Hundreds gather for annual bike parade

NEGAUNEE — Children and families gathered in downtown Negaunee for a unique parade Wednesday.

Over two hundred kids hit Iron Street for the annual Kids Bike Parade organized by the Negaunee Elks Lodge. The Pioneer Days tradition has been going strong for around thirty years. Bikes and other modes of transportation at the parade were adorned with decorations including balloons, ribbons, and even dinosaurs.

“This is his bike from uncle for Christmas,” said Kevin Goodman, grandfather to parade participant Haiden. “So we just decorated up for basically the Fourth of July celebration, Pioneer Days here in Negaunee.”

“We had 220 participants, which is pretty close to our record,” said Doug Dushane, Past Exalted Ruler of the Negaunee Elks Lodge #1116. “Like I said, we’ve been doing it thirty years, so some of the kids that were small, they’re bringing their kids now.”

The bike parade wasn’t the end of the day’s festivities. The parade route ended at the Negaunee Ice Arena, where Kids Fun Day was in full swing. Proceeds from the food- and game-filled event went to the Elks’s Youth Activities Fund, which provides money for scholarships and more.