The 2nd Annual Emeryville tree lighting and holiday lights parade was a blast, just like last year.
We met at city hall and though we thought we got there "early", there were already about 100 people milling about, checking out the Pixar booth and picking up some LED lights. We saw a bunch of people on cargo bikes, regular bikes, and kids bikes.
As it got a little darker, Mayor John Bauters made some announcements and thanked Xtracycle and Blue Heron for having cargo bikes ready for Santa and the reindeer. The Emery dance team did an fantastic performance, and then the Mayor led the kids in some cheers to light the city hall tree.
Someone who had just bought a Bike Beam LED flagpole light said hi, it was good to see him and his kid as well as the light out in the "wild".
By now there was a large group of people on bikes, walkers, and rollers. The walker and scooter crowd started the parade first, then people on bikes followed. The "reindeer and Santa" took up the rear. Mayor Bauters pedaled Santa in a front-loading cargobike.
I got to ride next to an Olympic Athlete (Hi Katarina!) on the way to the new Huchuin park. My kid wanted to stop and play but we didn't have time, unfortunately. We agreed to come back for a mini bike adventure.
Next up was the South Bayfront bike and pedestrian bridge. It was great to see a parade of bikes run across the bridge, to hear live music at one end of it, and then to roll down to Bay Street for a festive arrival. There were Santa hat giveaways, hot chocolate, a full brass band, lots of decorations, and great places to pick up some gifts. Bike East Bay provided free bike valet parking at the end.
We couldn't linger because of other plans later that evening, but it was so much fun. We can't wait to do it again next year.
