Date Of Event: May 3, 2026

Location: Main St, Old Wethersfield, CT

Cost: Free

Summary: Dozens of decorated bicycles and a bike parade were the highlights of the Bicycles Along Main event.

We’ve all seen bicycles. But, you’ve never seen bicycles like these before!

Each May for the past 6 years, Old Wethersfield has been displaying creatively decorated bicycles for the public to view. The family friendly event, which last the entire month of May, showcases the creativity and artistic talent of dozens of artists. Although the artists are free to create their own bicycle decor, there is a different theme each year for the event. This year’s theme was the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence.

As you might expect, many of the bikes had a patriotic theme. Some of the bicycles had some famous people riding them.

This patriotic display had circles on the ground with years of significance written on them.

This bike, located in front of Trinity Church, is a tribute to the transporting of the brownstone which was used to build the church. The brownstone was transported up the Connecticut River to the Wethersfield Cove and then carted to the building site by members of the congregation.

This bicycle was a tribute to Emily Warren Roebling. Roebling was instrumental in helping to build the Brooklyn Bridge. After her husband, the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge John A. Roebling, was stricken by a fatal accident. While conducting a survey, a ferry boat crashed into a dock, crushing his foot which had to be amputated. Following the amputation, he developed tetanus and he died shortly thereafter. After John died, Emily became involved in the design of the bridge and was considered the surrogate designer of the bridge.

While this bicycle did have a patriotic theme it also had a scientific and “Project Hail Mary” theme.

This was another space themed bicycle display.

Some of the bicycles celebrated women and women’s rights.

This bicycle is a tribute to Jennie Florence, aka “Wendy the Welder.” She helped lay the groundwork for female welders in Connecticut by proving women could succeed in demanding industrial roles. Through her work at Electric Boat during World War II, she demonstrated skill, precision and reliability in a field traditionally closed to women.

Another bicycle dedicated to a Connecticut native was this bicycle dedicated to Benoni “Ben” Lattimore. Born in Wethersfield in 1761, Ben made a significant mark in the fight for America’s independence. Ben enlist in the Continental Army in 1776, around the age of 15. After being captured by the British and forced into servitude, Ben was regained by American forces in 1779 and promised freedom. He continued to fight for the American forces during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he became a cartman, helping to keep the city clean. He also helped establish Albany’s first school for people of color.

Some of the bicycles were more than just decorated bicycles. There were quite a few interactive bicycles. For instance, this bicycle encouraged people to “gently” make noises with their drums, cymbals and horns.

Although Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) was from Springfield, MA, his works are celebrated all through New England and around the world.

This bicycle was possibly dedicated to one of the participants in the bike parade (more on this later).

This bicycle was decorated as a tribute to Detective Robert (Bobby) C. Garten. His e.o.w. (end of watch) was September 6, 2023.

“I Need More Bike Bell” (a play on a famous SNL skit) bicycle was part of a promotion for the Bike Karma Bicycle and Cycling Stories podcast based out of Old Wethersfield, CT.

This bike display was right in my wheelhouse. As the sign says, the 80s are calling and they want their childhood back. The display encouraged people to write what they love to do that doesn’t include technology and attach it to the bike. Toy racing cars, a landline telephone and toy binoculars were just some of the items that don’t involve technology, or at least too much technology, people like to use. Some of the tags people filled out and attached to the bike had things like hiking, exploring and Legos written on them (who doesn’t love Legos until you step on one of them).

This bike was interactive. It encouraged people to ride as Richard Simmons watched.

This bike was another interactive display. It encouraged people to follow a QR code and leave a story on the kudoboard you are directed to much like the passage from The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare.

This bike asked people to consider what Old Wethersfield will be like in another 250 years. People could fill out tags and tie them to the bike.

There were many other bikes with a variety of different types of decorations from a bike on fire, a tribute to the World Cup and even a time machine bike! But, floral and food designs were particularly popular.

One of the homes along Main, technically off Main St, always has a great display in front of their home during these Main St events. They kept with the bike theme in some of the decorations.

Oh yeah, did I mention there was a bike parade? People of all ages and in a variety of modes of transportation participated in the parade.

This band played music while the cyclists went along the parade route.

You can see video of the bike parade below!