Vienna Halloween Parade October 23rd 7:00 pm

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For sixty-six years, Vienna has held an annual Halloween Parade down the middle of Maple Avenue (route 123) during a midweek evening, rain or shine. It is one of the last homegrown, community-oriented parades in the area. http://www.viennava.gov/index.aspx?nid=951

The theme for this year’s parade is Music and Theatre Through the Decades.

This year, Fairfax Advocates For Better Bicycling (FABB) has received a slot to participate in the parade representing community cyclists.

Please come, bring your bike, wear a costume. Represent the cycling community in an evening of fun, laughter, and biking.

It would be great if you can put lights on your bike or yourself.

I do not know where our staging area is yet http://www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/966 but it will be on either Branch Avenue or Berry Street in Vienna. For planning purposes remember, many roads in the area are closed down early in the evening. I will post more information when I have it. It would be helpful if I can get a rough idea of who is planning to come.

This will be a fun event!

Topic

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@DismalScientist 66346 wrote:

This last post really ruins the fantasy.:rolleyes:

Well, sometimes I make mistakes. But usually that involves a bathing suit top and strong waves.

[consularrider]

Somewhere I have a photo I took in Kyoto of a woman riding in spike heels, but where is it, not on my photobucket?

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1. What and when is it?
It is the 67th Annual Vienna Halloween Parade on October 23rd
This year’s theme is Celebrating Music and Theatre Through the Decades
FABB is one of 90 groups participating.
We’ve been asked to arrive between 5:00-6:00 pm.
The parade starts at 7:00 pm.

2. Where is it?
We are lining up on Branch Avenue.
Here is a map showing how to get to Branch Avenue from the W&OD http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3498922
FABB has been assigned space #63A.

Branch Avenue is close to Elevation Burger, Donatos, Cenan’s Bakery, Baskin Robbins, Giant, and the Fresh Market. You can come early and eat dinner at any of these places. Bike parking is available.

3. Where does the parade route go?
The parade route begins at the corner of Branch and Maple Avenue and proceeds directly down Maple Avenue to Center Street. The parade turns left at Center Street and disbands at the Vienna Community Center. The W&OD is next to the community center. http://www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/966

4. Who is invited?
FABB members of course! But also anyone who rides in Fairfax County and wants to make biking an integral part of transportation within Fairfax County.

5. Can I get there on the W&OD?
Absolutely! Branch Avenue is connected to the W&OD. The end of the route is at the Vienna Community Center right next to the W&OD

6. What should I bring?
Dress appropriately for the weather. Bring lights for your bike.

7. What’s in the fine print?
There is no stopping to perform
There is no handing, tossing, or passing out of any items (candy, balloons, literature)
No sparklers or flames allowed
All horse units MUST provide a clean-up crew to walk behind their animals
Come out and enjoy the evening!

8. Special Bonus Super Speed Round
I just happen to have these lying around. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3841[/ATTACH]
I have enough for a vuvuzela biking band. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Music and Theatre Thru the Decades
Fair warning: Mr. Dirt will be limited to two vuvuzelas because he is a repeat offender.

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I have 10 strands of lights coming on Wednesday so I can rig lights on ten bikes very quickly with some clear strapping tape and AA batteries. I have several bags of candy by request. This fall has been so cruddy, the weather, the government shutdown, come out. Have fun. Oh, Vienna Inn is close to the end of the parade route. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

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The parade is next Wednesday and yesterday Dirt and I got to talking.

So what happened was….
Dirt has a battery operated disco ball. And the theme of the parade is “Celebrating Music and Theatre Thru the Decates” So, what if…. the disco ball was mounted on a bike trailer.

Yeah, Saturday Night Fever on bikes.

Or, perhaps, the Village People on bikes. *one of us* has the chaps for it.

Last night at the FABB meeting, someone suggested that we could ride in formations, circles, figure eights, etc. :rolleyes:

Next Wednesday, 6:00 pm on Branch Avenue in Vienna, we are #61. So far we have about a dozen volunteers, hope to see you there too.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@acc 66881 wrote:

Dirt has a battery operated disco ball.

Of course he does.

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I used to light bikes with a complicated, overly engineered time-consuming method. I’ve figured out a way to light a bike in ten minutes with a clip to a water cage and two pieces of duct tape. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3863[/ATTACH] These light strands are available on Amazon for $15.

They come with batteries and clip into your water cage.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3864[/ATTACH]

One light strand and ten minutes later.
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[KLizotte]

I really wish I could finagle a way out of work to attend this event. If only we were still furloughed….

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I’ll bring five extra strands to put on bikes the night of the event. I am sorry you have to work hard. But, hey! In this economy, a job is a damn good thing to have. Next time!

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I swore I’d drive past Michaels. I don’t need to make another basket. I should stop. I must stop. Next time, I will stop.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3873[/ATTACH]
Start with one of these.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3874[/ATTACH]
Weave in lights. Wire blossoms with florist wire.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3875[/ATTACH]
Watch American Horror Story and scare yourself witless.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3876[/ATTACH]
Run out of lights, flowers, patience.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3877[/ATTACH]
Turn out the lights and smile.

Two hour job, start to finish.

[KLizotte]

That doesn’t look like the rhinestone bike. Did you attach the basket to drop bars?!

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It’s not the sparkle bike. It’s my commuter/utility bike. Corrupting one bike is. not. enough.
Besides, I’ll leave it decorated through the holidays because it’s festive (and because I’m too lazy to dismantle it.)

And, had fun taking loaner baskets out today and seeing old friends and new ones. This already has been a fun event. I’ve met up with Dirt, eminva, and Kel in the weeks leading up to this Wednesday. Hope to see even more friends on the 23rd.

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The countdown begins because I’ve bought the beer. In two days FABB rides in the Halloween Parade in Vienna.
When: Wednesday October 23rd, arrive around 6:00. Parade begins at 7:00
Where: Branch Avenue, Vienna, Virginia. We are #61. The street runs about three blocks. Once I see where #61 is staked, I’ll give an exact street address
Ride: To the parade via the W&OD, exit at Branch Avenue. There will be a lighted beacon on the bench at the turn off. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3498922

Park: Along Orrin Street or Alma Street or Follin Lane Or Cabin Street. Traffic will be horrible after 5:00 when Maple Avenue is shut down for the parade.
Wear: A costume. The theme is “Music and Theatre Thru the Decades” but we can come up with a plausible backstory for anything you show up in, keeping in mind this is a family show. It may be on the chilly side so leave the Speedos at home. And a costume can be as simple as a silly hat.

There will be vuvuzelas and candy for all.
We’ll discuss the beer in person.

One last photo. My son expressed mild interest in possibly coming out, mostly because he likes Dirt. So I lit him up.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3903[/ATTACH]

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Tomorrow — is — the — day —
Halloween Parade in Vienna
I’ve marked the intersection of Branch Ave and the W&OD.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3917[/ATTACH]
Funny, the beacon makes an excellent rear light. (Oh, the miracle of duct tape.)
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Once again, FABB is #61 and lining up on Branch Avenue very close to Elevation Burger and Donatos Pizza.

It looks like it’s going to be a leather jacket kind of night; probably a bit chillier than the 60s we’ve had recently.

So grab a tutu, pick the feather boa up off the nightstand. And join us around 6:00.

[consularrider]

@acc 67239 wrote:

Funny, the beacon makes an excellent rear light. (Oh, the miracle of duct tape.)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3918[/ATTACH]

Oh no, no, no, [she’s] a rocket man
Rocket man, burning out h[er] fuse up here alone.

[Author]

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