If you enjoy sparkling lights, cycling and community, get stuck into Wadebridge Bike Lights, a fantastic lit bicycle parade that takes place this October.
With the nights drawing in and the colder weather starting to creep up on us, Bike Lights is a lovely event that celebrates community, creativity and bringing people together.
Organised by Wadebridge Creative Hub CIC, the Bike Lights parade will take place in Wadebridge on Saturday 15th October, as well as Bodmin and Bude on Friday 14th and Sunday 16th October. Having taken a two-year break, organisers are hoping for a bigger and better Bike Lights this year.
Christina Romero-Cross from Wadebridge Creative Hub said: “Bike Lights is a lit bicycle parade with a difference - instead of hand carried lanterns the parade is made up of lit and decorated bicycles, it is pretty unique.”
The first Bike Lights event took place in 2014 and, with funding from Arts Council England, became an annual tradition for the town. When the pandemic came along in 2020, organisers had to bring their plans to a grinding halt, and after an unexpected second year in pausing the event in 2021, organisers are looking forward to bringing the parade back to the community.
This year, Bike Lights is being supported by a number of local businesses, FEAST, Wadebridge Town Council, Bodmin Town Council and Bude-Stratton Town Council to bring the three events to the towns.
The theme for this year’s Bike Lights is the ‘Atlantic Highway’. Christina said: “Every year the event has a new theme and we leave it open so people do what they will with it. We will be holding bike decorating workshops in each town, which are free to attend.
“We want to make sure we keep this event alive because the community loves it. Bike Lights is for everyone; it is fully inclusive and anyone that wants to take part can! We also have hundreds of spectators that line the roads to come and see it.”
The event is always well planned and managed, and there will be road closures put in place with plenty of notice to ensure the parade can take place safely.
Christina said: “It’s a great opportunity for people to have some fun and to take part in a last glittery event just before we slide into the long haul of November.”
To take part in Bike Lights, the requirements are simple: just turn up with a decorated bike, pushchair, mobility scooter or wheelchair and give a donation! And if you’d like to be involved outside of the parade, the team is looking for volunteers to help the event run as smoothly as possible. The parade is led at a walking pace by marshalls, and lasts around 45 minutes.
Antony Waller, also a member of Wadebridge Creative Hub, added: “If you’re taking part in the parade, it’s great fun because you’re riding in it and it’s extremely beautiful to look at"
“We would really encourage local businesses to get stuck in too! Wadebridge Bike Shop always pitches in and helps people fix their bikes in preparation for the parade, so we’d love to hear from more businesses and volunteers who would like to support the event.”
The events will commence at the following times:
Wadebridge:
Saturday October 15
Workshop: POP Gallery 11am
Assemble: LIDL 5.45pm
Parade start: 6.45pm
Bodmin:
Friday October 14
Workshop: Thursday 13th October, Shire House Suite from 4.30pm
Assemble: Priory Park near the football club 5.45pm
Parade start: 6.45pm
Bude:
Sunday October 16
Workshop: Parkhouse Centre from 11am
Assemble: Parkhouse 5.45pm
Parade start: 6.45pm
For more information about Bike Lights and how to get involved, email bikelights@wadebridgecreativehub.co.uk.
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