LET'S TEACH our kids about patriotism and creativity. It's that simple! With this patriotic bike parade we hope to do just that. I hope you'll make plans to attend. We've been doing it since 2004!
Warm regards,
Justin Rudd!
Exec. Director
Community Action Team (CAT)
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Please Support CAT - Justin's 501c3 Nonprofit
RIGHT NOW, while the need is in your mind, won't you please donate? We receive no government monies, and depend entirely on people like you.
CHECKS to CAT, Attn. Justin Rudd, 5209 E. The Toledo #1, Long Beach, CA 90803.
Help us purchase brand-new bikes for underserved youngsters in our community with your tax-deductible donation.
C.A.T. IS AN UMBRELLAorganization that includes 4Halloween Kids' Costume Contest
4July 4 Kids' Bike Parade 4Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
4$1,000 National Elementary School Spelling Bee
4Nat'l Adult Spelling Bee
4Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest 4Haute Dogs on the Beach events
4Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade
4Operation Easter Basket
4Operation Santa Paws
45k/10k Long Beach Turkey Trot
4monthly 30-Minute Beach Cleanups
4Beds, Bikes, Bears & Blankets giveaway to those in need 4Clothing giveaways to the underserved 4Bulldog Beauty Contest 4Mom Prom 4Say, "Cheese" Long Beach 24-hr. digital photo contest 42nd Street Walkers 4Long Beach Giving Project
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MORE THAN 500 kids took part last year in Justin Rudd's "Great American 4th of July Kids' Bike Parade" that was presented by Rudd's nonprofit 501c3 "Community Action Team (CAT)." The 2012 Parade is Wed., July 4, 10 a.m., 1 Granada Ave. @ Ocean Blvd. Free parking.
Event Co-sponsors include Councilman Gary DeLong and the Long Beach Dept. of Parks, Recreation, Marine.
Contestants: when you arrive on July 4,
1. put your bike in the parade lineup first (in the parking lot)
2. get your entry number from a volunteer when you sign-in (volunteers will meet/greet you in the lineup for this)
3. parade begins at 10 a.m. sharp
4. After the parade, stay for the contests and awards ceremony (listed below)
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Enter the beachfront parking lot at the end of Granada Ave. for FREE parking. MAP
Free to enter. 2012 is the 9th year for this event.
4th of July Bike
Parade Wed., July
4, 2012
10 a.m.
Registration opens at 9:15 a.m.
Free entry. Cash prizes.
Adults, teens & kids encouraged to ride.
As seen in PARADE and on the TODAY Show on NBC.
PARKING AREA & DRIVING DIRECTIONS click, enter at 1 Granada only. FREE beachfront parking at 1 Granada Ave. for parade attendees provided by our co-sponsor: Long Beach Dept. of Parks/Rec/Marine!
JUDGES - Haley McDonald, Miss Teen Long Beach 2012
- Kristin Bopp, Miss Long Beach 2012
- Megan O'Connel, Miss Southern California Cities 2012
- Courtney O'Steen, Mrs. Southern California Cities 2012
- Rebekah Bennett, Mrs. Long Beach 2012
- Anna Haubrich, Little Miss Long Beach 2012
- Sanaia Meneses, Little Miss Southern California Cities 2012
- Bonnie Lowenthal, Calif. Assemblymember
SPECTATORS Free to spectate. The out-and-back, two-mile parade route travels east along the bike path and continues down Bay Shore Avenue to Second Street. Bring a chair and a cheering section for these youngsters.
RULES Kids are required, by law, to wear helmets and be escorted by a parent or guardian during the parade. By law, motor driven cycles are not allowed on the beach bike path. By law, no dogs on the bike path.
1/2-PRICE T-SHIRTS Official event t-shirts will be availalbe for just $10 at the event. Regularly $20. Youth and adult sizes, while supplies last. Bring cash.
DOWNLOAD & POST an event flier HERE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Will be sung at 10 a.m. (just before the parade's start) by a quartet who was a finalist in the National Anthem contest held in Long Beach in June. Singers include:
- Celeste Zimmerman
- Amy Naluai
- Sara Naluai
- Sarah Twilley.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Long Beach Police Department bike officers, Deputy Chief Robert Luna and East Division Commander Beckman.
ADDED CONTESTSThe contests below are free for all kids age 12 and younger and will take place after the parade. There are no age categories. PATRIOTIC SPEECH CONTEST
Bring your 60-90 second patriotic speeches to read to our preliminaray judges before the parade (ask for judges area when you arrive). Approx. 5 finalists will be selected to read their speeches publicly to all the spectators after the parade and be featured on a YouTube and Facebook video. $10 prizes sponsored by the Exchange Club. Judges will take in to consideration the age of the child.
WATERMELON SEED SPITTING CONTEST
Each kid and parent are invited to join the contest. The top-five kids whose seeds fly farthest will make it to the finals with their mom or dad. Finalists will be joined by a parent to see whose combined "spits" go farthest (we'll add the child and the parent's distances). $10 to winning team. Who wants a year's worth of bragging rights as the best seed spitter in Belmont Shore?
PATRIOTIC COSTUME CONTEST
Dress up in lots of red/white/blue, or dress like Betsy Ross, the Statue of Liberty, Lincoln, Washington, Uncle Sam, Obama or some other patriotic character, and you might win! Five finalists will each receive $10 in the awards ceremony after the parade.
FREE BIKES LAST YEAR Organizers of this Parade have identified dozens of Long Beach students who do not have the means to have a bike, and who have been inspirational at school. They will be presented with brand-new bikes, locks and helmets at the event. Special thanks to Jeff Taylor and Parkcrest Church for heading up this part of the day. To donate toward this effort, please contact Justin@JustinRudd.com, or click the "donate" link in the left-hand column of this page. Some previous donors include Lucy, Franklin, Moses, Cerritos Taget, Towncenter Walmart, Lisa & Tom, Patty, Tim, Christine, Heather, Gabriella, John, Rebecca, Kayte, Nicole, Thomas, Cappi, Brenda, Lisa R., Renee, Michelle, Valerie, Chris, Charles, Chris, Karen, Rachel, Coni, Jeremy, several local Vons stores, and Leah.
PATRIOTIC COSTUME CONTEST
