By Quianna Lige

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Imagine driving down High Street in downtown Lexington, looking to your left and spotting a string of bike riders in foil helmets and futuristic costumes.

Lexington will get a glimpse of the future Saturday at the Living Arts and Science Center’s fifth annual Bike Prom, with the theme of “Bike to the Future.”

Bike Prom is a fundraiser for the LASC where participants ride around downtown Lexington and stop at different sites before heading to the after party for prizes and the crowning of Prom King and Queen.

LASC is a nonprofit organization offering classes and workshops focused on the arts and sciences, mostly servicing children. They also provide school programming and offer scholarships.

“In the past, it has raised about $2,500. This year we have had wonderful community support for sponsors so we’ve actually upped our goal, which is going to be about $4,000 for the event,” said Heather Lyons, executive director of LASC.

“Our first sponsors who joined with us have come back every year. Then there have been some new sponsors who have come in and hadn’t been involved with us but had heard a lot about the event and wanted to get involved this time.”

Sponsors include CD Central, Fayette Window Cleaning and Cane’s, which will be providing food before the race.

The Bike Prom originated from alley cat bike races that happened in Lexington and other major cities, where people biked from checkpoints and completed tasks, mimicking the work of a messenger.

“I thought it would be fun to have a black tie one. It would be really fun to dress up, and that’s where it turned into prom,” Meredith Walker, a LASC board member, said.

The Bike Prom is open to anyone who wants to participate.

Registration is $8 and can be done by going online to the LASC website, going directly to the LASC or on the day of the event beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“Last year we had 144 riders. We’re hoping to top that this year. The weather has a lot to do with it,” Lyons said. “Last year was a really cold year so we’re hoping with nice weather, we’ll get closer to 200.”

An after party is at Atomic Café where a prom king and queen will be crowned and prizes will be given to the best-dressed participants.

“Even if you don’t have a bike, prom itself is really fun at Atomic because you still can see everybody and we give out prom king and prom queen,” Walker said.

“It’s fun. People really do go out as far as the costumes go. I’m anxious to see what people’s interpretation of this is.”