Bike Parade, Woman’s Club Fair this weekend

The Boca Grande Community Center will be hosting its annual Bike Parade this Saturday, March 15, and the tradition that so many look forward to every year is looking better and more entertaining than ever.

The parade starts at 10:30 a.m., and the theme will be “Storybook Island.” Bikes, scooters, wagons or golf carts should be decorated appropriately to join in the parade fun.
Six members of the Lemon Bay High School Jazz Band will be playing while riding on the carts, which is a first for this long-time island tradition.

To be eligible to participate in the parade, you must pre-register at the Community Center by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 14. Last-minute registration will take place from 9 to 9:50 a.m.

Awards will be given in four categories: Business/commercial; Non-profit organizations; Group entry; and children.

Those who are registered should line up at 9:55 a.m. on the bike path at East Railroad Avenue and 5th street.

After the parade, the Woman’s Club Fair will be held on the grounds of the Community Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The festivities will not only include the traditional games, food, bake sale, and cake walk, but children will also find face painting, balloon sculptures, sno cones, a tent filled with children’s books, pony rides and more.

Lunch will also be available, with burgers (with or without cheese), brats, hotdogs, sodas and chips available.

According to one of the event’s coordinators, Jan Decklever, the remodeling of the Woman’s Club Room in the Community Center made it difficult to stage the large book sale they normally have. Instead, the Woman’s Club opted to host a sale of children’s books only on the grounds of the center.

“We will also have readers dressed up as story book characters to read to the children,” she said. “The Reading is Fundamental program contributed some books that will be given away, and we have a lot of great books the community has donated that will be for sale.”

Kids can also look for the shark tooth man and a visit from the Suncoast Humane Society.

Look for the Woman’s Club booth with needlepoint purses for sale. The purses are hand-stitched in Armenia and finished by skilled craftswomen in New Hampshire.

According to Blanche Johnson, another coordinator for the event, the purses are a sight to behold and would make great gifts for any occasion.

“These are beautiful purses, a wonderful gift to give and a treasure to receive,” she said. “They will also be available at the sales table in town on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well.”

The Woman’s Club table will be located next to the post office at 4th Street and Park Avenue. Children’s T-shirts will also be for sale, as well as women’s cover-ups.

“We have had incredible volunteers this year putting things together, all take-charge people,” Decklever said. “So far everything in the planning has gone smoothly, and we’re really excited about all the things that are going to take place. Of course, the only thing out of our control is the weather, so we hope that works out as well.”

Call 964-2564, the Boca Grande Community Center, for more information.