Stupid Bike Night: Vashon Island's Most Gloriously Unhinged Tradition

​Tonight, as the sun dips below the horizon and paints the Puget Sound in hues of orange and purple, something truly weird (and utterly ridiculous) is about to unfold on Vashon Island. It's the first Friday of September, which can only mean one thing: Stupid Bike Night is here!

​For those unfamiliar, imagine a parade where practicality takes a permanent vacation, common sense is left at the ferry terminal, and the only rule is to be as gloriously, outrageously stupid as humanly (or cyclingly) possible. This isn't your average bike ride; it's a vibrant, glowing, slightly unhinged spectacle that perfectly embodies the quirky spirit of Vashon.

Riders, adorned in costumes that defy description – from glittering sea creatures to intergalactic explorers to... well, whatever struck their fancy that afternoon – will begin to gather. Their steeds? Bikes transformed into moving art installations. Some are years in the making, elaborate contraptions that might include built-in sound systems, smoke machines, or even flame throwers (yes, you read that right!). Others are masterpieces of last-minute ingenuity, duct-taped together with blinking lights and found objects, just begging to fall apart mid-parade.

​The beauty of Stupid Bike Night lies in its delightful impracticality. These aren't bikes designed for speed or efficiency. They're designed for joy. You'll see bikes so tall they need a step ladder to mount, bikes so wide they barely fit down the street, and bikes that require a small support crew just to keep them moving forward.

​As dusk truly settles, the streets of Vashon town will become a kaleidoscope of light, music and laughter. The route is often gloriously unpredictable. Sometimes, the town embraces it officially, with permits and street signs guiding the way. Other times, it's a glorious, spontaneous takeover, a joyful, unchoreographed surge of creativity that spills down sidewalks and through intersections.

​It’s all wonderfully unhinged, a true testament to the island's spirit of creativity and good-natured silliness. So, if you're on Vashon tonight, listen for the distant jingle of bells, the whoosh of a flame, and the roaring laughter of people having the absolute time of their lives. And if you're not here, well, mark your calendars for next year. Because once you've experienced the chaotic, glowing, wonderful madness of Stupid Bike Night, you'll never look at a bicycle the same way again.