The First Annual Minuteman Bikeway Block Party: Miles of fun for all ages!

Planning is underway for the first annual Bikeway Block Party!, a community-focused fun-filled festival along the Minuteman Bikeway in Lexington from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, September 15. 

The Block Party, co-sponsored in Lexington by the Friends of Lexington Bikeways and the Munroe Center for the Arts, will bring together community and local businesses, arts groups, and cultural organizations for a day-long fun-for-all-ages good time at parks and playgrounds along the Minuteman Bikeway. The day will feature musical performances, dancing, wellness activities, bike decorating, bubble blowing, and so much more! 

Battle Road Bikes owner Jim Cadenhead is leading the effort to showcase the bikeway as a venue for community celebrations. Jim heads up the Lexington planning team and is working with Arlington and Bedford to develop their programs, as well. 

“The Minuteman path is a corridor for folks of all ages and abilities, and it’s an excellent way to highlight the diversity in our local arts and music scene”, Jim said. The Bikeway Block Party! will use the bikeway to emulate Open Streets and Ciclovia-style community festivals, and it is an incredible opportunity for interactive, grass-roots marketing and in-person, social engagement for performers and volunteers. 

“We’re working with a number of groups to help make the event a success; however, we still have volunteer opportunities available for groups and individuals at the different parks. We anticipate more bikeway traffic than usual, so we will be using ambassadors to help manage the flow all along the bikeway. This is going to be a fantastic party for kids of all ages, and it’s an event that we hope ends up on everyone’s calendars in coming years, too. We have had a lot of local support, including town staff members, but a lot of volunteers are really making all this possible.” 

Here’s just a sampling of the performers and activities at this year’s Block Party: 

• A Trike Called Funk, featuring music and dance forms from funk to hip hop and salsa to samba, so folks of all ages to join in on the dance floor;
• Dance Caliente playing Bachata, Merengue, and Salsa music followed by another 1/2 hour of interactive dancing with the instructors; 
• Drums Alive, a unique drumming experience involving drumsticks, exercise balls, and music. Unleash your hidden drummer! 
• The Benkadi Drum and Dance Company, a group of artists dedicated to teaching African dance and musical forms. After a drum call and two company pieces, the audience gets to dance! 
• The Lexington High School Jazz Combo has performed all over the country and in Europe and will offer a wide range of music from all over the world. 
• Sea Chantey singing, led by Lynn Noel, featuring “real head-back-and-let-fly sea chantey singing.” Hawser ropes will be included to help the audience get in the spirit! 
• Yoga sessions offered by Lexington Power Yoga and yoga instructor Keith Herndon. 
• Bands playing Irish music, bluegrass, Cuban jazz and Latin music, pop punk, and more! 

See the full schedule of performers and activities at bikewayblockparty.org. Check back later in August as we add more fun activities including games, special activities and art workshops for kids, bike decorating, balloon art, bubble and juggling fun. 

Let’s celebrate our community spirit and the joy of being outdoors together. Bring your bikes, bring your smiles, and join us for a day of laughter, music, and camaraderie along one of New England’s most scenic paths. 

For more information, visit https://bikewayblockparty.org. 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! 

The Block Party organizers need talent of all kinds — bikeway ambassadors, venue managers, general volunteers who can pitch in anywhere — even before the Party starts! Join us in planning and creating an amazing series of community events all along the bikeway. Help everyone have a great time, too! Let us know you’re interested at https://tinyurl.com/mrxsz3b8 or contact 

bikewayblockparty@gmail.com.