Celebrate July–Tour de France

It seems a bit sad that July is supposed to be the month of parades and fireworks and picnics, but they're all finished by the 4th! If you're not quite ready to be done celebrating, then we have some ideas for you! July is full of holidays if you know where to look. This week we'll spotlight some lesser known and unusual July celebrations.

If you follow cycling, July means the Tour de France. For 3 weeks cyclists race across the French countryside. Why not follow their lead? One of my favorite childhood traditions was the annual neighborhood bike parade. On the designated morning we had a wonderful time decorating our bikes (or Big Wheels) with streamers. Then we were off around the block and back to the neighbor's house for Popsicles. You can find some great tips here for hosting your own bike parade. It doesn't have to be a big undertaking–my favorite part was getting to wrap crepe paper around the handle bars. If you're looking for a grander affair, consider offering prizes for the best decorations. Many bike parades have a patriotic theme, but why not mix it up and focus on the Tour de France? In celebration of the traditional yellow jersey, have parade riders see how much yellow they can add to their bikes, trikes, wheelchairs, scooters, or even strollers! Just don't forget the helmets!