The star of the 2011 Holland Happening parade and celebration is the eco-friendly bicycle as this year was deemed “The Year of the Bike.”

According to Jan Ellis, who has served on the event’s entertainment committee throughout its 42-year history, bicycling is an extremely popular activity in Holland.

John Meyer, a Dutchman and avid bicyclist, was chosen to be the parade grand marshal. Meyer was born to Dutch immigrants in Grand Rapids, Mich. He moved to Whidbey Island in 2004 from Golden, Colo. and works for Island County Moderate Risk Waste.

“I’ve been cycling since I learned to ride a bike at age six,” Meyer said.

Meyer rode his bike to and from grade school, to deliver newspapers in middle school, and rode across Holland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland and through Canada one summer to raise money for a private school where he was serving as a science teacher.

Meyer also raced for 12 years and helped sponsor rides for at-risk inner city youth while living in Colorado. Now that he’s on Whidbey, he rides his bicycle to work and enjoys participating in the Saturday morning jaunts sponsored by Bicycles Northwest.

Appropriately, Meyer will be on two wheels during this weekend’s procession.

“I am looking forward to having my folks joining me at the Holland Happening parade and sharing with them in my Dutch heritage on this festive day,” Meyer said.

The Holland Happening parade will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday beginning on Bayshore Drive.