This Saturday is one of our family’s favorite days in Redmond possibly for the entire year. It's the best day for meeting our neighbor's, making new friends, getting to vote on important issues (which brand of peanut butter at PCC is better) and be a part of a parade.
That's right, it's Derby Days! Every year, our children take part in the Kid's Parade, but this year, we're doing things a bit different. In the past their favorite thing is that they feel they have a job, since they get "paid" by Kempf & Co and Clark Raymond & Co to walk in the kid’s parade, so this year we'll need to explain that they don't get paid for being in the Grande Parade. It’s all part of being a good ambassador of this great city we live in!
I'm actually organizing an entry in the parade and have been feeling all the joys of trying to get 50 people to agree to come together for one morning and walk in a semi-group. A few months ago, I organized a parade entry for the Dalai Lama at Quest Field, but considering the entry in the Derby Days Grande Parade involve much more children, I can already tell it's not going to be as easy as trying to impress His Holiness.
After the Parade, my kids love going into the activity area and creating some crafts from local vendors and vote at the PCC booth. Meanwhile, we adults love to listen to the music at the Microsoft stage. My husband tries to sneak over to the bike races later in the day while we enjoy the food and drinks vendors.
Then afterwards we head over to the Redmond Community Center for the Carnival before finishing off our perfect day with the Fireworks. We go home an exhausted and happy bunch, our countdown already started for next year's Derby Days.
Koloud 'Kay' Tarapolsi
Co-author, Overlake Neighborhood
That's right, it's Derby Days! Every year, our children take part in the Kid's Parade, but this year, we're doing things a bit different. In the past their favorite thing is that they feel they have a job, since they get "paid" by Kempf & Co and Clark Raymond & Co to walk in the kid’s parade, so this year we'll need to explain that they don't get paid for being in the Grande Parade. It’s all part of being a good ambassador of this great city we live in!
I'm actually organizing an entry in the parade and have been feeling all the joys of trying to get 50 people to agree to come together for one morning and walk in a semi-group. A few months ago, I organized a parade entry for the Dalai Lama at Quest Field, but considering the entry in the Derby Days Grande Parade involve much more children, I can already tell it's not going to be as easy as trying to impress His Holiness.
After the Parade, my kids love going into the activity area and creating some crafts from local vendors and vote at the PCC booth. Meanwhile, we adults love to listen to the music at the Microsoft stage. My husband tries to sneak over to the bike races later in the day while we enjoy the food and drinks vendors.
Then afterwards we head over to the Redmond Community Center for the Carnival before finishing off our perfect day with the Fireworks. We go home an exhausted and happy bunch, our countdown already started for next year's Derby Days.
Koloud 'Kay' Tarapolsi
Co-author, Overlake Neighborhood
I went to Derby Day 2008!
ReplyDeleteDerby Days may be enjoyable for those who visit downtown Redmond, but for those of us who choose to make downtown our home, Derby Days is a scourge - shutting down roads with no accomodations made for residents to access their homes. I actually have to plan ahead to stay with friends in other cities on Derby Days.
ReplyDeleteAny candidate for public office who promises to rid us once and for all of this homage to the scourge of Redmond, the bicycle, has my vote for sure.