How to be part of Baldwinville's neighborhood parade this Fourth of July

It started as a way for Baldwinville parents on Cherry Street to meet each other, but now it has grown into a community-wide Fourth of July celebration.

The annual Back Bay Bike parade is this Thursday, July 4, at 10 a.m. on Cherry Street in Baldwinville. The Templeton Police and Fire Departments lead the parade. After the parade, kids receive snacks, ice cream, and gift bags.

In 2009, Michelle Gravel organized the first Fourth of July tricycle and bicycle parade for kids who lived on Cherry Street in Baldwinville. She said it was her way of bringing all the neighborhood kids and parents together. She stopped organizing the annual parade after Gravel's children grew up, but neighbor Crystal Yelle picked up where she left off. It has grown into a community celebration.

"Last year, we had somewhere around 20 to 30 kids in the parade," she said. "They're so cute with their wagons, power wheels, bikes, or scooters decorated with red, white, and blue."

Yelle has been the parade organizer for over 10 years and hopes to continue the tradition so local children can have safe fun during the summer. Yelle said more and more kids come every year, and this year, she has prepared gift bags for 40 kids.

Event is paid for by Yelle and her family

The small neighborhood event has snowballed into a community event over the years. The Templeton Police and Fire Departments got involved, and other residents brought food to add to the table of snacks for the kids. Yelle said she didn't seek out donations or expand the parade, and both the Fire and Police Chief reached out to her.

Yelle's grandmother, Maricella Duguay, also began buying helmets at tag sales so she could give them to children who didn't own one. She said the Templeton Fire Chief split the ice cream truck bill with her and her sister one year, who usually pay for the whole expense. Yelle said she spends about $200 on the parade every year.

"Now we are really focused on safety. The Fire and Police departments are showing their trucks and cars to the kids," she said. "Now people bring stuff to donate to the snack table. My sister, mother, and grandmother also buy stuff for the event."

Yelle said she would continue to organize the bike parade every July 4 as long as there are kids in the neighborhood who will enjoy the event.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: How to be part of Baldwinville's neighborhood parade this Fourth of July