The Westside Neighborhood Arts Council in Syracuse is organizing the first annual Creative Bike Showcase. This will be held on Saturday, May 23 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Shonnard Street Boys and Girls Club, rain or shine.

With this event, the Westside Arts Council celebrates a highly popular Westside activity among young people who customize, build and decorate their bicycles, encourages people of all ages to use bicycles for green urban transportation and invites the neighborhood to come together for a family event.

A bike parade is planned with awards for most creative bikes. Besides bike building and decoration, there are several ways to participate even if you don’t have a bicycle, including bike design and drawing, even baking a bike. There will also be bike safety sessions, goodie bags and other prizes, and refreshments.

There is no admission but participants must register by Friday, May 8. Bilingual registration forms are available at the Shonnard Street Boys & Girls Club, the Huntington Family Center or Vincent House.

The Westside Arts Council holds open meetings on the second Friday of the month from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Wyoming Street P.E.A.C.E. office. A Gifford Foundation project, the Westside Arts Council is co-chaired by Sameerah Aken-Owens of the Shonnard Street Boys and Girls Club and musician Carlos Rivera, also known as “Deejay Koolie D.”