Redmond, WA— This summer, Redmond will celebrate the 70th Annual Redmond Derby Days Summer Festival. The festival begins on Friday, July 9 from 6 to 10pm and continues on Saturday, July 10 from 10am to 10pm at Redmond City Hall Campus, 15670 NE 85th Street.
Back by popular demand is the free multi-band concert, Friday Night Live. The first group on the Nintendo sponsored stage is Gentleman GaGa, an Old Firehouse Classic Rockathon finalist, followed by The Daily Flash, playing classic 60’s rock. The headliner is the area’s premier Beatles tribute band, The Nowhere Men. They play all the Beatles classics, sounding just like the original Fab Four. Food vendors are on hand for dinner or a snack and the beer and wine garden, sponsored by Black Raven Brewery, provides a great spot for both people and band watching.
New this year is the REI Friday Night Poker Ride, benefitting Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. The 22.5 mile ride through Redmond and Issaquah begins at the Redmond REI store from 5 to 7pm and ends at City Hall Campus, where riders will pick up prizes and enjoy the entertainment, food and drinks. Participants can register at REI.com.
Saturday begins at 10am with the Derby Days Kids Parade, the longest running kid’s parade in the nation. Children and families decorate their “wheels” and themselves in one of the many parade categories. Parade sign-in begins at 9:15am in the Redmond Medical Center parking lot, with the parade beginning at 10am. Arriving early is strongly recommended in order to sign-in before the parade starts. The Grand Parade immediately follows the Kids Parade. Best viewing of the bands, drill teams and floats is at the corner of NE 85th Street and 161st Avenue NE and along 85th to City Hall.
The Criterium, the nation’s longest running bicycle race, starts at 1:15pm with the last race at 7:15pm. Race spectators can enjoy the fast paced race from the Black Raven Brewery Beer and Wine Garden, located just off the first corner. The beer and wine garden opens at 1pm and offers a prime view seat.
The ever-popular Funtastic Carnival runs from Thursday, July 8 to Sunday, July 12 at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, the corner of 80th Street and 165th Avenue NE. Thursday is discount day at the carnival, with all rides discounted from 5 to 10pm.
As always, families with kids will enjoy the free Kids Zone that includes bouncy houses, Cadman Sand Box, Lego Master, interactive sidewalk chalk art, Ben Franklin arts and crafts booth and more!
A new element to Derby Days, the IMPACT Redmond Eco-Fair, showcases vendors and activities that encourage living green. This fair is located on City Hall campus, near the Redmond Senior Center and will run from 10am to 6pm on Saturday.
“We are excited about a couple of changes to the festival this year,” stated Lisa Rhodes, Events and Marketing Administrator for the City of Redmond. “Perhaps the biggest change is the relocation of the Microsoft Entertainment Stage. At the new location, the audience can listen to music relaxing on the grass, dancing closer to the stage or while enjoying a beverage in the beer and wine garden.”
The opening act at 12 noon is the Brazilian sambas band, Sambatuque. At 2pm, Kara Grainger, an Australian Blues performer takes the stage, with The Dudley Manlove Quartet rocking with pop classics at 4pm. The Cuban rhythms and salsa beats of Grupo Ashe begins at 6pm. At 8pm the evening’s headliner, Hit Explosion, moves the crowd with 70’s and 80’s disco and dance tunes. The beer and wine garden opens at 2pm.
At 10pm, a spectacular fireworks display will finish off the evening.
Ample parking is available at the City Hall Parking Garage, Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center and Redmond Town Center. A free shuttle will run on Saturday, July 10 between parking sites from 9am to 10:30pm. For additional information visit http://www.redmondderbydays.com/ or call the Derby Days Hotline at 425-556-2299.
CITY OF REDMOND PRESS RELEASE
Are we talking mountain bikes for the Friday Night Poker Ride?
ReplyDeleteNew this year is the REI Friday Night Poker Ride, benefitting Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. The 22.5 mile ride through Redmond and Issaquah begins at the Redmond REI store from 5 to 7pm and ends at City Hall Campus, where riders will pick up prizes and enjoy the entertainment, food and drinks. Participants can register at REI.com.