horses, cowboy hats and bandanas produce a joyful spectacle. Useful objects, for example rope, can also be fastened to the bike truly augmenting the interpretation of the western theme.
- Want to go all out? Plan ahead and resurrect your Paper Mache skills adding a bull, pig or horse head to the front of the bike. A simple mixture of white flour and water, combined with recycled paper can make for wonderful molding over a balloon, Styrofoam or a crushed paper foundation. Check out this web site to learn more about Paper Mache projects http://www.ultimatepapermache.com/ .
Now that you’re all geared up to decorate a bike, make sure to mark your calendar for Sheridan Celebrates the Wild Wild West and the 1st Annual Children’s Parade on Saturday, September 24. Kids 8 years and younger, and their parents, will have an easy registration process starting at 8:30 am on the field east of Sheridan High School, 3201 W. Oxford Ave. The Children’s Parade will start at 9 am. Youngsters may walk, ride on self-powered, wheeled transports such as scooters, tricycles and bicycles, and pull wagons with their favorite stuffed animals or other toys. All children choosing to participate on a wheeled transport will be required to wear a helmet. No gas-powered entries of any kind will be allowed. Children kindergarten-aged and younger must have an escort 12 years or older. Weapon props are prohibited. Entry into the Sheridan Celebrates Children’s Parade is FREE. If you have any questions regarding the Children’s Parade call the hotline at 303-438-3321 or visit www.livejoicom.com
